Gigi Monroe clutches a bouquet courtesy of organist T.J. Duffy after a St. Patrick’s Day organ concert at the State Office Building, Friday, March 15, 2019. (Ben Hohenstatt | Capital City Weekly)

Gigi Monroe clutches a bouquet courtesy of organist T.J. Duffy after a St. Patrick’s Day organ concert at the State Office Building, Friday, March 15, 2019. (Ben Hohenstatt | Capital City Weekly)

Showing off their pipes: Special organ concert features guest vocalist

Drag queen lends voice to the show

The weekly Kimball pipe organ concert had a seasonal twist and a special guest Friday.

Juneau drag queen Gigi Monroe donned a sparkly green dress and provided guest vocals while T.J. Duffy, who sported a shimmering green wig, played through some Irish tunes for an early celebration of St. Patrick’s Day.

T.J. Duffy dons seasonal garb while playing the 91-year-old Kimball pipe organ Friday, March 15, 2019. (Ben Hohenstatt | Capital City Weekly)

T.J. Duffy dons seasonal garb while playing the 91-year-old Kimball pipe organ Friday, March 15, 2019. (Ben Hohenstatt | Capital City Weekly)

“We’d been wanting to work together, and T.J. invited me,” Monroe said. “It was a really good opportunity. This organ is a treasure. It’s a regular live music experience in Juneau that a lot of people don’t know about.”

Gigi Monroe sings as a special guest at a Kimball pipe organ concert at the State Office Building, Friday, March 15, 2019. (Ben Hohenstatt | Capital City Weekly)

Gigi Monroe sings as a special guest at a Kimball pipe organ concert at the State Office Building, Friday, March 15, 2019. (Ben Hohenstatt | Capital City Weekly)

At the State Office Building at noon on Fridays there are regular performances on the organ, which was installed in 1928. It was originally brought to town from Chicago to provide sound to accompany silent movies, Duffy said.

“It’s the only one in Alaska,” Duffy said.

For St. Patrick’s Day, Irish music was on tap during the Friday Kimball pipe organ concert. (Ben Hohenstatt | Capital City Weekly)

For St. Patrick’s Day, Irish music was on tap during the Friday Kimball pipe organ concert. (Ben Hohenstatt | Capital City Weekly)

The air-powered organ lent an extra layer of old-time feeling to classic songs, such as “Danny Boy.”

By striking a key, Duffy could add tambourine-like sounds or wood block to the music, and the wavering organ notes easily filled the State Office Building’s atrium.

“It’s got the equivalent of 1928 subwoofers,” Duffy said. “There’s a lot of vibrato, and it makes people sob.”

No one appeared to be crying in the audience, although plenty of folks paused to take in the show.

Andy Mills and his children, 1-year-old Eden and 3-year-old Malcolm, were among them and peered at the pipes.

“We come here pretty much all the time,” Mills said. “He plays ‘Star Wars’ sometimes, which they love. Plus, we’re Irish.”

Duffy, who alternates manning the console for the weekly concerts with J. Allan MacKinnon, said he likes to do something special for Halloween, Christmas and St. Patrick’s Day.

The view from inside the glass display that houses the Kimball pipe organ’s pipes show the engineering that went into the 20th century instrument. (Ben Hohenstatt | Capital City Weekly)

The view from inside the glass display that houses the Kimball pipe organ’s pipes show the engineering that went into the 20th century instrument. (Ben Hohenstatt | Capital City Weekly)

“It’s just such a fun holiday,” he said. “Spring is right around the corner.”


• Contact arts and culture reporter Ben Hohenstatt at (907)523-2243 or bhohenstatt@juneauempire.com. Follow him on Twitter at @BenHohenstatt.


Andy Mills and his children, 1-year-old Eden, and 3-year-old Malcolm, applaud during a Kimball pipe organ concert, Friday, March 15, 2019. (Ben Hohenstatt | Capital City Weekly)

Andy Mills and his children, 1-year-old Eden, and 3-year-old Malcolm, applaud during a Kimball pipe organ concert, Friday, March 15, 2019. (Ben Hohenstatt | Capital City Weekly)

More in News

The Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Encore docks in Juneau in October, 2022. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Ships in Port for t​​he Week of Sept. 17

Here’s what to expect this week.

A rainbow appears over downtown as residents check out rows of electric vehicles at Juneau’s EV E-bike Roundup Saturday afternoon. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Capital city celebrates 10th annual Juneau EV and E-bike Roundup

Juneau’s electric vehicle growth among fastest in the country, organizers say.

U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, gives a live speech via video from Washington, D.C., to attendees at the annual Southeast Conference meeting in Sitka on Thursday. (Screenshot from video by Southeast Conference)
Murkowski, Sullivan warn of domestic, foreign threats to Southeast Alaska’s economy

Issues from Russian seafood imports to ferry funding cited by senators during Southeast Conference.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Police calls for Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

This is a photo of Juneau International Airport. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Email threat to Alaska airports doesn’t appear credible, police say

Heightened presence of officers at Juneau airport planned Friday.

A 2023 municipal election ballot is placed in the drop box at Douglas Library/Fire Hall Community Building. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Number of residents registered to vote ‘nearly identical’ to last year

More than 1,100 ballots counted so far during this municipal election.

Samantha Crain, of the Choctaw Nation, sings to the crowd during a performance Thursday night as part of the Áak’w Rock music festival at Centennial Hall. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
‘It’s pure resiliency’: Áak’w Rock kicks off

The three-day Indigenous music festival attracts full crowds during its first night.

U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, walks down a hallway Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023, at the Alaska State Capitol. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
With Alaska’s federal judge vacancy nearing 2-year mark, Sullivan breaks from nomination tradition

Murkowski appears skeptical about the switch, saying she’s prepared to advance nominees to Biden

Jordan Creek flows over a portion of a footbridge behind a shopping center Thursday evening. The National Weather Service has issued a flood warning for Jordan Creek, Montana Creek and Auke Lake until 10 a.m. Friday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Flood warning for Jordan Creek, Montana Creek and Auke Lake issued until 10 a.m. Friday

Glacier Highway, structures near Jordan Creek may inundated, according to National Weather Service.

Most Read