RCCO Vancouver Centre

Have a listen to John Mitchell’s CBC interview which aired yesterday morning about his 1:30pm concert this afternoon

Canadian Memorial United Church celebrates 95 years of their Casavant pipe organ | North by Northwest with Margaret Gallagher | Live Radio | CBC Listen This week on NXNW, Margaret Gallagher visited Canadian Memorial United Church to learn about a major milestone in their history...Their Casavant pipe organ has been in service to the church for over 95 years. To tell us more about the near-centennial instrument, organist John Mitchell takes us throu...

Just before the VSO St-Saëns Organ Symphony performance at the Orpheum, with RCCO Vancouver Centre co-president Michael Dirk on the mighty Wurlitzer. A fantastic performance and a wonderful evening!

Halloween Organ Spooktacular - Chan Centre UBC Music student Isaac Howie will present a spooky noon-hour Halloween concert featuring music by J.S. Bach, Couperin, Franck, Vierne, Boëlmann and John Williams.

And the finale to our Halloween trifecta - Isaac Howie will present a spooky noon hour Halloween concert tomorrow on Casavant opus 3055 (III/63ranks) in Roy Barnett Recital Hall: JS Bach, Couperin, Franck, Vierne, Boëlmann & John Williams

It’s going to be quite a show!! 🤩🎶

This Friday 7:30pm St John’s Shaughnessy
1490 Nanton Ave (at Granville St)

On Jeopardy today! 🤩

Tickets on sale now! Visit https://newmusic.org/vox-organi/

VOX ORGANI, October 19-21, featuring performances on Vancouver’s largest pipe organ at Pacific Spirit United Church.

From expansive dronescapes to novel sounds coaxed through uniquely crafted digital augmentation, a stellar lineup of Canadian and international artists will approach this impressive instrument each with their own voice and vision.

Artists: Sandra Boss (DK), Sarah Davachi (CA), Elisa Ferrari / John Brennan / Bárbara Lázara (CA/MX), gamut inc (DE), Blake Hargreaves (CA), loscil / Lawrence English (CA/AU) and Giulio Tosti (IT)

Catch Aaron Tan in his West Coast première concert at St. Andrew's-Wesley United Church this Tuesday, Sep. 19 at 7pm! Tickets are only $20 from Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/aaron-tan-organ-recital-tickets-700371358587

Canadian concert organist Aaron Tan is the first organist to have won all three major North American organ competitions, winning First Prizes at the American Guild of Organists 2018 National Young Artist Competition in Organ Performance, the RCCO's National Organ Playing Competition, and the 2021 Concours international d'orgue du Canada - CIOC.

Watch Aaron play Jean Guillou's virtuosic arrangement of Prokofiev's Toccata, Op. 11: https://youtu.be/LAg6HKRcDV4?si=vJcilv0OwtaAuWz1

Concert programme: "Voices from the Past and Present"

Fernando Germani - Toccata, op. 12
Heinrich Scheidemann - Dic nobis Maria (Motet Intabulation after Bassano)
Judith Weir - Wild Mossy Mountains
Georg Böhm - Freu dich sehr, o meine Seele
Sigfrid Karg-Elert - Ave Maria, from Cathedral Windows, Op. 106
Dieterich Buxtehude - Praeludium in E, BuxWV142
Jeanne Demessieux - Lumière, from 7 Méditations sur le Saint Esprit, Op. 6
Henri Duparc (trans. Tan) - Aux étoiles
Louis Vierne - Final, from Symphonie No. 5

It is with deep sadness that we have to inform you that Rachel, our beloved sister, passed away this morning at St. Vincent's Hospital in Ottawa where she had been hospitalized for over a month. May she rest in peace. And may her beautiful music be heard for a long time to come, thanks to the magnificent performers who continue to pay homage to her around the world. A big thank you to all, faithful friends, musicians, music lovers and admirers for your support throughout her career and, more particularly, during this last year when the disease has, little by little, deprived her of her most beautiful dreams and of her great passion : music.

Still a few outer orchestra tix left for tonight!- balcony is sold out! Doors open 6:30pm with the Gatsby Strutters Jazz trio performing in the upstairs West Coast Lounge

Silent Movie Mondays return to the Orpheum Theatre Popular silent films are accompanied by dramatic music played live on the historic Wurlitzer organ. It's the last theatre organ in Canada, still performing in its original home. We met up with the musician who plays it.

Thanks to all who attended our AGM this afternoon! Much gratitude to outgoing president Angelique Po for her 5 years of leadership. Michael Molnar and Michael Dirk will serve as co-presidents for the coming year. And in case you missed hearing Isaac's magnificent performance of his semi-final and final programs which book-ended the AGM, there's one more opportunity this Monday evening 7pm at UBC School of Music Roy Barnett Recital Hall's 1970 Casavant opus 3055 63-rank tracker.

Did you know- our upcoming AGM this Saturday afternoon at St John’s Shaughnessy will feature RCCO National Organ Playing semi-finalist Isaac Howie’s semi final program at 12:15pm (Bach, Hindemith, Bédard) before the 1pm AGM…
and then his final program after the meeting (Bach, Franck, Allwood, Messiaen)

Hope you’ll come join and cheer him on before he heads to Toronto!

In our final Spotlight we are featuring National Organ Competition Semi-Finalist Isaac Howie

Vancouverite Isaac Howie has always loved making music. A student of piano and composition since early childhood, his musical career has included founding a jazz trio; composing and performing for concert bands; publishing electronic music; and winning awards for solo piano. He entered the University of British Columbia at 15, where he currently studies organ under the mentorship of Professor Michael Dirk. Alongside his pursuit of a BMus, Isaac is Organist at Holy Family Parish in Vancouver; he holds an ARCT in piano and studies harpsichord with Alex Weimann. In 2021, Isaac was division winner of the Vancouver Chamber Choir's Young Composers' Competition. In his spare time, Isaac enjoys building computers and translating Ancient Greek texts.

The Semi-finals will be held on Saturday July 1st at Rosedale Presbyterian Church, Toronto from 10:00 am and 1:30 pm. Admission is free (donations to the RCCO accepted at the door).

On Saturday July 29, hear organist Alexander Weimann play a selection of pieces by J.S. Bach in The Well-Tempered Organ! presented by Early Music Vancouver.

Alex was born in Munich, where he studied the organ, church music, musicology (with a summa con laude thesis on Bach’s secco recitatives), theatre, mediæval Latin, and jazz piano. He serves as Music Director of the Pacific Baroque Orchestra in Vancouver, Music Director of the Seattle Baroque Orchestra, and regular guest conductor of ensembles including Arion Baroque Orchestra in Montreal and the Portland Baroque Orchestra. Inspired by Bach’s famous Well-Tempered Clavier and Anna Magdalena Bach, Alex has assembled a new collection of pieces spanning the whole harmonic spectrum for this special concert as part of the WOMENinSIGHT festival.

RCCO Vancouver members receive 20% off this concert - use the code ORGAN20 at checkout!

For more details, visit the link below.

July 29 The Well-Tempered Organ! - Early Music Vancouver Artist: Alexander Weimann, organ The “well” temperaments of Bach’s day were tuning systems carefully designed to let keyboardists play in every key without re-tuning their instruments. Inspired by Bach’s famous Well-Tempered Clavier, Alexander Weimann has assembled a new collection of pieces...

Want to go behind the scenes of Silent Movie Mondays? As part of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra's FREE Day Of Music, 'The Mighty Wurlitzer Organ' - a special event hosted by VSOSoM instructor & Vancouver Civic Organist, Michael Dirk. Join us at the Orpheum Saturday, June 10 at 4:45pm! 🎶 Learn More: dayofmusic.ca

More Orpheus in the press!

Centre Vice-President Michael Dirk returns this Saturday as part of VSO’s Day of Music (free) 4:45-5:15pm to offer encores of 1923’s Felix the Cat and 1928 Walt Disney’s Steamboat Willie (debut of Mickey Mouse), while offering an entertaining interactive introduction to the historic Mighty WurliTzer and the art of film accompaniment.

Silent Movie Mondays return to the Orpheum Theatre Popular silent films are accompanied by dramatic music played live on the historic Wurlitzer organ. It's the last theatre organ in Canada, still performing in its original home. We met up with the musician who plays it.

Bravissimo Ed Norman!!
Amazing turnout this evening for ‘The General’
👏👏👏Spectacular show 🎶🎞️🎥

The Orpheum Theatre presents the second Silent Movie Mondays | The Early Edition with Stephen Quinn | Live Radio | CBC Listen We hear the mighty Wurlitzer organ and about the event tonight.

Global HyperOrgan Concert a telematic organ concert connecting Vancouver and Amsterdam

Ed Norman has been playing the Orpheum WurliTzer for over 40 years- typically with the VSO and Bach Choirs, but for his first time tomorrow he’ll get to flex its ‘Mightyness’ with ‘all the bells and whistles’ as he masterfully improvises his accompaniment to Buster Keaton’s 1926 ‘The General’ - still some great seats available, and popcorn too! 🍿🎞️ 🎥

https://vancouvercivictheatres.com/events/vct-silent-movie-mondays-the-general-jun-5-2023/

I’m really looking forward to this. Lots of music, lots of performers, a beautiful organ and a wonderful acoustic.

RCCO Members' Recital: Nine Organists Pulling Out All the Stops!
Saturday, May 13 at 7:30pm
St. James Anglican Church (303 E Cordova St, Vancouver)

Vancouver members of the Royal Canadian College of Organists, performing on St James' majestic pipe organ. Admission is by donation, and a reception will follow the concert.

Programme:
PJ Janson Dupré - Cortège et Litanie, Op. 19 no. 2
Angelique Po Alain - Introduction et Variations
Rachel Alflatt & Denis Bédard Bédard - Cat Duet Suite
Cindy Ma J.C. Bach, arr. F. Wagner - Chromatic Fugue on BACH
Michael Dirk Bédard - Rondeau sur un thème rwandais
Isaac Howie Franck - Chorale No. 2 in B Minor
Christopher Dalton Dalton - Improvisation: 'Casavant 1605'
Gerald Harder Willan - Introduction, Passacaglia and Fugue

RCCO Members' Recital: Nine Organists Pulling Out All the Stops!
Saturday, May 13 at 7:30pm
St. James Anglican Church (303 E Cordova St, Vancouver)

Vancouver members of the Royal Canadian College of Organists, performing on St James' majestic pipe organ. Admission is by donation, and a reception will follow the concert.

Programme:
PJ Janson Dupré - Cortège et Litanie, Op. 19 no. 2
Angelique Po Alain - Introduction et Variations
Rachel Alflatt & Denis Bédard Bédard - Cat Duet Suite
Cindy Ma J.C. Bach, arr. F. Wagner - Chromatic Fugue on BACH
Michael Dirk Bédard - Rondeau sur un thème rwandais
Isaac Howie Franck - Chorale No. 2 in B Minor
Christopher Dalton Dalton - Improvisation: 'Casavant 1605'
Gerald Harder Willan - Introduction, Passacaglia and Fugue

The Vancouver Centre celebrated International Pipe Organ Day, 22 April 2023, with an organ crawl and recital by Christina Hutten.
About a dozen of us gathered at the New Westminster Christian Reformed Church to see, hear and play the 3 Manual Casavant1967/Koppejan1990 organ. Sipke Pijl spoke about the organ and described that the original two manual Casavant unit organ with Great and Positiv divisions had a third Swell manual and seven ranks added by Adrian Koppejan. The organ was also revoiced to be a warmer tone and a beautiful wooden case was added.
Our second stop was St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Parish in Vancouver with a very sweet two manual tracker organ in the gallery (24 stops,18 ranks). The organ was built by Canadian organ builder, Leslie Smith, in 2009 for Vancouver Roman Catholic Guardian Angel Parish. The gallery there was discovered to not be able to support the weight of the organ so it was installed at St. Patrick’s in 2011. A few more members joined us at St. Patrick’s and, after Christopher Dalton, our local organ historian, talked about the organ, we had a chance to listen, play and view the pipe work.
We split up to get some lunch and reconvened at St Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in East Vancouver to hear Christina Hutten play a delightful one hour concert on the two manual organ (21 stops, 7 ranks) built by Hugo Spilker of Victoria and installed in 1972. Christina also played a one manual harpsichord built by Craig Tomlinson and owned by the Vancouver Society for Early Music. She got her exercise sprinting from the front of the church, where the harpsichord was placed, to the rear gallery, where the organ console resides. After the concert of music by Bach, de la Guerre, Buxtehude, Sweelinck, Brahms, Demessieux, Frescobaldi, Storace, Jeay and Franck, the organist of St Mark’s, Dubravko Pajalic, gave a short demonstration of the organ.
Our next event will be the members recital at St James Anglican Church, Gore St. and Cordova St. in Vancouver on May 13 at 7:30pm

A fantastic evening at the movies! There was a large and very enthusiastic audience for the first of VCT's Silent movie Mondays (complete with popcorn!), featuring Harold Lloyd's masterpiece "Safety Last", preceded by the hilarious 1923 cartoon "Felix in Hollywood". Our own Centre vice-president Michael Dirk provided superb live accompaniment, complete with musical jokes, on the Orpheum's mighty Wurlitzer, with all the bells and whistles, plus horns, phones ringing, bangs and various other sound effects!

This is BC: Orpheum hosts silent movie Mondays | Watch News Videos Online Watch This is BC: Orpheum hosts silent movie Mondays Video Online, on GlobalNews.ca

Stephen Wittman has a few tickets available at half-price for Wayne Marshall's Sunday Apr. 30 concert at 2pm in Parksville. (Stephen did the installation of the organ he'll be playing at Knox United Church.) For those interested, please email him at [email protected].

Wayne Marshall - Organ concert - Sunday, April 30, 2:00 pm at Knox United Church in Parksville. Wayne, an international conductor, organist and pianist, is world-renowned for his musicianship and versatility, whether on the podium of a symphony orchestra or at the keyboards of a piano or at the console of an organ. He is an irrepressible and multifaceted talent, rewarded like few others with the gift of improvisation. His program will include works by Bach, Franck and his own improvisations based on several Gershwin and Bernstein tunes.

If you can't make it to Victoria on Friday, April 28th for Wayne Marshall's concert, you still have an opportunity to catch his performance at Knox United Church in Parksville on Sunday, April 30th, 2:00 pm.

In 2020 when we couldn’t get together for meetings in person, the RCCO Vancouver Centre and the RCCO Victoria Centre started getting together on Zoom once a month for meet-ups, usually with a theme, sometimes with a speaker. We’ve continued meeting monthly on Zoom post Covid 19 lock down.

Our next organists' meet-up is on Tuesday, April 18 at 7:00 pm. Meet-ups are on the 3rd Tuesday of each month. This month, get your pencils and favourite drinks ready for Organ Quiz Night!

If you are interested email Angelique Po for the zoom link. [email protected]