Kelvingrove has led tributes to the man behind the iconic daily organ recital at the Art Gallery and Museum.
Dr Jim Hunter was pivotal in the museum's refurbishment in the early 2000s and helped to raise over £12m.
He played the organ at Kelvingrove's official reopening in 2006 and went on to become the Honorary Director of Music, and formerly Head of Television at BBC Scotland.
The concept of the daily organ recital at Kelvingrove was the brainchild of Jim and continues to this day, but will halt on Wednesday as a mark of respect for his funeral.
Jim was a loving husband of Catherine and devoted father of Pamela, Jonathan, Paul and Michael.
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The team at the art gallery and museum posted a heartfelt tribute. They said: "The Kelvingrove team were saddened to hear of the passing of Dr Jim Hunter, Honorary Director of Music.
"Jim first came to prominence at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in 2002, when he came on board to support the then recently-launched Kelvingrove Refurbishment Appeal.
"Jim was highly proactive in raising the profile of the Appeal, organising a busy programme of musical fundraising events as Kelvingrove moved towards its temporary closure in summer 2003.
"After Kelvingrove closed for its three-year programme of refurbishment, the focus of Jim’s work moved to McLellan Galleries, where he planned and directed a series of fundraising concerts.
"The Kelvingrove Appeal eventually realised £12.75M, over double its original target of £5.5M.
"Jim played the organ at the official reopening of Kelvingrove in 2006 and went on to become Honorary Director of Music in 2007.
"Through Jim’s dedication to the Refurbishment Appeal and his enthusiasm for the Kelvingrove Organ sprang the concept of the daily organ recital, which was intended to rival the firing of the one o’clock gun at Edinburgh Castle as a highlight event in the city."
They continued: "This was a bold and ambitious proposal at the time, but Jim’s passion for the instrument shone through, and the daily recital became the much-loved and iconic feature it is today.
"Jim cared deeply about Kelvingrove and the organ in particular, and a huge amount of the success of the organ fundraising events and the subsequent twenty years of musical programming at Kelvingrove is down to his singular enthusiasm and drive.
"We are hugely grateful and indebted to Jim for his incredible dedication to the Kelvingrove Organ and the Daily Recital Programme, and he will be greatly missed.
"As a mark of respect, the organ recital will not take place on Wednesday 1 April, the day of Jim’s funeral."
Jim passed away on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, in Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.
Church Organ World also paid tribute on Facebook, they said: "We were very saddened to hear of the death of Dr James Hunter earlier this week.
"Jim was perhaps best known by many as the Director of Music at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow who for many years organised the daily recitals on the wonderful 3-48 instrument originally by Lewis.
"Jim had a Makin home practice organ for many years. In addition, he provided us with significant help when we installed the Copeman Hart organ at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall in 2015.
"At the time he commented “This organ ably demonstrates the huge advances made in recent years in sampling and speaker technology.
"The sound is magnificent, truly realistic and fills the vast Concert Hall effortlessly.
"It is a superb instrument which contains all the organ colours that you could wish for, an ideal instrument for the venue and for the many varied styles that will required of it.”
"Jim will be missed by many. RIP"
Built in 1901 by Lewis and Co. of London, the fine Kelvingrove Organ is situated at the north end of the Central Hall of the Art Gallery and Museum.
The organ was installed in the museum in 1902, and was repaired after damage sustained in 1941. It is a three-manual organ with pedals; 48 speaking stops control 2889 pipes.
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