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The new Director of Music at Vancouver’s Christ Church Cathedral, Neil Cockburn, will perform a solo organ recital at St James’ Anglican Church, featuring works by Johann Sebastian Bach, Sir Charles Villiers Stanford, and Louis Vierne.
Celebrated for his diverse repertoire interests and expertise, he performs an all-encompassing spectrum of solo organ recitals on a wide range of instrument types, from all-Bach recitals on historically inspired organs, to symphonic programmes on romantic instruments, and concerts of entirely new works.
About five years ago, Neil presented an eclectic programme at Vancouver’s Canadian Memorial United Church, and he has been described as an immensely gifted musician. St James’ Anglican Church is pleased to welcome Neil back to Vancouver for a concert that promises to be a unique and captivating experience, showcasing his mastery of the instrument and his versatility as a performer.
A brilliant musician on the majestic organ at St James’ Anglican Church : the perfect combination !
About Neil Cockburn
- Born in Scotland in 1972, Neil Cockburn’s musical training began as Organ Scholar of Keble College, Oxford University where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Music. He studied organ performance at the School for the Arts at Boston University, USA. On returning to the UK he enrolled at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, and became a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists who awarded Neil the coveted Limpus Prize for the highest national marks, in organ playing
- Neil stepped onto the international organ concert platform in 1996 when he won the Dublin International Organ Competition at the age of 24. Since then he has performed widely in the United Kingdom as well as in Ireland, France, Sweden, the United States, Canada and South Africa
- On graduating from the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester in 1997, he pursued further studies with Dame Gillian Weir in the UK and Jean Boyer in France. A generous scholarship from the Pilling Trust also enabled him to study with Susan Landale at the Conservatoire à rayonnement régional de Rueil-Malmaison in France, where in 1999 he won the Premier Prix à l’unanimité du CNSM, and in 2000 he was awarded the annual Lili Boulanger Memorial Fund Prize
- From 2000 until 2015 he was Head of Organ Studies at Mount Royal Conservatory, where he worked alongside Sir Simon Preston on the International Summer School ( 2000-2009 ), and was Artistic Director of the Calgary Organ Festival ( 2010-2015 ). He was awarded the Distinguished Teaching Award by Mount Royal University in June 2014, and became Director of Music at the Anglican Cathedral Church of the Redeemer in Calgary in 2015 – a position he held until 2022, when he assumed the position of Director of Chapel Music at the University of King’s College in Halifax
- In January 2025, Neil Cockburn was appointed as the new Director of Music at Vancouver’s Christ Church Cathedral
About St James Music Series
The St James’ Music Series was launched in 2017 to offer a diverse range of concerts that feature highly accomplished artists. Past concerts at St James’ have included the Dutch Butter Quartet, Siglo de Oro vocal ensemble ( London, UK ) Selwyn College Choir ( Cambridge, UK ), the Royal Holloway Choir ( London, UK ), The Gesualdo Six, and Clare College Choir ( Cambridge, UK ), Siglo de Oro ( London, UK ),as well as virtuoso musicians Michał Szostak ( Poland ) and Loreto Aremendi ( Spain ), and outstanding Canadian musicians such as Christina Hutten, Christina Mahler, and Chloe Kim.
St James’ Church is an historic building designed by Adrian Gilbert Scott, whose architectural masterpiece has resulted in a church with exceptional acoustics that are appreciated by performers and audience alike, enabling a heightened appreciation of music.
More info to come.
Presented by St Mary’s Kerrisdale Parish Choir with Kirk Adsett, Director of Music/Organist
St. James’ is pleased to welcome back Loreto Aramendi, organist of the Basílica de Santa María del Coro de San Sebastián, Spain. She has given many recitals in Europe, Argentina, Japan, Russia, and the United States, and her extraordinary skill and musicianship have been highly praised
Playing and interpretation of a very high standard
thanks to the performer’s stunning technique’ – David Baker
‘A fine example of absolute musicianship, sound
technique and utter command over the instrument’ – Sydney Organ Journal
‘Thrilled by her genius …
She has a unique gift that is very rare’ – JAV Records
What sets Loreto Aramendi’s concerts apart are the symphonic transcriptions of works by Liszt, Fauré, Rachmaninoff, and Saint-Saëns. These transcriptions are not simplified arrangements, but concert versions of great orchestral works which push both the instrument and player to the limit. As such, they show off the rich tonal colours of the organ necessary for interpreting orchestral music, which are otherwise unheard in strict organ repertoire. As well, the organ transcriptions require a musician of exceptional virtuosic and artistic skill – and that Loreto Aramendi has in spades.
A concert not to be missed !
A British 1929 drama featuring betrayal, forbidden love, and murder, and movie star Anna May Wong, whose career started in Hollywood but soon became international, spanning several decades. Accompanied live by eminent Vancouver organist Edward Norman on the historic Wurlitzer organ.
Born in The Netherlands, Aart Bijkerk pursued his musical
training at an early age, studying with renowned organists such
as Frans van Tilburg and Herman van Vliet. Aart has specialised in
the works of the French romantic composers such as Dupré,
Guilmant, Vierne, and Widor. In 1998 he played the complete 8th
symphony from Charles-Marie Widor during the Widor Festival
in the St Joriskerk ( Saint George’s Church ) in Amersfoort, The
Netherlands. A frequent participant in organ competitions on the
historic eighteenth-century organ in the Grote Kerk of Maassluis,
Aart was twice awarded first prize. He has served as organist for
a number of churches in The Netherlands, and since immigrating
to Canada he is connected with the Canadian Reformed Church
in Yarrow, and frequently is a guest organist at Abbotsford and
Chilliwack Churches.
Presented by St Mary’s Kerrisdale Parish Choir with Kirk Adsett, Director of Music/Organist
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Born in The Netherlands, Aart Bijkerk pursued his musical
training at an early age, studying with renowned organists such
as Frans van Tilburg and Herman van Vliet. Aart has specialised in
the works of the French romantic composers such as Dupré,
Guilmant, Vierne, and Widor. In 1998 he played the complete 8th
symphony from Charles-Marie Widor during the Widor Festival
in the St Joriskerk ( Saint George’s Church ) in Amersfoort, The
Netherlands. A frequent participant in organ competitions on the
historic eighteenth-century organ in the Grote Kerk of Maassluis,
Aart was twice awarded first prize. He has served as organist for
a number of churches in The Netherlands, and since immigrating
to Canada he is connected with the Canadian Reformed Church
in Yarrow, and frequently is a guest organist at Abbotsford and
Chilliwack Churches.