Pasadena Memorial High School science department received a grant from Toyota Tapestry to fund the first phase of a construction project in which high school physics students build a pipe organ.

Students have completed the first phase of the project and a concert is scheduled for Wednesday, December 17 at 7 p.m. in the Memorial High School auditorium.   The organist is a former Dobie High School student who is currently studying at the Julliard School of Music in New York. 

The digital pipe organ project is a dynamic, multifaceted combination of physics, music, engineering, ecological science, performing arts and mathematics designed to generate the participation of students of all interests. Scott Graham, Memorial’s AP Physics teacher, works with Dobie High School science instructor, Mary Obenauf, and Memorial AP Physics instructor, David White on the project, and one mobile digital pipe organ has already been created from previous grants. The project allows students to study wave phenomena, alternative energy, related wave topics such as tsunamis and electromagnetic radiation, and wave propagation.

Additional funds from the Pasadena Education Foundation are supporting this project.