Organist Manuel Piazza in Concert

Experience the musical brilliance of Manual Piazza, winner of the 2023 Sir Ernest MacMillan Memorial Prize, and winner of the 2021 RCCO National Organ Playing Competition. Currently Assistant Director of Music at St Thomas’s Anglican Church in Toronto, Manuel will be performing the Allegro Maestoso from Edward Elgar’s First Sonata, the Canon in A-flat Major by Robert Schumann, and music by Maurice Duruflé on the majestic organ of St James’ Anglican Church in Vancouver. His playing has been praised for its imaginative stop selections, smoothly shifting tone colours, and abundant energy, and the concert at St James’ promises to be an unforgettable experience of musical brilliance!

The programme presents a compelling journey through a diverse range of organ music, beginning with Bach’s Sinfonia from Cantata No 29, which showcases the clarity and precision of Baroque counterpoint. From this solid foundation, the music moves into the lush Romantic expressiveness of Franck and Elgar, whose works demand both a rich tonal palette and dynamic control. The mood then shifts to the distinctive English sound of Herbert Howells, whose two pieces evoke a contemplative and nuanced atmosphere through modal harmonies and subtle textures.

Following this introspection, Schumann’s Innig offers an intimate and heartfelt moment, contrasting with the radiant and rhythmically intricate Joie et clarté des corps glorieux by Messiaen, which challenges the performer’s command of colour and timing. The programme concludes with Duruflé’s Suite, Opus 5,where Gregorian chant influences blend seamlessly with Impressionist harmonies, requiring a refined touch and deep musical sensitivity. Together these selections demand not only technical proficiency but also the expressive nuance and stylistic awareness necessary to capture their unique character and emotional depth.

Manuel Piazza is assistant organist and choir master at St Thomas’s Anglican Church, in Toronto. He studied organ with Martin Jean, improvisation with Jeffrey Brillhart, and choral conducting with Dale Adelmann. He served as senior organ scholar at Trinity Church on the Green, New Haven, where he was mentored by Walden Moore, and as an organist for Yale Schola Cantorum, conducted by David Hill.

Manuel Piazza developed a passion for sacred music while attending St Michael’s Choir School as a chorister in Toronto, Canada. He completed his undergraduate studies in organ performance at the University of Toronto, where he studied with John Tuttle. Hhe served as choir director and organist at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, organ scholar at Trinity College ( University of Toronto ), organ scholar at St James Anglican Cathedral, and one of five organists of St Michael’s Cathedral Basilica. From September 2019 to July 2020, he was organ scholar at Truro Cathedral in Cornwall, UK, where he played for Evensong three times a week, accompanying choristers under the direction of Christopher Gray.

Whilst living in the UK, he also taught theory and organ and performed with ensembles such as the London Sinfonia. After returning to North America, he won first prize in the 2021 Royal Canadian College of Organists National Organ Playing Competition and other awards such as the Godfrey Hewitt Memorial Scholarship (RCCO), the Mary Baker Scholarship in Organ Accompanying (Yale ISM), the Julia R Sherman Memorial Prize for excellence in organ playing (Yale ISM), and the Aidan Kavanagh Prize for academic achievement (Yale Divinity School).