Saint Ita

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The magnificent Wicks pipe organ at Saint Ita, the fourth-largest in the Midwest, is found on countless recordings and includes Bing Crosby among its donors. Please contact Daniel Lagacy, director of music, or the parish office at 773-561-5343 x 13 for more information.

​Fact Sheet:
  • The Saint Ita parish community was founded on June 25, 1900 and the first instrument in the church was a Hammond organ.
  • In 1948, in keeping with the architectural splendor of the church building, the parish took up the project of installing the first pipe organ.  Legend has it, Bing Crosby helped foot the bill or paid for it in its entirety.
  • The Wicks Organ Company completed the organ in 1951.  At that time, it was reputed to be the largest organ they had built.
  • In January 1951, Rene Dosonge, then dean of the Illinois Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, became organist and choir director at Saint Ita.  The instrument was dedicated on Feb. 4, 1951, with Mr. Dosogne as organist, in a service of benediction with men and boys choirs.
  • Performers through the early years include Pierre Cochereau, May 1957 | Gaston Litaize, Nov. ’57 | Robert Hebble, Oct. ‘91.
  • H.A. Howell Pipe Organ Company of Sterling, IL was chosen to renovate the instrument (1999-2003) as part of a larger project for the parish centenary.
  • Concerts since have included performers Todd Gresick 2002 & ‘10, Ray Cornils ‘03, Douglas Cleveland ‘05, David Schrader ’05 & 21, Barbara Harbach ‘10, Yun Kim ’15, and several member recitals of the American Guild of Organists. In 2006 was featured in the AGO National Convention with performances by Sophie-Veronique Cauchefer-Choplin, titular organist at St. Sulpice in Paris.
  • Most recently David Schrader  made a recording of the organ works of Leo Sowerby, released on the Cedille record label in June of 2021. Other recordings can be found at www.organlive.com.

St. Gregory the Great

PictureCourtesy: Pipe Organ Database (2015)
Its M. P. Moller organ was recently restored by Fabry Pipe Organs, Inc. The Church also has a beautiful 6' 4" Boston Grand Piano on the main floor of the Church. This piano was bought in part with donations from parishioners. The choir loft has a Boston upright piano, also bought with generous gifts from parishioners.

Please contact Daniel Lagacy, director of music, or the parish office at 773-561-5343 for more information.