About Us
Christopher
Soer
President & Tonal Director
Christopher Soer is the President and tonal director of Christopher Soer Pipe Organs, LLC. From beginning to play the organ for church services while still in elementary school, he began his fascination with pipe organs and all things mechanical at an early age. Studying organ playing under the auspices of Bob Ellison, Henry Gless, and Stan Kann among others, he quickly found a talent for listening and hearing how registrations were built. This developed further when he began as an apprentice voicer at the Wicks Organ Company in 2005. He was made Shop Superintendent in 2008 where he managed over 40 projects from conception through design and manufacture to installation. Christopher has extensive training in all management and design aspects of the pipe organ buisness and was promoted to Vice President where he managed production and design. He joined the Quimby Pipe Organs, Inc. firm in 2013 as their General Manager where he oversaw the construction and installation of some of their landmark instruments. In 2018 Christopher started his own firm and has continued to pursue organ building excellence through his own work and work for other firms.
Christopher has worked closely with builders of different styles all over North America, as well as serving as a lecturer and historical consultant for the local AGO chapter and the Organ Media Foundation. He is the proud owner of the remaining Kilgen Organ Company files and is a noted historian of the Wicks Organ Company, among others. He is frequently in demand as a consultant and voicer, specializing in tonal design, instrument scaling and accessibility, and re-voicing vintage pipework. Christopher has had articles on pipe organ tuning and maintenance published in The American Organist, and is a frequent guest on the Organ Media Foundation's YouTube channel. He maintains a membership with the Organ Historical Society and the American Institute of Organbuilders as he enjoys working with new and vintage instruments. In 2023 Christopher was asked to serve as a member of the American Organ Academy (A.O.A.) Advisory Council where he works with other organ builders to develop curriculum and present topics to new organ technicians, builders, and professionals. When not working on organs, he enjoys playing music, steam locomotives, collecting antiques and vintage electronics.
Brian
Seever
Head of Service Department
Brian Seever joined the CSPO team in January 2024. He has been involved with pipe organ projects with several large firms and is taking over the operation of our service department and will be instrumental in the conception and construction of new instruments as well as participating in restoration, repair, and tuning for the company.
Brian's background in music encompasses experience playing the organ, F Horn, and accordion. He studied in Austria and has experience performing in Europe. In addition to being an accomplished organ builder, Brian also has experience working on accordions and is a church musician for the Episcopal Diocese of Western Missouri.
Other interests of Brians include cooking, book collecting, and German language studies.
Joseph Eckelkamp
Associate & Client Services
Joseph joined CSPO in 2023 as an apprentice and office manager. Over the last few years he has grown to take on more responsibilities for scheduling, client relations, and other invaluable tasks around the shop. He has helped on installations and removals, console and wind chest wiring, reed cleaning and voicing, and other organ building tasks. His interest in the organ spans from the visual design through to the console appointments and tonal design for a room. Informed by his enjoyment of the English tradition of hymn playing and his penchant for orchestral transcriptions, he brings a complex grasp of tonal color and finesse to the shop.
He studied piano and F horn in college and graduated with a degree in music and women & gender studies. His past work in education and pianos has inspired him to continue to develop as a musician and help make music more accessible. In addition to his full-time work at CSPO, Joseph also directs music at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church and St. John's Episcopal Church in St. Louis, Missouri.
When not working at the shop, Joseph can be found playing in local community music ensembles, reading, cooking, or taking photographs. Joseph also enjoys fountain pen collecting, musical theatre, and supporting the local St. Louis Symphony Orchestra.