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History of
Moeller Pipe Organs

Originally founded by Burkhard Moeller in 1988, Moeller Pipe Organs has a rich history scoping many projects across two continents. On this page we will review Burkhard’s achievements both in Germany and Canada.​

An exact replica of Burkhard's Meisterstück 

Burkhard Möller

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Burkhard Moeller was a Master Organ Builder who specialized in pipe manufacturing, organ restoration, and voicing. Over the course of his career, he also designed and built three original instruments.

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Burkhard’s professional journey began in 1975 in Eisenach, where he apprenticed for two years with Paul Schubert & Sohn. In 1977, he earned his Gesellenbrief (professional tradesperson certification) in carpentry; a mandatory prerequisite for organ building at the time. That same year, he moved to Potsdam to begin his apprenticeship in pipe organ building with the renowned Schuke-Orgelbau. After earning his Gesellenbrief for Pipe Organ Building, he remained with Schuke Potsdam until 1988, specializing in tuning and pipe construction.

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A look inside the pipe workshop in Mississauga

In 1988, Burkhard established his first company, Orgel-Metallpfeifenbau Burkhard Möller, in the village of Blankensee, south of Potsdam. He became a supplier for numerous organ builders in the region, including Böhm (Gotha), Brode (Heiligenstadt), Dutschke (Dambeck), Fahlberg (Eberswalde), Hüfken (Halberstadt), Kapischke & Friedrich (Bernburg), Noeske (Rotenburg/Fulda), Scheffler (Sieversdorf), Schuke (Potsdam), and Schuster/Welde (Zittau).​

While manufacturing pipes, Burkhard also dedicated himself to restoring organs near and around Blankensee. Many of these instruments hadn’t been playable since WWII; in one instance, he even discovered grenade fragments in the destroyed organ. A list of the organs he restored can be found below.

The grenade fragment

found in a destroyed organ

In 1994, Burkhard completed his Meisterstück (Masterpiece) which is the final requirement and assessment to become a Master Organ Builder. This instrument, a one-manual, four-stop organ (Gedackt 8’, Rohrflöte 4’, Prinzipal 2’, and Quinte 1 â…“), was sold to a congregation in Borkheide, Germany.

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In 2000, Burkhard and his family moved to Guelph, Ontario. He joined Gober Organs Inc. in Elora, where his expertise quickly made him an invaluable member of the team. After three years, the family relocated to Mississauga, where he founded Moeller Pipe Organs Inc. - the company that continues to operate today. From this new workshop, Burkhard maintained pipe organs throughout Southern Ontario and supplied custom pipes to builders in Canada and the United States.

During this period in Mississauga, he completed two more original instruments. The first, finished in 2008, is an exact replica of his German Masterpiece and remains in the family collection. His final organ, completed in late 2018, is a two-manual, six-stop instrument:

  • Manual I: Gedackt 8’, Principal 4’, Waldflöte 2’, Quinte 1 â…“

  • Manual II: Quintadena 8’, Octavin 2’

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Burkhard finished this instrument before passing away in 2019. For 7 years the company remained inactive. In 2026 Burkhard’s son, Constantin Moeller, reopened Moeller Pipe Organs and is continuing the work of tuning and maintaining organs.

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Burkhard's Meisterstück 

in Borkheide 

Burkhard's newest organ, currently for sale.

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​Stangenhagen:​

Restorations

Restorations:​​​

  • ​​​​​​​​1992 - 1994

  • One manual, Six stops

  • Originally completed in 1849​​​​​

​Nichel:

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  • ​​​​​​​​1997 - 2000

  • One manual, twelve stops

  • Originally completed in 1869

  • Continued in 2003 by Markus Roth​

From Burkhard's website:​

This organ was built in the middle of the 19th Century

by Gottfried Wilh. Baer, Niemegk.

The church was hit and damaged by grenades towards the end of WWII.

Several grenade-fragments hit the organ which made the instrument unplayable for over 50 years.

In that time, all metal pipes disappeared.

In 1997 the first step towards the reconstruction of the organ was taken. 

In this picture you can see the first three stops which were able to accompany the service again in 1999​​​​​

​Golzow:​

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  • ​​​​​​​​1998

  • One manual, eleven stops

  • Originally completed in 1884​​​​​

​Blankenburg:

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  • ​​​​​​​​1998 - 1999

  • One manual, twelve stops

  • Originally completed in 1827

  • Continued in 2001 by Markus Roth​

From Burkhard's website:​

This organ was built in 1826 by Joh. Fried. Turley junior of Treuenbrietzen.

This was followed by several changes to the specifications.

In WWI the façade pipes had to be given away

(as the metal was needed for military purposes)

and were replaced by a curtain.

In 1966 most of the metal pipes were stolen

which made it impossible to play the organ.

After extensive cleaning and treatments against woodworms

the instrument could be restored.

This restoration was done in several steps.

Now all the pipes are present

and an electrical blower was added to the instrument.

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