From Organ Database Builders editor Stephen Hall, January 5, 2015. —

Greg Harrold began his organ building career with the firm of Abbott & Sieker of Los Angeles, California in 1974 as a pipemaker; over the next three years he learned other aspects of the craft and built his own residence organ as Opus 1. He then relocated and began working with John Brombaugh & Associates of Eugene, Oregon, in 1977 where he learned the art of reed pipemaking; and "was exposed to a style of organbuilding strongly informed by the research of antique organs." Returning to Los Angeles, he established Greg Harrold Organbuilders there in April 1979.

Working primarily alone, Harrold completed 14 new organs and repaired and/or restored organs in the collection of the University of California at Berkley. He also repaired a 18th century Italian organ for Cornell University, Ithaca, New York (Opus 15). Mr. Harrold closed his shop in 2003 to focus on composing, painting, and writing.

Source:

• Biography section of Greg Harrold's website, "gregharrold.com"; accessed January 5, 2015.

From the OHS PC Database, derived from A Guide to North American Organbuilders, by David H. Fox (Richmond, Va.: Organ Historical Society, 1991; rev. ed., 1997, with updated information). —

Born 1955 in Santa Monica, California; with Abbott & Sieker of Los Angeles, California, 1974-1977, pipemaker; with John Brombaugh & Associates of Eugene, Oregon, 1977-1979 reed pipemaker; established his own firm in Los Angeles, California, April 1979; active 1996.

Sources:

• The American Institute of Organbuilders (AIO): 1989 membership directory.
• Letter from Greg Harrold to David H. Fox.