Luley Organ Company
Builders of fine pipe organs since 1983
About Luley Organ Company
Luley Organ Company was incorporated in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania by Peter J. Luley in 1983. For nearly 40 years the firm has provided newly constructed pipe organs, additions to existing instruments, comprehensive rebuilds, pipe revoicing, console replacements, repairs, as well as tuning and regular maintenance for institutions across western Pennsylvania and the surrounding areas. Our projects have ranged from smaller instruments of 15 ranks of pipes or less, to medium-sized instruments around 35 ranks, to large scale reconstructions well over 100 ranks.
Our instruments are custom voiced in the English Romantic style, characterized by rich Diapason choruses capped by strong quint Mixtures, warm and clear articulate flutes, lush strings, and bold, full, round chorus and solo reeds. President and Tonal Director Peter Luley has traveled extensively throughout England studying the construction and voicing of English Romantic pipe organs by builders such as Henry "Father" Willis, T.C. Lewis, and Harrison & Harrison. Our goal is to provide instruments that are both artistic and practical, being able to perform equally well the functions of a concert instrument and church accompaniment instrument.
The company’s focus in recent years, and for the future, is to concentrate on a very special niche in this industry, in which we can operate very efficiently. Given the reality of an ever-increasing stock of redundant pipe organs, as well as an increasing number of instruments in need of major work and tonal improvement, we are well positioned to engage in projects to build or rebuild an instrument to the highest possible artistic and mechanical standard, with attention to detail and the specific needs of the customer.
We invite you to contact us with any questions you may have about our services, instruments, and products. Please see the Contact Us page for more information.
The Luley Team
Peter J. Luley, tonal director
President Peter Luley has always had a fascination with pipe organs and church music. A native of Pittsburgh, he studied Music and Electrical Engineering at Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, Indiana, and was the Assistant Organist of Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Pittsburgh from 1982 to 1988. He founded Luley Organ Company in 1983, and from 1985 to 1992 served as the regional representative for M.P. Möller in Western Pennsylvania. During his time with Möller, Luley worked alongside Tonal Director Daniel Angerstein and Associate Tonal Director Irv Lawless on several prestigious installations including National City Christian Church and the University of Florida.
Joseph Tuttle, partner
Joe joined the company in 2006, and focuses on all aspects of shop work including pipe restoration, voicing, carpentry, and wiring, as well as tuning, and field maintenance. Tuttle holds Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Organ and Sacred Music from Duquesne University, and since 2014 has served as Organist and Choir Director at St. John's Lutheran Church of Highland in Pittsburgh.
Jon Tyillian, managing partner
Our managing partner Jon Tyillian joined the company in 2017 as a shop assistant. Over the years, Jon has taken on many new responsibilities and currently oversees all operations in addition to acting as business administrator. When not mired in sawdust or crawling through an organ chamber, Jon serves as the Assistant Organist at Calvary Episcopal Church in here in Pittsburgh, and regularly accompanies various vocal and instrumental soloists and choral groups.
Ed Helgerman
Ed Helgerman has over thirty-five years of experience in the pipe organ business in nearly every aspect of shop work and mechanical design. From 1988 to 1990 he served as the Rebuild Foreman for M.P. Moller. Ed focuses on leatherwork and wiring in addition to managing our tuning and service calendar.
Christopher Cox
Christopher joined the company in 2022 and is currently the assistant voicer and service department manager. In his role as a voicer, he works closely with the tonal director on both flue and reed voicing and runs the pipe shop. He graduated in 2024 from Duquesne University's Mary Pappert School of Music, where he studied trumpet performance with Chad Winkler & Micah Wilkinson of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, and took organ lessons with Dr. Ann Labounsky. Outside of organ building, Christopher consults for Musical Instrument Technologies of McKinney, Texas, working on projects at the Conn-Selmer/Bach trumpet factory in Elkhart, Indiana.
Sam Shadle
In addition to helping with administrative work, Sam serves as shop assistant and is a member of the tuning team. In addition to his role at Luley, Sam currently serves as Vocal Section Leader and Organ Fellow at the Pittsburgh Oratory, is Associate Music Director at St. Michael Parish in Greenville, PA, and coaches music-based group fitness classes at Row House North Hills. Sam holds Bachelors degrees in Sacred Music/Vocal Performance and Software Engineering from Franciscan University of Steubenville.
Aaron Sproul
Aaron brings extensive experience in the field of construction; his role includes woodworking and electrical work, and he is a member of the on-site build team. In addition, he serves as Associate Director of Music at St. Michael the Archangel Parish in the South Hills of Pittsburgh, and as Co-chair of the Organ Artists Series of Pittsburgh. Aaron holds a Bachelor of Music degree, with concentrations in Sacred Music and Music Technology, from Duquesne University.
Rich Luley
A retired emergency medicine physician and Peter’s brother, Rich has been working with the company behind the scenes for over 20 years. As a lifelong, self-taught woodworker, Rich builds wind chests, case work and other structural components.Having set up three previous wood shops, Rich brought his skills to bear in the layout and set up of the company’s new operation in Millvale Pennsylvania in 2020.