International Organ Festival: RCCO Celebrates 100th Anniversary

Royal Canadian College of Organists

Celebrates 100^th Anniversary

INTERNATIONAL ORGAN FESTIVAL

June 28-July 2, 2009 in Toronto

The King of Instruments reigns over Toronto from June 28^th to July 2^nd, 2009, as the Royal Canadian College of Organists (RCCO) celebrates its 100^th anniversary. To pay tribute to Canada’Äôs superb tradition of organ music and organ building, the venerable institution proudly serves up a majestic series of events under the banner of the International Organ Festival. In doing so, the RCCO - Canada’Äôs oldest extant musicians’Äô association - joins with the American Guild of Organists (AGO) to mark the International Year of the Organ 2008-2009. ’ÄúThe International Organ Festival is a glorious festival for a glorious instrument,’Äù comments Mark Toews, chair of the RCCO Centenary Celebrations. The unique celebration comprises an array of concerts featuring outstanding Canadian, European and American artists, premiere performances of newly commissioned works, many public events including liturgical services, a family concert and an organ competition, as well as a convention that will bring over 300 organists, musicologists, organ builders from all over the world to Toronto.

Highlights include a magnificent concert by the world-famous organist Dame Gillian Weir and Canada’Äôs own Rachel Laurin performing at Metropolitan United Church (on Canada’Äôs largest pipe organ) with orchestra under the baton of Raffi Armenian; recitals by prominent Canadian organists such as Ken Cowan, Patrick Wedd, Jonathan Oldengram and Rachel Laurin, France’Äôs Thierry Eschaich, Craig Humber (Newfoundland/Austria) and James David Christie (U. S.). With performances by some of Canada’Äôs finest choral groups such as the Nathaniel Dett Chorale, the Exultate Chamber Singers, the Tafelmusik Chamber Choir, the Elmer Iseler Singers with True North Brass and Toronto’Äôs sensational a cappella group Soul Influence, plus a variety of worship services including High Mass at the Church of St. Mary Magdalene (music of Healey Willan), the RCCO is pulling all the stops to offer dazzling experiences for all music lovers. The Festival also provides a fabulous opportunity to explore and visit many notable and historic Toronto venues and organs and to celebrate the rich history of the RCCO.

Founded in 1909 as the Canadian Guild of Organists, the RCCO is Canada's oldest musicians' association. Today, the RCCO is a nationwide interdenominational community of professional and amateur organists, church musicians, choral conductors, and others sharing an interest in the organ and church music.

INTERNATIONAL ORGAN FESTIVAL

Toronto, June 28-July 2, 2009 - See detailed schedule below

For more details, please visit: http://www.rcco2009.ca

Or call 289-314-5600

INTERNATIONAL ORGAN FESTIVAL

Toronto, June 28-July 2, 2009

These Festival events are FREE and open to the public:

Saturday, June 27

10:00 am: Organ Competition Semi-Finals at the Church of the Holy Trinity

10 Trinity Square (Eaton Square)

Sunday, June 28

3:45 pm: Organ recital by Andrei Streliaev at St. James Cathedral, 65 Church Street

6:15 pm: Organ recital by Yoon Park at St. Thomas's Anglican Church, 383 Huron Street

Monday, June 29

4:30 pm: Festival Service featuring Elmer Iseler Singers (Lydia Adams, conductor), True North Brass & Paul Halley at St. James Cathedral, 65 Church Street

5:45 pm: Change ringing by the Cathedral Guild of Change Ringers on the lawn of St. James Cathedral

Tuesday, June 30

4:00 pm: Organ Recital by Isabelle Demers at the Church of the Holy Trinity, 10 Trinity Square

4:30 pm: RCCO Convocation at the Church of the Holy Trinity, 10 Trinity Square

7:45 pm: Carillon Recital by Gerald Martindale on the lawn of Metropolitan United Church,

56 Queen Street East

Wednesday, July 1

9:30 AM: Carillon Recital by Michael Hart at Soldier's Tower on the lawn of Hart House,

7 Hart House Circle (Queens Park)

1:30 pm: Organ Competition Finals at Lawrence Park Community Church, 2180 Bayview Avenue

Thursday, July 2

4:30 pm: Organ Recital by Patrick Wedd, followed by High Mass at the Church of St. Mary Magdalene, 477 Manning Avenue

INTERNATIONAL ORGAN FESTIVAL

Toronto, June 28-July 2, 2009

FESTIVAL TICKETED EVENTS

Sunday, June 28

8:15 pm: Organ recital by Matthew Coons followed by Songs of the Soul: Creation's Rainbow of Hope! with Soul Influence at Metropolitan United Church, 56 Queen Street East $10

Monday, June 29

1:00 pm: Organ Recital by Craig Humber at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, 73 Simcoe Street $15/10*

8:15 pm: Organ Recital by Rachel Laurin at St. Paul's Anglican Church, 227 Bloor Street East $20/15*

Tuesday, June 30

11:15 am: Organ Recital by James David Christie at Our Lady of Sorrows Church,

3055 Bloor Street West $15/10*

2:00 pm: Organ Recital by Jonathan Oldengarm followed by Choral Concert by Tafelmusik Chamber Choir (Ivars Taurins, conductor) St. Paul's Basilica, 83 Power Street $20/15*

8:15 pm: Gala Concert for Organ & Orchestra featuring Dame Gillian Weir, Rachel Laurin and Raffi Armenian, conductor at Metropolitan United Church, 56 Queen Street East $35/25*

Wednesday, July 1

10:00 am: Family Concert featuring Ryan Jackson and Giles Bryant at

Convocation Hall, University of Toronto, 31 Kings College Circle

$5/children 12 and under; $10/adults; $20/ family

11:30 am: Canada Day Choral Concert by Nathaniel Dett Chorale (Brainerd Blyden-Taylor, conductor) at Knox Presbyterian Church, 630 Spadina Avenue $20/15*

Thursday, July 2

1:30 pm: Choral & Organ Concert with Thierry Escaich & Exultate Chamber Singers (John Tuttle, conductor) at St. Paul's Anglican Church, 227 Bloor Street East $20/15*

8:15 pm: Organ Recital by Ken Cowan at All Saints Kingsway Anglican Church,

2850 Bloor Street West $20/$15*

* Specially priced for students & seniors