Carlsbad is just north of San Diego. The church already had a 2 manual Casavant pipe organ built in the 1970's and the new Phoenix PT339 controls the pipe organ as well as adds its own sampled pipe stops. The Casavant Great and Pedal divisions are now more complete with the addition of Phoenix digital stops but the small Casavant Swell now makes up part of the new Choir division.
St. Michael's Organist and Director of Music, Roy Daniels, states "The first service with the Phoenix supporting the congregation and choir brought a flood of compliments from the congregation as to the improved sound of even the choir which finally had the musical support that had been previously lacking. I first became acquainted with the Phoenix Organ Company upon hearing and playing the Phoenix in the West Gallery of Liverpool Cathedral while on a concert tour. Ian Tracey, organist and choirmaster at Liverpool, was also most impressed with the Phoenix. I have found the usual American digital organ choices lacking in tonal quality and overall lack of definition in their large ensemble sound."
"The pipe organ technicians were very impressed with the quality and ease of installation of the Phoenix pipe interface."
- Roy Daniels, organist.
