Walt Disney Concert Hall Curator Dedicates Local Church Organ

WALT DISNEY CONCERT HALL CURATOR DEDICATES LOCAL CHURCH ORGAN
Curator Manuel Rosales Restores 50-Year-Old Pipe Organ and Showcases at Recital on Nov. 2

(LOS ANGELES, CA)–Walt Disney Concert Hall curator and builder of its pipe organ, Manuel Rosales will dedicate St. Edmund’s Episcopal Church newly restored pipe organ on November 2. Fifty years ago, St. Edmund’s in San Marino invested in a world-class instrument known as Aeolian-Skinner Opus Number 1323, or a pipe organ. One of 1,400 instruments produced by the Aeolian-Skinner Organ Company and its predecessor, the Skinner Organ Company, in America, St. Edmund’s pipe organ is a significant historical instrument in need of restoration.

“St. Edmund’s has only been able to provide the maintenance necessary to slow the pipe organ’s disintegration,” said The Reverend George F. Woodward III, rector of St. Edmund’s. “The pipe organ was in need of restoration, revoicing, and tonal finishing to enhance and improve the instrument to the builder’s original intent.”

The San Marino church consulted with Thomas Harmon, PhD, Professor and University Organist, Emeritus, of UCLA, who established the potential for enhanced effectiveness of the organ through restoration and judicious additions of new pipework. “The church with long and continued services from its fine Aeolian-Skinner instrument and has the potential, particularly if the organ is enlarged, of regaining its place as one of the important instruments in the greater Los Angeles area,” according to Harmon.

To assist with the organ’s restoration, St. Edmund’s contracted Manuel Rosales of Rosales Organ Builders, who designed and supervised the construction of the organ at the new Walt Disney Concert Hall and is the Curator of that organ. With over 25 new instruments including large organs for Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Portland, Oregon and St. James Catholic Cathedral in Seattle Washington, Rosales is the fine artisan St. Edmund’s needed to revive its pipe organ’s stunning voice and tone. Examining fully the St. Edmund’s pipe organ, which is located in four chamber rooms, Rosales provided the church with a comprehensive description of its much-needed mechanical rebuilding.

The formal name of the completed instrument is “The St. Edmund’s Aeolian-Skinner Opus 1323 / Rosales Opus 37 Organ.” With over 700 new pipes, including the addition of exterior façade pipes in the chancel, renovation of the console, and a total rebuilding of all wind chests, leather pouches, electronics and expression shutters, the San Marino pipe organ is among the finest church organs in Southern California, and is attracting national attention.
St. Edmund’s pipe organ has already garnered national attention with its guest organist for the dedication recital, world-renowned Stephen Tharp, who is hailed as “the organist for the connoisseur” (Organ magazine, Germany), “the thinking person’s performer” (Het Orgel), “every bit the equal of any organist” (The American Organist magazine) and “the consummate creative artist” (Michael Barone, Pipedreams). Tharp is recognized as one of the great concert organists of our age.

Having played 32 solo intercontinental tours and over 800 North American concerts, Tharp has built one of the most well-respected international careers in the world, earning him the reputation as the most traveled concert organist of his generation. He is currently Artist-in-Residence at Grace Church (Episcopal), New York, and served as organist at St. Patrick's Cathedral from 1995-1997 and the Associate Organist at St. Bartholomew's, NYC, from 1998-2002.

Tharp’s recital will include the works of Bach, Widor, Demessieux, Drupré, Hakim and Mendelssohn. The dedication will begin at 4:00 p.m. at St. Edmund’s Episcopal Church located at 1175 San Gabriel Blvd. in San Marino, CA 91108. Rosales will also offer a special presentation about the restoration project.
To learn more about St. Edmund’s Aeolian-Skinner Opus 1323 / Rosales Opus 37 Organ, contact the San Marino church at (626) 793-9167 and visit www.saintedmunds.org.

Chelsea Chen Debut Nov 23 | Walt Disney Concert Hall

CHELSEA CHEN TO MAKE LOS ANGELES DEBUT ON THE WALT DISNEY CONCERT HALL ORGAN RECITAL SERIES

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2008 AT 7:30 PM

24-YEAR-OLD VIRTUOSO WILL PERFORM WORKS BY DUPRÉ, VIERNE, CHEN, GJEILO, HINDEMITH, BACH, AND REGER

Chelsea Chen, the brilliant 24-year-old organ virtuoso, will make her Los Angeles debut on the Walt Disney Concert Hall Organ Series on Sunday, November 23, at 7:30 p.m. The program is a rich mix of works from four centuries, including a piece written by Ms. Chen:

Marcel Dupré – "Le Monde dans l'attente du Sauveur" from Symphonie-Passion

Louis Vierne – Naiades from "Pièces de fantaisie"

Chelsea Chen – Taiwan Tableaux

Ola Gjeilo – Sinfonietta

Paul Hindemith – Sonata No. 1

J.S. Bach – An Wasserflüssen Babylon, BWV 653

Max Reger – Chorale-fantasy on "Hallelujah! Gott zu loben, bleibe meine Seelenfreud!"

Ms. Chen will be playing from the detached, movable (electro-pneumatic) console on stage, which will allow her to hear the balance of the organ in the hall, and will give the audience a better sight line.

"I've always admired Disney Hall's scintillating architecture and organ design. There really is not a more 'hip' place to hear and play the organ! Originally, I thought of the organ only as a church instrument, and while I am passionate about that magnificent repertory, I am also dedicated to secular works that show off the organ's wide range of expression. I hope that the audience will enjoy both the traditional and the contemporary works on the program, such as my own "Taiwan Tableaux" and Ola Gjeilo's "Sinfonietta."

Tickets

Tickets for the performance at Walt Disney Concert Hall (111 S. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles) are $24 to $49, on sale now online at LAPhil.com; at Walt Disney Concert Hall Box Office; or via credit card phone order at 323/850-2000. A limited number of $10 rush tickets for seniors and full-time students may be available at the Walt Disney Concert Hall Box Office two hours prior to the performance. Valid identification is required; one ticket per person; cash only. Groups of 10 or more may be eligible for special discounts for selected concerts and seating areas. For information, please call 323/850-2000.

About Chelsea Chen

With performances described as "electrifying" and "brilliant," Chelsea Chen elicits high praise for her exceptional command of the organ. She has already performed to great acclaim throughout the U.S., Hong Kong, Singapore, and Taiwan. A Juilliard graduate and Fulbright scholar, she is broadening the classical organ repertoire with her own Asian-inspired compositions.

Ms. Chen recorded her debut CD and DVD, "Live at Heinz Chapel," on the Heinz Chapel organ in Pittsburgh, PA at the 2005 Convention of the American Institute of Organbuilders. Her playing has been broadcast on "Pipedreams" from American Public Media, Hawaii Public Radio, and Taiwan's Good News Radio.

In 2006, Ms. Chen was featured at both the American Guild of Organists Region IX Conclave in Las Vegas and the AGO National Convention in Chicago. In addition, she has appeared as soloist with the Juilliard Percussion Orchestra in Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall and with the Musica Sacra Chamber Orchestra in Colorado. She premiered her own "Taiwanese Suite" (2003) and "Taiwan Tableaux" (2007) at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion, and has premiered several works by Juilliard composers Teddy Niedermaier and Ola Gjeilo, all with great success. In collaboration with harpist Arielle, their organ and harp ensemble, Duo Mango, has championed new works by Paul Desenne, Yui Kitamura, and Roderick Gorby.

Ms. Chen has been the recipient of many awards including The Baker Prize for a top incoming organ student at the Yale Institute of Sacred Music, The Charles Ives Prize for an outstanding organ major at the Yale School of Music, and The John Erskine Prize for scholastic and artistic distinction at The Juilliard School. In addition, she has taken first prizes in competitions including the 2005 Augustana/Reuter National Undergraduate Organ Competition, the 2003 Region IX AGO RCYO Competition, and the 2005 Musical Merit Foundation Competition. In 2006, she was an Aspen Music Festival full-scholarship recipient for piano.

Originally from San Diego, California, Ms. Chen studied piano from a young age with Jane Bastien and Lori Bastien Vickers. At fifteen, she began organ lessons with Leslie Robb, and later with Monte Maxwell. She then went on to study with John Weaver and Paul Jacobs at Juilliard, receiving her Bachelor's and Master's degrees. From 2003-06, she was organist at Emmanuel Presbyterian Church in Manhattan and was a leader of the Juilliard Christian Fellowship. In 2006-2007, she composed, lectured, and performed in Taiwan as a U.S. Fulbright Scholar. Currently, she is in the Artist Diploma program at Yale University studying with Thomas Murray.

The Unusual Works on the Program – Notes by Chelsea Chen

Chelsea Chen: Taiwan Tableaux (2007)

"Taiwan Tableaux" is a suite of six short movements based on Taiwanese folksongs dating from the 1930s. In recent years, these popular melodies have been heard in arrangements for orchestra, traditional Chinese instruments, and a variety of other ensembles. Five years ago, I wrote the three-movement "Taiwanese Suite" for a concert at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion in San Diego. The original idea was to showcase the colorful sounds of that outdoor organ. Later, I expanded that work during my Fulbright residency in Taiwan. Renamed "Taiwan Tableaux," it is dedicated to my father, who grew up in Taiwan.

Ola Gjeilo: Sinfonietta (2002)

Norwegian composer Ola Gjeilo was a classmate of mine at Juilliard. Now based in New York City, he is critically acclaimed for his film, choral and instrumental music, which meld classical and jazz styles. In 2005, he approached me to give the U.S. premiere of "Sinfonietta." As the title implies, this is a "little symphony" in one movement for organ. The opening features spirited passagework for the hands and a solo pedal cadenza for the feet, inspired by Bach's Toccata in C Major, BWV 564. A modal chorale emerges in a reflective, middle section, and is the basis for the climactic chordal ending.

Louis Vierne: Naiades from "Pieces de Fantaisie"

Born virtually blind, French organist and composer Louis Vierne was organist for 37 years at Notre Dame in Paris. One of the first organists to tour internationally, he composed his "Pieces de Fantaisie" for an immensely popular American concert tour in 1926-27. "Naiades" -- French for water-nymphs -- features a never-ending stream of sixteenth-note scales in the right and left hands. The lush string and flute pipes of the organ are highlighted in this piece.

Marcel Dupré: "Le Monde dans l'attente du Sauveur" from Symphonie-Passion,

Op. 23

French virtuoso organist Dupré improvised a four-movement symphony at the world- famous Wanamaker Grand Court Organ in Philadelphia during his U.S. concert tour in 1921. Having been given four liturgical melodies on which to improvise, he recalled: "I played in a state of exaltation that I have rarely experienced." He returned to France and composed "Symphonie-Passion" based on his improvisation. The first movement, "The World Awaiting a Savior" (Le Monde dans l'attente du Sauveur), depicts a restless pre-Christian world with a series of hushed, rapid-fire chords growing in intensity. The middle section introduces Jesu redemptor omnium (Jesus, redeemer of the world), a traditional Christmas hymn. This melody is then combined with the agitated chords of the opening in a triumphant, fortissimo conclusion.

Max Reger: "Hallelujah! Gott zu loben, bleibe meine Seelenfreud!" Op. 52, No. 3

Reger wrote his three Op. 52 chorale-fantasias in 1900, angered by a review citing his "weakness of invention." "Hallelujah! Gott zu loben," the third and most victorious of the three fantasias, is a series of variations on a hymn based on Psalm 146. After five variations, he introduces a mammoth fugue in which the chorale returns in the pedal, triumphantly showcasing his compositional prowess while setting the text, "The Lord shall reign for ever, unto all generations."

Davis legacy honoured at inaugural concert

The legacy of the family responsible for the world-class Davis Concert Organ in the Winspear Centre for Music will be recognized at Edmonton's first annual Winona and Stuart Davis Memorial Organ Recital. The concert, which spotlights French virtuoso Vincent Dubois holding court on the 6,551-pipe instrument at the Winspear (99 St. & 102 Ave.), Sunday, October 5 at 3 p.m., will also launch the Sundays at 3 Organ Recital Series 2008/2009 season.

The occasion will also bring to attention the establishment of the Davis Concert Organ Maintenance and Performance Trust, created to maintain the instrument in pristine condition and foster additional concerts that feature the organ.

"With 2008 acknowledged as the International Year of the Organ, the timing of this concert and trust is perfect," says Marnie Giesbrecht, who is on the trust's organizing committee and is acting managing co-director of the Sundays at 3 Organ Recital Series. "The trust will honour Dr. Stuart Davis's desire to keep the organ in top shape and enable more people to play and hear it. Organizations that present organists often can't afford the hall, so this trust is a good way to facilitate those possibilities. More groups using the organ will probably enhance more creative use of the Davis family's gift to the city of Edmonton."

Dr. Stuart Davis, a retired University of Alberta professor and a fan of organ music, donated $2 million to assist in the construction of the organ, which was built in the Winspear by Orgues Letourneau. Completed in 2002, the instrument was christened the Davis Concert Organ in memory of the doctor's late wife Winona. Dr. Davis passed away in 2005, having declared in his will that a trust continue to support the organ.

The concert's organist, Vincent Dubois, is currently the Assistant Director of the Conservatoire National of Angers and has been the titular organist at the Cathedral of Soissons since 2001. He's also won the Recital Gold Medal at the 2002 Calgary International Organ Competition and the Grand Prize at the 2002 International Competition of Toulouse, France, which resulted in a performance itinerary that has since stretched around the globe. Dubois will perform an all-French program that includes works by Marcel Dupré, César Franck, Louise Vierne and Maurice Duruflé,

Tickets for the Winona and Stuart Davis Memorial Organ Recital are $20 and available at the Winspear box office (780-428-1414), Tix on the Square (780-420-1757) or at the door. For more information, contact the Sundays at 3 Organ Concert Series at (780) 429-1655 or visit their website at www.rcco.edmonton.ab.ca.

French flair launches Sundays at 3 season

French flair launches Sundays at 3 season

A prince among performers is set to tackle the king of instruments when French virtuoso Vincent Dubois performs on the renowned Davis Concert Organ at the Winspear Centre for Music (99 St. & 102 Ave.) Sunday, October 5 at 3 p.m. Dubois' Winspear appearance is the focus of Edmonton's first annual Winona and Stuart Davis Memorial Organ Recital, which also launches the Sundays at 3 Organ Recital Series 2008/2009 season.

Dubois hasn't even reached the age of 30 and already he's been hailed as "one of the world's leading young concert organists" by trade publication The American Organist. He's also won the Recital Gold Medal at the 2002 Calgary International Organ Competition and the Grand Prize at the 2002 International Competition of Toulouse, France, which resulted in a performance itinerary that has since stretched around the globe. He's appeared solo and with such world-renowned ensembles as the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, the Hong-Kong Philharmonic and the Orchestre National de France. Dubois also has an expanding discography that includes interpretations of the work of Franz Liszt on the Vox label as well as two releases recorded in France on the Jav label.

Born in 1980, Dubois started on organ when he was 11 at the Cathedral of St. Brieux, before furthering his studies at the National Conservatory of Angers and the Conservatoire National Supériour de Musique de Paris, studying with Olivier Latry, who performed in Edmonton at Windspiration in 2007. Dubois is currently the Assistant Director of the Conservatoire National of Angers, where he previously was an instructor, and has been the titular organist at the Cathedral of Soissons since 2001.

Dubois will perform an all-French program that begins with a transcription by Marcel Dupré of a Bach cantata orchestral overture. Following some of the most colourful works by César Franck, Louise Vierne and Maurice Duruflé, Dubois will improvise on submitted themes showcasing his virtuosity and creating on the spot a new and dazzling work. His improvisations have enthralled audiences and critics worldwide.

Tickets for the Winona and Stuart Davis Memorial Organ Recital are $20 and available at the Winspear box office or Tix on the Square; Jan, Feb. concerts $15 at Tix on the Square or at the door. Season subscriptions are $45 and available by calling (780) 454-3882 or Tix on the Square at (780) 420-1757 or www.tixonthesquare.ca. For more information, contact the Sundays at 3 Organ Concert Series at (780) 429-1655 or visit their website at www.rcco.edmonton.ab.ca.

Kotzschmar Organ Summer Series Opens June 17

For Immediate Release
Contact: Kathleen Grammer, 207-883-4234

Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ Summer Season 2008

All concerts begin at 7:30 pm

Pre-concert talks begin at 6:30 pm

Admission: $12.00 suggested at the door; under 21, free, unless otherwise noted.

All performances at Merrill Auditorium, City Hall, Portland, Maine

June 17 Ray Cornils, Portland Municipal Organist Classical with Kotzschmar Festival Brass

June 24 Felix Hell - Classical

July 1 Geroen Krahfoerst, Germany, improvisation - Classical

July 8 John Schwandt, Oklahoma - Classical/Pops

July 15 Frederick Hohman - Classical

July 29 Silent film - Tom Trenney featuring Buster Keaton Silent film in The General

August 5 Classical -Ken Cowan (John Weaver Celebratory Concert)

August 12 Dave Wickerham, Boca Raton, FL - Pops

August 19 Peter Conte Wanamaker - Classical

August 26 James Vivian Temple Church, London - Classical

Summer Demonstration-tour concerts - please check www.foko.org for detailed schedule, dates to be determined.

About the Kotzschmar Organ:
The Kotzschmar Memorial Organ, built in 1912 by the Austin Organ Company of Hartford, Connecticut, was given to the City of Portland by Cyrus H. K. Curtis. It is this nation's oldest working municipal organ. With 5 manuals (keyboards) for the hands, a 32-note pedal board for the feet, over 6800 pipes from ½ inch to 32 feet in length, over 100 miles of wiring and weighing more than 50 tons, it is truly one of this nation's musical treasures.

In addition to the concerts listed above, FOKO presents an annual education program, "Meet the King of Instruments," in May and has commissioned the design and construction of the Kotzschmar, Jr., a small, portable, working organ intended for demonstration and educational outreach in school classrooms.

About the Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ (FOKO):
The Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ (FOKO) was founded as a non-profit organization in 1981 to relieve the City of Portland of the tasks of raising funds for the organ's care and repairs. FOKO present a wide variety of concerts including a summer classics and pops organ series, a silent film series and Music from the World's Great Cathedrals series.

For more information about the Kotzschmar Organ and the Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ, visit www.foko.org.

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Le Concours international d'orgue du Canada : Une première à Montréal !

Le nouvel événement majeur prend son envol avec l'annonce de
16 concurrents

MONTREAL, le 5 mai /CNW Telbec/ - Cet automne, Montréal accueillera du 8 au 19 octobre 16 organistes virtuoses dans le cadre de la première édition du Concours d'orgue international du Canada (CIOC). "Ce Concours est une vitrine extraordinaire pour l'imposant patrimoine culturel montréalais, notamment, pour les magnifiques orgues de ses nombreuses églises, a déclaré Kent Nagano, directeur musical de l'Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal et patron d'honneur du Concours. Je salue les efforts investis dans la démystification de la musique d'orgue, et je suis fier d'offrir mon soutien en vue de cet événement musical de premier plan." Seul concours international d'orgue des Amériques en 2008, l'événement triennal misera sur la qualité pour offrir au public un nouveau rendez-vous musical de classe internationale.


Montréal, berceau de l'orgue

Ville aux cent clochers, Montréal possède une collection d'orgues de grande envergure d'une valeur inestimable. Les professeurs d'orgue des universités et conservatoires du Québec sont reconnus et le talent des facteurs d'orgues d'ici rayonne à l'étranger. "Avec autant d'éléments jouant en faveur de Montréal, la création d'un concours international d'orgue devenait incontournable. Octobre 2008 sera mémorable dans l'histoire de l'orgue au pays !", a déclaré M. John Grew, organiste de l'Université McGill et directeur artistique du CIOC.

Avec l'arrivée du Concours, un nouveau rendez-vous est maintenant inscrit à l'agenda culturel des Montréalaises et des Montréalais et à celui des visiteurs. "Je me réjouis de la tenue de ce concours d'envergure internationale dans la métropole, a déclaré madame Catherine Sévigny, conseillère associée à la culture et au centre-ville à la Ville de Montréal. Indéniablement, ce nouvel événement est source de fierté et contribue au rayonnement de Montréal comme métropole culturelle."


Un concours international prestigieux

Menée auprès de 1500 facultés de musique et conservatoires autour du monde, la campagne de recrutement du CIOC a permis de recevoir 60 candidatures de 17 pays. Outre le nombre important d'inscriptions pour un nouvel événement, le niveau très relevé des musiciens ressort de façon claire.

Des 16 organistes retenus par un jury préliminaire, 13 sont lauréats de concours d'orgue établis. Représentant 11 pays, cette sélection de très haut calibre regroupe six femmes et dix hommes d'une moyenne d'âge de 28 ans. Pendant le concours un jury de neuf éminents spécialistes de sept pays déterminera les lauréats et leur remettra 65 000 $ en bourses et de nombreux prix spéciaux. "C'est à la fois grâce au jury international et avec les prix les plus importants de tous les concours d'orgue que le Concours international d'orgue du Canada a attiré 16 des meilleurs jeunes organistes au monde", a déclaré M. Grew, qui présidera le jury en octobre prochain.

Le volet compétitif du concours se déroulera en trois épreuves, entre le 8 et 17 octobre, et se clôturera par un concert gala des lauréats le 19 octobre. La première épreuve se tiendra à l'Eglise Immaculée-Conception, la deuxième à l'Eglise Saint-Jean-Baptiste et la finale à la Basilique Notre-Dame. John Grew, directeur artistique du CIOC, promet aussi des concerts et des activités de formation dont l'annonce se fera en septembre prochain.

"Le CIOC ancrera le statut de Montréal comme capitale nord-américaine de l'orgue. Dès la première édition, nous souhaitons positionner notre Concours parmi les meilleurs au monde", a fait remarquer M. E. Noel Spinelli, C.M., le président du conseil d'administration du CIOC.

Partenaires et visionnaires

C'est grâce aux efforts et à l'engagement des membres du conseil d'administration du Concours que des appuis financiers importants ont été obtenus. Comme diffuseur officiel, Radio-Canada contribuera à la découverte. Avec les intervenants du milieu de l'orgue, ses donateurs et ses partenaires fondateurs soit RBC, Equipe Spinelli, Financière Sun Life et Hydro Québec, le Concours international d'orgue du Canada jouera un rôle de premier plan pour faire connaître de nouveaux talents qui mettront en valeur ces instruments spectaculaires, souvent inconnus du public. Mentionnons aussi la participation du Ministère de la culture, des communications et de la condition féminine, du Ministère du tourisme et de la Ville de Montréal. Fort de l'appui de ses partenaires, le CIOC poursuit les démarches de recherches de fonds afin de garantir le succès de sa première édition et d'assurer sa continuité.

A propos du CIOC

Le Concours international d'orgue du Canada (CIOC) accueille au pays de jeunes organistes recrutés à travers le monde. L'organisme effectue un travail annuel pour promouvoir l'orgue comme instrument majeur dans la culture musicale au pays en plus de contribuer au développement de la carrière de jeunes organistes. Présenté sur des instruments de qualité dans des lieux d'une grande beauté architecturale, le CIOC jouera un rôle important dans la mise en valeur du patrimoine qui a fait de Montréal une référence nord-américaine dans le domaine de l'orgue. Vous pouvez consulter le site Web du CIOC au www.ciocm.org.

Canadian International Organ Competition: A "First" in Montreal!

Major new event launches, 16 international competitors revealed

MONTREAL, May 5 /CNW Telbec/ - This Fall, between October 8 and 19, Montreal will welcome 16 brilliant young organists from around the world under the auspices of the first edition of the Canadian International Organ Competition (CIOC). "This Competition will showcase Montreal's diverse heritage, notably through the exceptional collection of instruments held in churches throughout the city," commented Kent Nagano, Music Director of the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal and Honorary Patron of the competition. "I salute the efforts made in demystifying the organ and its music, and I am proud to offer my support in preparation for this major musical happening." The only international organ competition in the Americas in 2008, this triennial event is of such high quality that it offers the public a new musical experience of international calibre.

Montreal, cradle of the organ

City of a hundred churches, Montreal possesses an extraordinary collection of priceless organs. Professors of organ music at Quebec universities and conservatories are well renowned and the talent of our organ builders is recognized all over the world. "With all these elements playing in favour of Montreal, the creation of an international organ competition here was inevitable. October 2008 will be memorable in Canada's history of the organ!" so said Mr. John Grew, Organist at McGill University and Artistic Director of the CIOC.

With the arrival of this competition, a new rendezvous is now written in the cultural agenda of all Montrealers and all visitors to Montreal. "I am thrilled that we are holding this international competition in the heart of the city," declared Ms. Catherine Sévigny, associate councillor for culture and downtown, City of Montreal. "This new event is without a doubt a source of great pride, and contributes to the influence of Montreal as a cultural centre."

A prestigious international competition

After a major launch in 1500 faculties and conservatories of music around the world, the CIOC recruitment campaign brought forward 60 candidates from 17 countries. In addition to this important number of entries for a new event, the high level of talent in the musicians became rapidly obvious.

Of the 16 organists chosen by a preliminary jury, 13 are already prize winners in well-established international organ competitions. Representing 11 countries, this selection of very high calibre talent includes six women and ten men with an average age of 28 years. For the Competition, a jury of nine eminent specialists from seven countries will determine the winners, and who will ultimately receive the $65,000 in prizes and other special awards. "It is thanks to the quality of this international jury and the appeal of the Competition's generous prizes, which are greater than any other organ competition in the world, that the Canadian International Organ Competition has attracted 16 of the finest young organists from across the globe," declared Mr. Grew, who will preside over the jury next October.

The competitive part of the event will take part in three rounds, between October 8 and 17, and will close with a Gala Concert showcasing the winners on October 19. The first round will take place at the Immaculate Conception Church, the second at the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Church and the final round at the Notre-Dame Basilica. Artistic Director John Grew promises that a number of concerts and educational activities will be held conjointly. The exact place and time of these will be announced in September.

"The CIOC will confirm Montreal's status as North America's pipe organ capital. And for its first edition, we want the CIOC to position itself as one of the most prestigious organ competitions in the world," commented Mr. E. Noel Spinelli, C.M., Chairman of CIOC's Board of Directors.

Partners and visionaries

It is thanks to the generous efforts and the commitment of the members of the Competition's Board of Directors that important financial support has been obtained. Radio-Canada will contribute to the experience as the contest's official broadcaster. The support of the pipe organ world, private sponsors, and founding partners, such as RBC, Team Spinelli, Sun Life Financial and Hydro Québec, will allow the CIOC to play a leading role in highlighting those new talents that are able to bring out the spectacular, and often unknown, nature of these instruments. The event is also being bolstered by the participation of the Quebec Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Tourism and the City of Montreal. Greatly encouraged by this support, CIOC is actively seeking other sources of funding to ensure the success of this first edition of the Competition and guarantee its continuance.

About CIOC

The Canadian International Organ Competition (CIOC) welcomes young organists to Montreal from around the world. Each year, the organization works to promote the organ as a major instrument in the world of music, and also contributes to the development of the careers of the young organists. The Competition, by showcasing these impressive instruments in their historically beautiful settings, plays an important role in emphasizing the value of our heritage, and recognizing Montreal as a major North American centre for pipe organ music. Please visit the CIOC's website at www.ciocm.org.

The Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ Welcome Ben Van Oosten April 19 for a French Romantic Concert

PORTLAND, Maine – The Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ (FOKO) welcome guest organist Ben van Oosten from the Netherlands on Tuesday, April 29^th for a French Romantic Concert in Portland's Merrill Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. Van Oosten will join Portland Municipal Organist Ray Cornils for a pre-concert talk at 6:30 p.m.

The concert will feature works from the great French organ romantic literature, including Alexandre Guilmant's, Sonate nr. 1 in D minor, Op. 4, Charles-Marie Widor's, Trois Nouvelles Pièces, Op. 87, César Franck's, Choral nr. 1 in E major, and Louis Vierne's, Symphony nr. 3 in f-sharp minor, Op. 28.

Van Oosten is one of the foremost international organists of today, best known for his highly-regarded recordings of French romantic organ literature for the MD&G label, including the eight sonatas of Alexandre Guilamnt and the complete organ works of Louis Vierne and Charles-Marie Widor. Van Oosten, born in The Hague in 1955, studied the organ and piano at the Sweelinck Conservatory in Amersterdam and later studied in Paris. Aside from his concert career, van Oosten is an organ professor at the Rotterdam Conservatory, where he teaches students from all over the world. Today, van Oosten serves as organist at the Grote Kerk in The Hague and is artistic director of the annual International Organ Festival.

Suggested admission at the door is $15, attendees under 21 are free.

About the Kotzschmar Organ
The Kotzschmar Memorial Organ, built in 1912 by the Austin Organ Company of Hartford Connecticut, is this nation's oldest working municipal organ. With 5 manuals for the hands, a 32-note pedal board, 6857 pipes from ½ inch to 32 feet in length, 87 stops, 101 ranks, it is truly one of this nation's musical treasures.

About Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ
Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ was founded in 1981 as a result of the city of Portland's need to withdraw funding for the organ due to financial limitations. Today, dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the Kotzschmar Organ, the Friend's responsibilities include raising funds, presenting concerts and educational programs and engaging the services of a Municipal Organist.

For more information on any of the concerts contact Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ Executive Director Kathleen Grammer, 207-883-4234 or visit www.foko.org.

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Tuesday, April 29, 2008

The Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ present:

Ray Cornils, Municipal Organist and

Ben van Oosten, Guest Organist

at Merrill Auditorium – Portland, Maine

Sonate nr. 1 in D minor, Op. 42 (1874) – Alexandre Guilmant (1837-1911)

Introduction et Allegro

Pastorale (Andante quasi Allegretto)

Final (Allegro assai)

From "Trois Nouvelles Pièces", Op. 87 (1934) – Charles-Marie Widor (1844-1937)

Mystique

Choral nr. 1 in E major (1890) -- César Franck (1822-1890)

INTERMISSION

Symphony nr. 3 in f-sharp minor, Op.28 (1911) – Louis Vierne (1870-1937)

Allegro maëstoso

Cantilène

Intermezzo

Adagio

Final

Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ Announce Scholarship Recipients

PORTLAND, Maine – The Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ, administrators of the Kotzschmar Memorial Trust Scholarship Fund, recently named this year's scholarship recipients. The four scholarships will be officially awarded at the Legacy of Hermann Kotzschmar concert on Tuesday, April 15th, 7:30 p.m. at Merrill Auditorium.

Any student of the organ, orchestral instruments or voice who is a resident of greater Portland, including Portland, South Portland, Scarborough, Westbrook, Cape Elizabeth, Falmouth, Gorham and Cumberland, and who is between the ages of 10-18 (grades 4-12) or 19-25 is eligible for the scholarship. There are four recipients for 2008, receiving $100-$1,000 each, for additional music education. In addition, there are two Honorable Mentions:

• Nell Britton, a sophomore at Cape Elizabeth High School, received a scholarship. She has studied piano for 6 years and is a student of Robert Glover.
• Henry Kramer is a graduate of Cape Elizabeth High School (class of '05) and is currently a third year student at The Juilliard School in New York City. Henry has studied piano for 8 years and was awarded a scholarship. He currently studies with Julian Martin.
• Jiyeon Kim is a Junior at Deering High School is Portland. Jiyeon received a scholarship. She has studied piano for 6 years and currently studies under Barbara Payson.
• Benjamin Jones is a ninth grade student at Yarmouth High School. Ben was awarded a scholarship. He has studied violin for 8½ years and is taught by Ronald Lantz.
• Aaron Dobieski received an Honorable Mention. Aaron is a 5^th-grader at Cape Elizabeth Middle School. He studies piano with Elizabeth Manduca and has been playing for 5 years.
• Evan Moore also received an Honorable Mention. He is a 6^th-grader at Lincoln Middle School. His piano teacher is Liz Manduca. Evan has been studying piano for 4½ years.

The Kotzschmar Memorial Trust Scholarship was established in 1911 by Mrs. Herman Kotzschmar to "aid in the musical education of such pupil or pupils, of marked ability." FOKO administers the auditions and presents the awards.

Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ was founded in 1981 as a result of the city of Portland's need to withdraw funding for the organ due to financial limitations. Dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the Kotzschmar, FOKO's responsibilities include raising funds, presenting concerts and engaging the services of a Municipal Organist.

Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ Celebrate the Legacy of Hermann Kotzschmar - April 15

PORTLAND, Maine – The Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ will celebrate the Legacy of Hermann Kotzschmar, Portland's pre-eminent musician of the late 19th century and the organ's namesake, on Tuesday, April 15, 2008. This marks the 100^th anniversary of Hermann Kotzschmar's death.

The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. in Portland's Merrill Auditorium. Organists/choir directors Harold Stover, Albert Melton and Chip Kaufman will join Portland Municipal Organist Ray Cornils in a concert featuring works of J. S. Bach, Franz Joseph Haydn, Will Macfarlane, John Knowles Paine, Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy and Mr. Kotzschmar. Highlights of the program include Haydn's "The Heavens Are Telling" (from The Creation), Bach's "Fugue in Eb Major" (St. Anne), Macfarlane's "Evening Bells and Cradle Song," and Kotzschmar's "Rejoice in the Lord" and "Commercial Street Polka."

Choirs from First Parish Church UU, Portland; First Parish Church, UCC, Brunswick; St. Luke's Cathedral, Portland and Woodfords Congregational Church will join the Organists and Directors for this special celebration.

Hermann Kotzschmar, a German native, moved to Portland in 1849, where he worked as organist at First Parish Church Unitarian Universalist for 47 years, and as a choral conductor in Portland. Kotzschmar was a talented musician, composing music as well as instructing hundreds of students at the "Kotzschmar Piano School" for more than 50 years. His great friend, Cyrus H. Curtis, donated the Kotzschmar Organ to the City of Portland as a permanent fixture of City Hall in memory of Hermann Kotzschmar.

Admission is a suggested $12 at the door; under 21 free.

About the Kotzschmar Organ
The Kotzschmar Memorial Organ, built in 1912 by the Austin Organ Company of Hartford Connecticut, is this nation's oldest working municipal organ. With 5 manuals for the hands, a 32-note pedal board, 6857 pipes from ½ inch to 32 feet in length, 87 stops, 101 ranks, it is truly one of this nation's musical treasures.

About Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ
Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ was founded in 1981 as a result of the city of Portland's need to withdraw funding for the organ due to financial limitations. Today, dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the Kotzschmar Organ, the Friend's responsibilities include raising funds, presenting concerts and educational programs and engaging the services of a Municipal Organist.

For more information on any of the concerts contact Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ Executive Director Kathleen Grammer, 207-883-4234 or visit www.foko.org.

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The Legacy of Hermann Kotzschmar

July 4, 1829- April 15, 1908

Homeland Traditions

The Heavens Are Telling (from The Creation) Franz Joseph Haydn

Chorus 1732-1809

Ray Cornils, conductor, Harold Stover, organ

Fugue in Eb Major (St. Anne) Johann Sebastian Bach

Albert Melton, organ 1685-1750

Happy and Blest Are They (from St. Paul) Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy

Chorus 1809-1847

Albert Melton, conductor, Ray Cornils, organ

When Will Ye Think of Me? Hermann Kotzschmar

Soloist TBA

Hermann Kotzschmar in Portland

Rejoice in the Lord Hermann Kotzschmar

Chorus

Chip Kaufmann, conductor, Ray Cornils, organ

The Leviathan March Hermann Kotzschmar

Ray Cornils, organ

Commercial Street Polka Hermann Kotzschmar

Henry Kramer, piano

Variations on the Austrian Hymn John Knowles Paine

Ray Cornils, organ 1839-1906

The Kotzschmar Hymn Hermann Kotzschmar

Chorus and audience

Hermann Kotzschmar's Legacy

Malaga Isaac Albeniz

Henry Kramer, piano

Evening Bells and Cradle Song Will C. Macfarlane

Harold Stover, organ 1870-1945

I Was Glad C. Hubert H. Parry

Chorus 1848-1918

Harold Stover, conductor, Albert Melton, organ

America, The Beautiful Will C. Macfarlane

Chorus and audience

Harold Stover, conductor, Ray Cornils, organ