By Rachel Alflatt
The RCCO Vancouver Members and Students Recital took place at St. Mary’s Kerrisdale Anglican Church on June 8, and was organized by St. Mary’s organist Susan Ohannesian. Susan dedicated the recital to the memory of Patrick Wedd, writing: “Patrick Wedd, Canadian organist, choral director, church musician, recitalist, recording artist, and CBC commentator died on May 19, 2019 following a brief illness. Patrick was also an inspiration, influence, teacher, mentor and friend to many in Vancouver and Montreal. He was music director here at St. Mary’s Kerrisdale form 1970 to 1975 before taking the position at Christ Church Cathedral Vancouver which he held until 1985. He lived and worked in Montreal from 1985 until his death and had just retired from Christ Church Cathedral, Montreal last July 2018. He will be sorely missed across Canada.”
Organizer Susan Ohannesian and outgoing Centre President Michael Molnar
Performers were Cindy Leung (Dietrich Buxtehude, Prelude in g minor BuxWV 149), John Pals (J. S. Bach, Prelude and Fugue in G BWV 541), Susan Ohannesian (Felix Mendelssohn, Allegretto from Sonata No. 4 Bb major Opus 65 and Buxtehude, Three verses on “Vater Unser“ BuxWV 207), Michael Molnar (A. P. F. Boëly, Verset sur le Kyrie and H. Ernest Nichol, Festal March), Huiyuan (Cindy) Ma (J. S. Bach, Contrapunctus IX from Art of Fugue BWV 1080 and Georg Muffat, Toccata III), Tamar Genossar (Mendelssohn, Prelude No. 3 Opus 37), Michael Blais (Denis Bedard, Madrigal, Petite fleur, Theme et Variations from Sept Offrandes), Rachel Alflatt (Bedard, Recit and Grand Jeu from Suite du premier ton), Gail Ovington (Buxtehude, Praeludium in D BuxWV 139 and Bach, Nun freut euch lieben Christian g’mein BWV 734), Haruyo Shikano Abramson (Mendelssohn, Chorale and Variations “Vater Unser” from Sonata No. 6 in D minor Op. 65), Angelique Po (Paul Hindemith, Lebhaft from Sonata No. 2), and Madelene Klassen (“Three for Holy Week and Beyond”: Dennis Eliot, Hosanna! Hosanna!, Marianne Kim, Pass Me Not, O Gentle Saviour and Emma Lou Diemer, Every Time I Feel the Spirit).
Performers at the Members and Students Recital. Left to right, front row: Madelene Klassen, Rachel Alflatt, Haruyo Shikano Abramson, Gail Ovington, Susan Ohannesian, back row: Michael Blais, Cindy Leung, John Pals, Tamar Genossar, Huiyuan (Cindy) Ma, Angelique Po.
The recital’s theme, “Inspirations and Influences”, emerged after Susan Ohannesian realized that many people were playing Buxtehude, Bach, or Mendelssohn. There was an enthusiastic audience, and a reception followed, with the assembled Orgelkit on display.
Chris Dalton, author of “Pipe Organs of British Columbia”, examining the latest one to arrive in Vancouver!