Luck and talent bring a new organ to the Idaho Panhandle​
​The forward thinking of the First Lutheran membership of the 1970’s  brought a Casavant Pipe Organ to Sandpoint in 1975. However, recently, talent and luck made it the best instrument in Northern Idaho. How did one of the best organs end up in Sandpoint, Idaho?
 
Because Scott and Lynn Youngren decided to move to Sandpoint, where they joined First Lutheran Church. It may have been a calling or by accident because FLC’s 1970s organ console was failing and needed help. Suddenly Scott Youngren appeared as a well-trained organ technician ready to suggest a remedy.
 
Scott’s career in the Navy, electrical engineering, and his degree from California Lutheran College in organ music and performance was the start of his career. Working for Litton Aero Products, and Northrop/Grumman, he became a test engineer for navigation products until he retired. 
 
The magic was that after retirement, Nelson Dodge, President of Church Keyboard Center of Los Angeles,  twisted Scott’s arm to help service and install  Rodgers organs all over southern California, combining his electronic expertise and musical skills. 
 
Then the Youngrens moved to Sandpoint. Scott noticed the condition of the Casavant Organ and told Nelson about it, who suggested that FLC consider a slightly used (2015) Rodgers Digital Organ. The FLC membership bought the idea of the upgrade and Scott, with the help of member Don Farnham, installed the Rodgers, then connected it to the existing Casavant pipe organ. The result is the fullness of the pipe organ “sound’ with the addition of many additional voices from the Rodgers.
 
 
Organ music service can now be heard on the first and third Sundays at 9am with the talented Corina Hughes at the keyboard. Please join us at 526 South Olive Avenue for special organ music on the first and third Sundays of the month.

Scott Youngren, Corina Hughes, Don Farnham

Jim Carlson, Scott Youngren. Don Farnham,
Nelson Dodge, president of Church Keyboard

The Rodgers 599  contains an onboard library of 92 pipe organ stops and 32 orchestra voices enhancing the Casavant 13 ranks of pipe work. The 599 console features 20 levels of combination settings, using the 25 combination pistons.
An onboard Hymn Player features over 300 common hymn tunes. It also includes an onboard record/playback system. The Rodgers sound is delivered to eight channels of speakers surrounding the Casavant organ case.
Videos of the installation on Youtube