T.J. Duffy performs his final noon concert at State Office Building with holiday cheer
- Ellie Ruel
- Dec 21, 2025
- 5 min read
Updated: Dec 27, 2025
Organist took a final bow as frequent performer on building’s 1928 Kimball Pipe Organ with traditional Christmas setlist; future of historic instrument unclear
By Ellie Ruel
Juneau Independent
Longtime local organist T.J. Duffy bid the historic 1928 Kimball Pipe Organ in the State Office Building atrium a festive farewell during his final Friday concert. He is retiring from a 16-year career at the Department of Law at the end of this year, throughout which he has been one of multiple musicians who regularly perform on the instrument for the noon concert series.
“It brings the community together in subzero weather. I was so surprised to see everybody here with parking and the weather and Taku winds coming. People like holiday music and it just seemed like the perfect time,” Duffy said.
His final performance, featuring 11 holiday-themed songs including “Carol of the Bells,” “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy,” and “O Come, All Ye Faithful,” drew a crowd of over 100 and a variety of ages.
“Honestly, I’ve been playing this forever. That’s why I played with no music, because it’s firmly burned in my head, and I wanted to play stuff that I think people would sing,” he said.
The crowd chimed in for a few bars of “Silent Night” and familiar tunes, but many seemed content listening to the ethereal chords filling the sun-soaked atrium. Midway through, the music drew individual workers out of their offices and onto the eighth- and ninth-floor walkways overlooking the courtyard.
His final encore was a bittersweet tune with a title fitting to the occasion: “Time to Say Goodbye” by Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman.
After the concert, Duffy was surrounded by a swarm of supporters, receiving a flood of flowers and compliments as he gave curious onlookers a tour of his instrument.
“I was so impressed with the crowd, I was blown away. That was a lot of love,” he said.
For Duffy, the fondest memory of his musical career in the atrium was performing for a deaf and blind man named Steve who would press his body against the organ chamber to feel the vibrations of the music.
“Whenever he was here I would add as much bass and percussion as I could,” he said. “I asked his caregivers, he had two caregivers, ‘Is he understanding what’s going on?’ They said ‘Oh, yes, he loves these concerts.’ That made me cry. When a deaf person is going to enjoy my concert, that’s special.”
The concert may be the end of his musical era in more than one way. Duffy said there’s not many other organs in Juneau, and he may move south after retirement, so his organ-playing days will likely draw to a close.
“There is a time to say goodbye and my playing is not getting better. I don’t want to be that lousy organist on YouTube, so I thought since I’m retiring from the state government, it’s a good time to retire from this, and then this frees up time for other stuff,” he said.
He’s been playing the organ since age 13, starting out at his church in Indiana. After minoring in music in college, Duffy moved to Nashville where he had a career as a professional organist until moving to Juneau in 2009.
Duffy also performs at the Pioneer Home, and will play for residents there on New Year’s Eve, the day he officially retires from the state.
“I love being part of the community, everybody volunteers for something,” he said.
While his 16-year musical stint is drawing to a close, a young audience member was getting his first taste of live organ music. Chris and Bob Urata brought their nearly 1-year-old grandchild Kiko Bravo to enjoy Duffy’s last concert.
“I came years ago when my kids were young, and then I’d been wanting to come and Christmas is a great time. When I heard it was T.J. 's last I decided that we were, even with the wind and stuff, going to make it a priority,” said Chris Urata.
She explained that her grandson enjoys music, so the concert was an opportunity to introduce him to a live concert after playing a lot of “canned” music.
“It’s a delight to introduce him, just like it was to introduce our kids,” she said.
Both said they’re sad to see Duffy go, but hopeful another artist will take his place.
“It’s a wonderful organ, a wonderful place, and it’s almost like an echo chamber. And beautiful musicians,” Bob Urata said.
Margaret MacKinnon, whose husband J. Allen MacKinnon was on the original committee to save the organ and has performed in the noon concerts since they started in 1977, said she’s hoping the concerts can continue. She’s attended the concerts regularly since they started.
“I just like the community aspect of it and enjoyed the singing part of it today, that was kind of fun and different,” she said. “A lot of times kids come in and they know about it, and they make it a special stop to come on Fridays and hear the concert. So it's really nice that people have done that, given their time to do that.”
Artists to play the organ might not be in short supply, but the nearly century-old instrument itself will need restoration work. The Friends of the Alaska State Library, Archives and Museum are seeking to raise $250,000 to repair the organ.
Built in 1928, the Kimball pipe organ was originally installed in W. D. Gross’ Coliseum Theater in Juneau to accompany silent films. It was quickly launched into obsolescence as sound in film developed a few short years later, but was used for entertainment purposes during intermissions for years. It was donated to the state museum in 1970 under the condition it be restored and remain playable in Juneau, and was installed in the State Office Building in 1977.
When the instrument was left unplayed during the COVID-19 pandemic as state workers were out of the office, parts of it rusted. Duffy said it’s been an uphill battle to make it work, and parts of the organ are non-functional, which can make playing slightly frustrating. He even came close to cancelling the concert two weeks ago after the organ stopped working suddenly.
Like many others, Duffy said he’s hoping the noon concerts can continue, “but it’s not looking good unless there’s a miracle.”
The next organ concert and final one of the year is Dec. 26, and will feature music by Laurie Clough.
• Contact Ellie Ruel at ellie.ruel@juneauindependent.com.
