Calendar
2pm: “Saturday Morning Cartoons” accompanied on the mighty Wurlitzer by Koos van Nieuwkoop and Michael Dirk.
3pm or 3:30pm TBD: Orgelkit workshop with Michael Dirk.
Featuring organists Michael Dirk and Koos van Nieuwkoop on the mighty Wurlitzer
A message from Vancouver Civic Theatres:
Our audience values the unique live musical experience that is central to our series, and after careful consideration, we determined that a pre-recorded soundtrack would not do justice to the event.
Instead, we will be screening a selection of Chaplin Mutual shorts: The Immigrant (1917), The Pawn Shop (1916), and The Rink (1916)—all accompanied live by our talented organists on the historic Wurlitzer organ. Though this is an Encore Performance from our 2023 Season, the selected films are three of the very best of Chaplin from this period at Mutual films. We’re excited to share these classics with you and continue celebrating Chaplin’s legacy.
Thank you for your understanding and continued support as we strive to bring you accessible, engaging, and historically rich cinematic experiences. We look forward to seeing you at the Orpheum!
Don’t hesitate to reach out to our team at vctpresents@vancouver.ca if you have any questions or encounter any issues.
PERFORMERS
• THE VANCOUVER PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
• SHAUGHNESSY HEIGHTS UNITED CHOIR
• KOREAN TRINITY PRESBYTERIAN CHOIR
• THE LIONSGATE BRASS
with featured soloists
• Eunjung Lee (piano)
• Anna Sagalova (piano)
• Ken Lin (violin)
• Magdalena How (voice)
• Philip Wing (voice)
• Angelique Po (pipe organ)
• Sam Dabrusin (voice)
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
• William Boyce – Symphony no.5 (opening movement)
• Vivaldi “Summer” – Ken Lin and the VPO
• 그가 채찍에 맞음으로 (By His Stripes We Are Healed), Min-ho Jang
• 주 사랑 끊을 자 없네 (Nothing Can Separate Us), Mark Hayes
• Handel Organ Concerto HWV289 – Angelique Po and the VPO
• Oscar Peterson’s Hymn to Freedom – All Performers
Programme:
Prealudium in G-dur
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Liebster Jesu, wir sind hier BWV 731
Jesu, Joy of man’s Desiring
Toccata, Adagio and Fugue in C-dur, BWV 564
Gustav Merkel (1827-1885)
Schmücke dich, O liebe Seele
Louis Vierne (1870-1937)
Messe basse, Op.30 No.6 Sortie
Trois Improvisations No.2 Méditation
Final from Symphonie No.2 Op.20
Seeun is a concert and church organist with a rich international background and a deep dedication to musical excellence. She earned her highest performance diploma with distinction from the Conservatoire de Caen in France. In Germany, she completed the Konzertexamen (the highest-level artist diploma) at the University of Music, Drama and Media Hanover, following both a Master’s degree and a Meisterklasse (postgraduate artist diploma) at the University of Music and Performing Arts Munich.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Church Music from Yonsei University, where she graduated top of her class and was honored with the President’s Award for Academic Excellence. Her musical education began in piano at Seoul Arts High School.
Seeun has received numerous awards both nationally and internationally. In Korea, she won the Grand Prize at the National Youth Arts Festival, the Grand Prize in the University Division of the National Pipe Organ Competition (sponsored by the Korean Music Association), and First Prize and the Overall Grand Prize at the Organ Competition hosted by Kukmin Ilbo and Youngsan Art Hall. Internationally, she was a semifinalist at both the Chartres International Organ Competition (France) and the Dublin International Organ Competition (Ireland), received the Audience Prize at the Luxembourg International Organ Competition, and won Second Prize and the Audience Prize at the Cavaillé-Coll International Organ Competition in Paris, accomplishments that have established her reputation as a world-class performer.
As a soloist, Seeun has performed widely across Europe. In Germany, she was invited to perform at the Deutsches Museum in Munich, St. Nikolaus Church in Rosenheim, St. Laurentius in Bernau am Chiemsee, and for the 40th anniversary celebration of the University of Music, Drama and Media Hanover at Emmichplatz. She also performed at the Hindemith International Festival hosted by NDR (North German Broadcasting), as well as at Marktkirche in Hameln and St. Blasius Church in Hann. Münden. She has also appeared as a soloist with the Hanover University Orchestra.
While studying in Germany, Seeun served as organist at the Korean Church of Munich, as well as at the prominent Martin-Luther Church in Hanover and Friedenskirche in Hamburg.
Since returning to Korea, she has performed solo recitals and concerts at venues such as Lotte Concert Hall, Youngsan Art Hall, the Anglican Cathedral in Seoul, Central Hall, and Kyungdong Church.
She has also appeared as a soloist with the National Chorus of Korea, the Wonju City Choir, the Yongin City Choir, the Bucheon Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Seoul National University Orchestra.
In addition to her active performance career, she is a dedicated educator. She has served as a Visiting Professor at Yonsei University and currently teaches at Seoul Arts High School, Incheon Arts High School, and Kaywon High School of Arts. She is also a member of the Korean Association of Organists.
This interesting concert will feature three young performers, baroque specialists Abraham Ross, Albano Berberi, and Joya Muma. They will present a program of works for lute, keyboard, violin, and nyckelharpa, drawing on the lute tablature of Nicolas Vallet titled Le Secret des Muses, published in 1615. The program will feature several works for solo organ before the ensemble comes to the front of the church to present violin sonatas of the French baroque interspersed with improvisations on tunes from the lute tablature. An unusual harpsichord known as the keyed lyre will be used for accompaniment, a pseudo-hybrid between lute, harp, and plucked-string keyboard.
A program of solo works for pipe organ exploring organ music written in France between WWI and WWII, during a period of great societal and artistic change in the country.
Programme:
Sinfonia from Cantata No. 29 – J.S. Bach, tr. by Marcel Dupré (transcribed for organ solo) (1886-1971)
Symphony No. 2 Op. 13 III. Andante – Charles-Marie Widor (1844-1937)
Pièces de Fantaisie Suite No. 4 Op. 55 Naïades – Louis Vierne (1870-1937)
Morceau de Concert Op. 24 Prelude, Theme and Variations, Finale – Alexandre Guilmant (1837-1911)
INTERMISSION
Prélude and Fugue – Elsa Barraine (1910-1999)
L’Ascension (Four Symphonic Meditations) III. Transports de joie*, IV. Prière du Christ** – Olivier Messiaen (1908-1992)
Pièces de Fantaisie Suite No. 3 Op. 54 Carillon de Westminster – Louis Vierne
*Outburst of joy from a soul before the Glory of Christ, which is its own glory.
**Prayer from Christ ascending towards His Father.
Valerie Hall has appeared in solo and collaborative musical roles across Canada as well as in the United States and Europe. A native of Winnipeg, she holds a Bachelor of Music in Organ Performance from the University of Manitoba and a Master of Church Music degree from Concordia University, River Forest, Illinois. Valerie is also an Associate of the Royal Conservatory of Music in Voice Performance.
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!
| Johann Sebastian Bach | Sinfonia (from Cantata No 29) | |
| César Franck | Choral No 1 en mi majeur | |
| Edward Elgar | Allegro Maestoso (from Sonata in G Major) | |
| Herbert Howells | Master Tallis’ Testament | |
| Herbert Howells | The Chosen Tune | |
| Robert Schumann | Innig (from Sechs studieren in kanonischer Form) | |
| Olivier Messiaen | Joie et clarté des corps glorieux (from Les corps glorieux) | |
| Maurice Duruflé | Suite pour orgue, Op 5 |
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).