Dunsmuir St & Richards St
Vancouver, BC V6B
Canada
Programme:
Wolfgang Amadeux Mozart: Fantasia in F minor, K. 608
Sigfrid Karg-Elert: The Soul of the Lake, Op. 96 No. 1, from Pastels from the Lake of Constance
Johann Sebastian Bach: Prelude and Fugue in A minor BWV 543
Richard Wagner: Prelude to Die Meistersinger
Rachel Laurin: Étude héroïque
Traditional Irish, arr. Robert Hebble: Londonderry Air
Felix Mendelssohn: Scherzo from A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Louis Vierne: Adagio and Finale from Symphonie No 3, Op. 28
Performance visible on a giant screen at the front of the Cathedral.
Ken Cowan organistkencowan.com/ is one of North America’s finest concert organists. Praised for his dazzling artistry, impeccable technique and imaginative programming by audiences and critics alike, he maintains a rigorous performing schedule which takes him to major concert venues and churches in America, Canada, Europe, and Asia.
Recent feature performances have included appearances at Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa California, Philadelphia’s Verizon Hall, Spivey Hall, and Walt Disney Concert Hall, as well as concerts in Germany and Korea. In addition, Mr. Cowan has been a featured artist in recent years at the national conventions of the American Guild of Organists held in Los Angeles and Minneapolis, has performed at many regional conventions of the AGO, and has been featured at several conventions of the Organ Historical Society and the Royal Canadian College of Organists.
Ken received the Master’s degree and Artist Diploma from the Yale School of Music/Institute of Sacred Music, studying organ with Thomas Murray. Prior to attending Yale, he graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree from the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia where he studied with John Weaver. His major teacher during high school years was James Bigham, Organist/Choirmaster at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, in Buffalo, NY, which is not far from his hometown Thorold, Ontario, Canada.
In 2012 Mr. Cowan joined the keyboard faculty of the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University as Associate Professor and head of the organ program. Previous positions have included Associate Professor of Organ at Westminster Choir College of Rider University in Princeton, NJ, where he was awarded the 2008 Rider University Distinguished Teaching Award, and Associate Organist and Artist in Residence at Saint Bartholomew’s Church in New York City.
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LOS ANGELES, CA
The American Organist
“Cowan’s performance was stunning. [His] playing displayed understanding of the composer’s intentions and allowed one to hear the beauty of the various families of color on this glorious instrument. There was passion and fire in this virtuosic performance [Max Reger’s fantasia on Wie schön leucht’ uns der Morgenstern]. Cowan’s careful and wonderfully sensitive musical interpretation of all the variations, and in particular, the powerful texts of the concluding verses, moved this writer to tears.” (The 2004 National Convention of the AGO in Los Angeles)
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CHICAGO, IL
The Diapason
IL “… one of the most outstanding young organist on the scene today. His unassuming manner and his sure and relaxed technique hide a fiery yet totally musical approach to organ playing.”
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PHILADELPHIA, PA
The Diapason
“His playing was nothing short of superb.”
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CLEVELAND, OH
ClevelandClassical.com
“All in all, this evening was one of the most memorable organ performances we’ve heard in years …” (2009 National Convention of the Organ Historical Society)
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BUFFALO
The Diapason
““His unassuming demeanor complements the dual nature of his playing – a combination of technical virtuosity and great musical understanding and sensitivity.” (2004 Organ Historical Society Convention in Buffalo)
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JAMESTOWN, NY
The Post-Journal
“ORGANIST GIVES WORLD-CLASS PERFORMANCE”