# Klais Orgelbau

Orgelbau Klais is a German firm that designs, builds and restores pipe organs. It is a family run company, founded in 1882 by Johannes Klais senior and is now run by his great-grandson Philipp Klais. The firm is based in Bonn, Germany, and has completed many large-scale building and restoration projects around the globe in more than a century of organ building.

## History

Johannes Klais, a skilled organ builder trained in Alsace, Switzerland, and Southern Germany, established his own workshop in Bonn in 1882. His craftsmanship was deeply rooted in traditional methods, particularly the use of slider windchests. However, even before the turn of the century, he demonstrated innovation by creating high-pressure stops with dual mouths on pneumatic cone valve chests. In 1906, alongside his son Hans, he introduced electric action to organ building.
Hans Klais succeeded his father in 1925. During his leadership, the company embraced modern influences, particularly in facade design, and made advancements in ergonomic console designs.
In 1965, Hans Gerd Klais, the founder’s grandson, took over the business, followed by Philipp Klais, the founder’s great-grandson, who became the fourth-generation manager of Orgelbau Klais.
The company gained international recognition for its restoration of the historic Bamboo Organ at St. Joseph's Parish in Las Piñas City, Philippines. The organ was transported to Germany in 1973, meticulously restored in 1974, and returned to the church in 1975. Beyond restoration, the company trained former church choirboys in organ building, who later established a local organ building and restoration workshop.

## Klais instruments around the world

| Country | City | Location | Inauguration year | Pipes | Other |
| Argentina | Buenos Aires | Centro Cultural Kirchner | | | |
| Australia | Brisbane | Queensland Performing Arts Centre | | 6566 | |
| Brazil | Catarina | Church of Rodeio | | | |
| China | Beijing | National Centre for the Performing Arts | 2007 | 6500 | 94 stops. Largest organ in China. |
| Iceland | Reykjavík | Hallgrímskirkja | | 5275 | |
| Germany | Aachen | Aachen Cathedral | | | |
| Germany | | Beuron Archabbey church | | | |
| Germany | Cologne | Cologne Cathedral | 1998 | | Although enormous, it is almost dwarfed inside the colossal Gothic church as it clings to the balconies. Klais also restored other organs in the cathedral and added a detached console that operates all of them at once. |
| Germany | Hamburg | Elbphilharmonie | 2017 | 4765 | 4 manuals, 65 registers |
| Germany | Hamburg | St. Nicholas Church | 2023 | | Connected, can be played from a remote location |
| Germany | Munich | St. Peter's church | | | |
| Germany | Münster | Münster Cathedral | | approx. 7173 | |
| Germany | Nuremberg | Frauenkirche | | | |
| Germany | Trier | Trier Cathedral | 1974 | 5602 | |
| Greece | Athens | Athens Concert Hall | | 6080 | |
| Malaysia | Kuala Lumpur | Petronas Philharmonic Hall | | | |
| Poland | Kraków | Kraków Philharmonic Concert Hall | | | |
| Singapore | | Esplanade Concert Hall | | 4740 | 61 registers |
| Spain | Saragossa | Basilica of Our Lady del Pilar | 2008 | 5391 | Pipes inserted in a Renaissance (1529–1530) wooden frame. |
| United Kingdom | Bath, Somerset | Bath Abbey | | | |
| United Kingdom | Leeds | Leeds Cathedral | | | |
| United Kingdom | Westminster | St. John's, Smith Square | | | Redundant but still consecrated church which commissioned its organ when the building became a concert hall. |
| United Kingdom | Birmingham | Symphony Hall, Birmingham | 2001 | 6000 | Largest mechanical action organ in the UK. |
| United States of America | Columbus, Ohio | First Community Church | 2022 | | 4 manuals, 85 ranks. Dual consoles. |
| United States of America | Delaware, Ohio | Ohio Wesleyan University | | 4644 | 82 Ranks, 55 Stops. |
| United States of America | Madison, Wisconsin | Overture Hall | | | |
| United States of America | New York City | St. Peter's Lutheran Church | 1978 | | 2 manuals, 43 ranks. |
| United States of America | Iowa City, Iowa | University of Iowa Voxman Music Building Concert Hall | 2016 | 3883 | |