Calendar

RCCO Vancouver Centre’s 18th Annual Halloween Organ Spooktacular @ St. John's Shaughnessy Anglican Church

Oct 27 @ 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm

Programme and performers:

Toccata in D minor, BWV 565 – Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

Gilles Parenteau

Désolation (Canadian Premiere) – Denis Bédard (b. 1950)

Denis Bédard

Introduction and Fugue in D minor, Op 62 – Franz Lachner (1803-1890)

Rachel Alflatt & Denis Bédard

Ballade, Op. 100, No. 15 – Friedrich Burgmüller (1806-1874)

Max Cifelli

Imperial March (from Star Wars) – John Williams (b. 1932), arr. J. Mark Baker

Isaac Howie

Fugue in D minor, WAB 125 – Anton Bruckner (1824-1896)

Huiyuan (Cindy) Ma

March of the Terrible Trolls – Linda Niamath (1939-2020)

Zenkay Harrison

This Is Halloween (from The Nightmare before Christmas) – Danny Elfman (b.1953), arr. Jannie Burdeti

Issa Harrison & Jannie Burdeti

Prelude in A minor, BWV 543 – Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

Jannie Burdeti

Toccata (from Suite gothique, Op. 25) – Léon Boëllmann (1862-1897)

PJ Janson

Medley: The Phantom of the Opera & Jurassic Park – Andrew Lloyd Webber (b. 1948), John Williams; arr. Michael Dirk

Michael Dirk

Lebhaft (from Organ Sonata No. 2) – Paul Hindemith (1895-1963)

Jonathan Robinson

Fugue in D minor, BWV 565 – Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

Gilles Parenteau

Master of Ceremonies—Heller

Oct

Sat

The Phantom of the Opera, Silent Movie with Organ Concert @ St. Philip's Anglican Church

Oct 28 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Nov

Fri

VSO: Saint-Saëns’ Organ Symphony @ Orpheum Theatre

Nov 10 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

With RCCO Vancouver Centre co-president and education officer Michael Dirk on the mighty Wurlitzer organ.

More info: https://www.vancouversymphony.ca/event/saint-saens-organ-symphony/

Nov

Sun

Remembrance Sunday Organ Recital @ Canadian Memorial United Church

Nov 12 @ 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm

RCCO member Bruce McKenzie, who plays at Canadian Memorial United Church, is being featured in an organ concert on the church’s newly digitized three manual Casavant pipe organ. The program highlights music connected with Remembrance, so we can expect works by J.S. Bach, Bédard, Barber, Elgar, Stanford, Willan and a brand new work by the young German organist Paul Fey – “Fanfare for a Farewell”. The concert will also showcase some of the songs that have come to define the World Wars musically here in Canada. There will be several opportunities for the audience to sing along with favourite wartime hymns and secular songs, led by members of the CMUC’s in-house singing group.

Canadian Memorial United Church has an interesting history, being in fact a National Church built with money from all over the world. The amazing stainless windows were donated by every Canadian province. The original memorial pipe organ is a gift of citizens of the United States of America in memory of American soldiers who fought and died alongside Canadian soldiers in WWI. The church displays the only copy of the National Books of Remembrance outside of the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa. These books contain the names of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom and will be opened for public viewing. People can look for the names of their relatives and friends.

The Remembrance concert is the first in Canadian Memorial’s planned three part organ series which will include a Christmas concert with organist John Mitchell on December 10, and another show in January.

The concert series is designed as a fundraiser for the ongoing maintenance of the 95 year old organ.

Bruce McKenzie

Formerly from Saskatchewan, Bruce can be seen regularly at the Canadian Memorial United Church pipe organ console. Musical studies in piano and organ led to a series of appointments as organist, and assistant organist positions, in Saskatchewan and Alberta. Bruce studied with noted Canadian organist Dr. Neil Cockburn at Calgary’s Mount Royal University. In Vancouver, Bruce is a sought after organist playing supply at city and area churches. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy and a Diploma in Pipe Organ Performance from the Royal Canadian College of Organists.

Nov

Mon

VCT Orpheum Silent Movie Mondays: Laurel & Hardy shorts @ Orpheum Theatre

Info: https://vancouvercivictheatres.com/events/vct-silent-movie-mondays-laurel-hardy-shorts-nov-27-2023/

Nov 27 @ 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm

Accompanied live on the Wurlitzer organ by RCCO Vancouver Centre co-president and education officer Michael Dirk.

Sun

Christmas with the Bach Choir @ Orpheum Theatre

Dec 3 @ 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

The Vancouver Bach Choir’s classic Christmas presentation. More than 400 singers, accompanied by brass quintet and organ in the historic Orpheum Theatre.

FEATURING

Leslie Dala and Marisa Gaetanne | Music Directors

A Touch of Brass Quintet

Michael Dirk | Organ

Catherine Campolin, Shane Raman, Cathrie Yuen | Conductors

Stephen Smith, Kin Ming Wong, Shifra Day, Aslan Aslanov, Esther Chun | Pianists

More info: https://vancouverbachchoir.com/events/christmas-with-the-bach-choir-2023/

Fri

Christmas Sing-A-Long with The Little Mountain Brass Band and the West Coast Singers @ St. Andrew's-Wesley United Church

Dec 8 @ 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm

Come celebrate the holiday season with a traditional Christmas sing-a-long! St. Andrew’s-Wesley is pleased to host The Little Mountain Brass Band, along with the West End Singers directed by Peggy Hua, and organist Angelique Po, for a night of classic carols, warm memories, and plenty of holiday cheer. Cocoa, cookies, crafts and carols make this fun, free event the perfect start to the holidays!

Click here for info

Sun

Advent and Christmas Organ Recital with John Mitchell @ Canadian Memorial United Church

Dec 10 @ 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm

John Mitchell, a Vancouver native, exhibited an early passion for the organ, playing his first services at St. Andrew’s United at the age of 14. With guidance from Frederick Carter, he attained the Associate and Fellowship Diplomas of the Royal Canadian College of Organists, receiving the Willan Prize for both. His rich musical journey includes roles as organist at Holy Rosary Cathedral, St. Mary’s Anglican in Kerrisdale, and chorus master of Edmonton Opera. A versatile talent, Mitchell studied voice at UBC School of Music, joined the Vancouver Chamber Choir, and performed supporting roles with Vancouver Opera. Returning to Vancouver in 1993, he resumed his role at St. Mary’s and freelanced across various churches, including Pacific Spirit United. Mitchell’s accomplishments span conducting, singing, and playing, making him a respected figure in the Vancouver musical scene for nearly four decades.

Programme:

Music for Advent
Fantasia on ‘O Come, O Come Emmanuel’ – Alec Rowley (1892 – 1958)

Now Come, Thou Savior of the Nations BWV 659 – J. S. Bach (1685 – 1750)
Up, Awake! A Voice is Calling BWV 645 – J. S. Bach

Prelude on ‘Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming’ – Johannes Brahms (1833 – 1897)
Audience hymn: Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus VU 2
Six Variations on the tune Stuttgart (in the style of Bach) – Christa Rakich

Music for Christmas
Three Preludes on ‘In Dulci Jubilo’ – J S Bach, Diedrich Buxtehude (1637 – 1707), Marcel Dupré (1886 – 1971)
From Heav’n Above to Earth I Come – Johann Pachelbel (1653 – 1706)
Offertory for Midnight Mass – César Franck (1822 – 1890)
‘Jig’ Fugue in C major – Diedrich Buxtehude
Audience carol ‘Twas in the Moon of Wintertime VU 71
Trio – Récit de Tierce en Taille – Grand Jeu et Duo (from ‘Suite in Classical French Style on the Huron Carol’) – John Mitchell
Two Christmas Interludes (Whence Is That Goodly Fragrance?, The Holly and the Ivy) – Wm. Lloyd Webber (1914 – 1982)
Audience carol: What Child is this? VU 74
What Child is This? (Greensleeves) – Richard Purvis (1913 – 1994)
Noël X Grand Jeu et Duo – Louis-Claude D’Aquin (1694 – 1772)

Mon

VSO Brass & Organ Concert @ Langley Canadian Reformed Church