~ ROYAL CANADIAN COLLEGE OF ORGANISTS ~

WATERLOO-WELLINGTON CENTRE

 

 MEDIA INFORMATION PACKAGE – EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY

 

***********************************************************

Contains:

- Introduction and overview

- Local RCCO Media Contacts (for interviews, photos, details, questions)

- Concert Highlights & Schedule

- Worship events

- Additional information at www.festivalotg.ca

***********************************************************

 

Coming Soon to Southwestern Ontario;

the Organ as you’ve never heard it before…

 

 2008 ORGAN FESTIVAL ON THE GRAND

JULY 13 THROUGH 16

 

~ A Celebration of Imagination ~

 

Welcome to four days in July that will fire your imagination and change your musical world forever!

 

The Waterloo-Wellington Centre of the Royal Canadian College of Organists (RCCO) invites you to experience

ORGAN FESTIVAL ON THE GRAND -- JULY 13 THROUGH 16 –

a dazzling showcase of musical artistry, excitement, enrichment and diversity inspired by the pipe organ.

 

Have you ever wondered how these huge keyboard instruments actually work? How does the pipe organ get along with other instruments? Why is improvising music on the spot so exciting?

 

And… what happens when the organ sheds its “Sunday best” to break new ground in contemporary music? 

 

If you’ve ever asked any of these questions, or if you simply love to hear organ music anywhere and everywhere, this unique festival is for you.

 

Unlike many musicians-only gatherings and conventions, ORGAN FESTIVAL ON THE GRAND is offering much more than the skill-testing and skill-sharing events that will draw specialists in droves.

 

This adventurous four-day program is also packed with a wide range of public entertainments, concerts, workshops, and even worship opportunities designed to shed the stuffy, mysterious, and humorless image of those wind-powered giants that live in our churches -- they can also dance and play in myriad colours and moods.

 

With some three-dozen events, 20-plus artists/presenters and ensembles, numerous supporting musicians, more than a dozen locations in Kitchener-Waterloo and Guelph, and of course an exciting cluster of specially-featured organs both old and new, ORGAN FESTIVAL ON THE GRAND promises to celebrate the organ for all. 

 

Bring your curiosity and imagination to our website at www.festivalotg.ca and explore some of the possibilities already growing there as event plans unfold...

 

MEDIA CONTACTS

(For further information; contacts with local artists for interviews, etc.):

 

Eric Dewdney (Festival Co-ordinator) 519-653-1401

dewdney@...

 

Douglas Haas (Festival Committee) 519-578-4430

haas.douglas@...

d.haas@...

 

Scott Knarr (Festival Committee) 519-570-4386

organist@...

 

Pauline Finch (publicist) 519-576-2129

paulinefinch@...

 

* * *

 

ORGAN FESTIVAL ON THE GRAND – CONCERT HIGHLIGHTS CALENDAR

 

CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE FOR DETAILED PROGRAM LISTINGS FOR MORE THAN THREE DOZEN EXCITING EVENTS IN KITCHENER, WATERLOO & GUELPH

 

(Note: Workshops described in web postings are open to registered participants only)

 

FULL FESTIVAL PASS to all public concerts = only $95

 

* * *

 

SAT. JULY 5 (pre-festival week)

Organs Exposed! 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. FREE

See what's behind all the wonderful whistles and groans in a pipe organ as you get to explore their amazing innards.

St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church

Queen & Weber, Kitchener

and

St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church,

Duke & Water, Kitchener

 

SAT. JULY 12 (pre-festival week)

Christina Hutten in Concert 8:00 p.m. $15.00

Organ Recital by inaugural Cabena Scholarship winner, Christina Hutten, St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church, Water & Duke Sts., Kitchener.

(Tickets at the door)

 

SUN. JULY 13 (Opening Day)

Improvisation Competition Semi-Finals 2:30 p.m. FREE

First United Church
William & King, Waterloo

 

SUN. JULY 13 (Opening Day)

Jazz Vespers 8:00 p.m. FREE

Brad Moggach, Leader

St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church,

Queen & Weber, Kitchener

 

SUN. JULY 13 (Opening Day)

The Parson's Widow (movie) 10 p.m. $20.00

"The Parson's Widow" (1920) directed by Carl Theodor Dreyer, a classic silent film with live organ accompaniment by Kirk Adsett,

St. Matthew's Lutheran Church,

Benton & Charles, Kitchener

(Tickets at the door)

 

MON. JULY 14

Soundscapes at City Hall 9 a.m. FREE

Ellen Waterman, Flute and Voice

James Harley, Soundscape Composition

Kitchener City Hall Rotunda

 

MON. JULY 14

Jonathan Oldengarm, Organ 5 p.m. $15.00

St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church,

Queen & Weber, Kitchener

(Tickets at the door)

 

MON. JULY 14

Nota Bene Period Orchestra 8 p.m. $20.00

Bach Concerti for 4 Organs (Soloists: Cynthia Hiebert, Christina Hutten,
Borys Medicky, Marlin Nagtegaal)

St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church,

Young & Duke, Kitchener

(Tickets at the door)

 

 

TUES. JULY 15

Ryan Enright, Organ 12 noon $15.00

Trinity United Church,

74 Frederick Street, Kitchener

(Tickets at the door)

 

TUES. JULY 15

DaCapo Chamber Choir 4:30 p.m. $20.00

Leonard Enns, Conductor

Daniel Cabena, Countertenor

Tim Pyper, Organ

Dublin St. United Church,

68 Suffolk St. West, Guelph

(Tickets at the door)

 

TUES. JULY 15

Richard M. Watson, Carillon 7:00 p.m. FREE

The Carillon in Concert

St. George’s Anglican Church,

99 Woolwich Street, Guelph

 

TUES. JULY 15

David Briggs, Organ 8:00 p.m. $20.00

International UK-born virtuoso performer and recording artist in his first-ever local concert!

St. George’s Anglican Church,

99 Woolwich Street, Guelph

(Tickets at the door)

 

WED. JULY 16

International Improvisation Competition Finals 9 a.m. FREE

St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church,

Queen & Weber, Kitchener

 

WED. JULY 16

Organ and Saxophone 5:30 p.m. $20.00

Jan Overduin, Organ & Willem Moolenbeek, Saxophone

First United Church,

William & King, Waterloo

(Tickets at the door)

 

* * *

 

WORSHIP WITH US

DURING ORGAN FESTIVAL ON THE GRAND

(No admission to worship events)

 

Early morning, mid-morning and evening worship in downtown Kitchener churches is open to all…

 

Sunday, July 13

Jazz Vespers at 8:00 p.m.
Brad Moggach, Leader
St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church
Queen & Weber, Kitchener

Monday July 14

RCCO Worship Service at 10:30 a.m.
St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church
Duke & Water, Kitchener

Tuesday, July 15

Morning Worship at 8:00 a.m.
Marilyn Houser Hamm
St. Peter’s Lutheran Church
49 Queen St. North, Kitchener

 

Wednesday, July 16

Morning Worship at 8:00 a.m.
Marilyn Houser Hamm
Zion United Church
32 Weber St. West, Kitchener