The RCCO is creating a virtual network to connect and support young organists. If you are a young organist, you can help us determine what features and resources would be helpful to you by completing this short survey:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfXpi-_wNjew6QZ6DbpAbEjThXzDw3di9wsDzqdJ2_WVFfXxw/viewform?usp=sf_link

The deadline to respond is March 1.

Thank you!

The Royal College of Organists (RCO) is offering a reduced fee to RCCO members wishing to join the RCO Winter Conference! The Conference will run online from Thursday, February 17 to Saturday, February 19, 2022, and the content will be available for viewing for several weeks after the Conference closes, making it easier to access for those living in different time zones to the UK.

Full details of the Conference programme can be found at https://conference.rco.org.uk/winter22/. RCCO Members should book at the 'Members of RCO Partner Organisations' rate.

In brief, the conference will include:

• Six recitals, each followed by live chat with the players...
• • Katelyn Emerson playing the Walcker organ in the Methuen Memorial Hall, Boston, sponsored by Andover Organ Company
  • Jean-Baptiste Monnot playing the Cavaillé-Coll organ at Saint-Ouen, Rouen, sponsored by Church Organ World
  • Daniel Moult playing the Richards, Fowkes & Co. organ at St George's Hanover Square, London and the Lewis organ at St John the Divine, Upper Norwood, London, sponsored jointly by Richards, Fowkes & Co. and Harrison & Harrison Ltd.
  • Freddie James playing on the 1734 organ of the Franziskanerkirche, Lucerne, Switzerland, sponsored by Viscount Organs
  • Ivan-Bogdan Reincke (winner of the Northern Ireland International Organ Competition 2019), playing on the 1741 Trost organ of the Schlosskirche, Alternberg, Germany, sponsored by the Northern Ireland International Organ Competition
  • Wenying Wu (winner of the IAO-RCO Organ Playing Competition 2021) playing on the Schuke organ of Erfurt Cathedral, Germany, sponsored by Viscount Organs
• Presentations by...
• • The British Institute of Organ Studies
  • The Incorporated Association of Organists
  • The Institute of British Organ Building
  • The Royal School of Church Music
  • The Society of Women Organists
  • Eastman School of Music (with David Higgs)
  • The Royal Birmingham Conservatoire (with Daniel Moult)
  • The Royal College of Music (with David Graham)
    

• plus
• • Organ Shorts - interviews with distinguished players
  • Pipe Organ profiles - organists introduce famous organs with which they are associated
    

Application forms for candidates for the 2022 Godfrey Hewitt Memorial Scholarship must be postmarked by April 30, 2022. This annual scholarship of $6,000 is offered by the Ottawa Centre, RCCO, and is intended for a Canadian graduate student in organ, studying either inside or outside Canada, who intends to use his/her skills as an organ teacher in the future. The past winners are

    2005 ‑ Craig Humber
    2006 ‑ Isabelle Demers
    2007 ‑ Michael Unger
    2008 ‑ Ryan Jackson
    2009 ‑ Matthieu Latreille
    2010 ‑ Shawn Potter
    2011 ‑ Wendy Nieuwenhuis
    2012 ‑ Stephen Boda
    2013 ‑ Sarah Svendsen
    2014 - Julie Pinsonneault
    2015 - Rachel Mahon        
    2016 - Shane Murphy
    2017 - no award
    2018 - David Simon and Nicholas Walters
    2019 - Stefani Bedin
    2020 - Samuel Lee and Manuel Piazza
    2021 - Martin Jones

Information and application forms are available at www.rcco‑ottawa.ca, and further information may be obtained from Frances Macdonnell at fbmacdonnell@sympatico.ca or at 613‑726‑7984.

La Bourse Commémorative Godfrey Hewitt pour l'année 2022

Les formulaires de demandes pour la Bourse Commémorative Godfrey Hewitt 2022 devront être postés avant le 30 avril 2022.  Le Centre d'Ottawa du CRCO offre cette bourse annuelle de 6 000$, destinée à un élève d'orgue avancé, étudiant au Canada ou ailleurs, et ayant l'intention d'enseigner l'orgue dans l'avenir.  Les lauréat(e)s des années précédentes sont:

    2005 ‑ Craig Humber
    2006 ‑ Isabelle Demers
    2007 ‑ Michael Unger
    2008 ‑ Ryan Jackson
    2009 ‑ Matthieu Latreille
    2010 ‑ Shawn Potter
    2011 ‑ Wendy Nieuwenhuis
    2012 ‑ Stephen Boda
    2013 ‑ Sarah Svendsen
    2014 - Julie Pinsonneault
    2015 - Rachel Mahon        
    2016 - Shane Murphy
    2017 - pas de bourse
    2018 - David Simon et Nicholas Walters
    2019 - Stefani Bedin
    2020 - Samuel Lee et Manuel Piazza
    2021 - Martin Jones

Les renseignements et les formulaires de demandes sont disponibles à www.rcco‑ottawa.ca. On peut aussi se renseigner auprès de Frances Macdonnell au fbmacdonnell[à]sympatico.ca ou 613‑726‑7984.

Due to Covid-19 restrictions recently mandated by the Ontario provincial government, the RCCO office at 201-720 Bathurst St. in Toronto will be closed as of January 5, 2022. The closure will remain in effect until further notice.

During this time, the Executive Director and Office Administrator will be working remotely and will respond promptly to email and voice messages.

By now most of you have probably read the "Governance Reform for the RCCO" article in the latest Issue of "Organ Canada/Orgue Canada". Those who are involved on the Board of Directors and other leadership groups within the College put much thought and time into the new model. This new model provides opportunities for individuals with specific skill sets to share their expertise as a member of the Board of Directors. The final step to implementation will be the ratification of the new model by the membership at a special meeting of members in the New Year. We are confident this new structure will position the College well to sustain itself and grow into the future.

To facilitate the preparation of the slate and to ensure that the process is open to all members, the Nominating Committee is now issuing a Call for Nominations. This is truly an opportunity to contribute to the organ music community, to be challenged, and to develop and share your professional knowledge and expertise. (See below for the list of openings.) To be considered, please submit your nomination to Rick Morgan, the Chair of the Nominating Committee, at gf.rick.morgan@gmail.com no later than 11:59 PM ET on January 12, 2022.

Nominations are being sought for the following positions on the Board of Directors:

1. President
2. President-Elect
3. Director-at-Large (Chair of Marketing)
4. Director-at-Large (Chair of Advocacy)
5. Director-at-Large (Chair of Development)
6. Director-at-Large (Chair of Governance)
7. Director-at-Large (Chair of Communications)
8. Director-at-Large (Chair of Programming)

Descriptions of these positions can be found at the bottom of this message.

The RCCO Board is responsible for providing overall leadership, strategic direction and fiduciary oversight for the ongoing operation and health of the organization. The Board is run exclusively by volunteers, and Directors have a critical stewardship role. Board members act collaboratively in the achievement of the organization’s goals, in alignment with the overall strategic plan. In addition to this shared responsibility each Director has a specific role.

All Directors must be a College member, but they do not have to be a member to be nominated. As Peter Nikiforuk has stated “a majority of the Board of Directors will always be coming from the existing membership of the College”. But feel free to nominate non-members who may bring new sets of skills to our Board. Non-members will be required to become members in order to stand for election. Existing Directors may also be nominated to serve on the new Board.

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION STATEMENT

The RCCO is firmly committed to inclusion, diversity, and equity at all levels of the organization. We believe our work is enhanced by engaging a diverse community of individuals with different backgrounds, skills, opinions, and perspectives, thereby cultivating a welcoming environment of open communication, inclusion, and respect and we will strive to seek representation from BIPOC and other underrepresented and equity-seeking communities in leadership roles and throughout our organization.

President
The President shall be the chief executive officer of the Corporation and shall be responsible for implementing the strategic plans and policies of the Corporation. The President shall be a director, shall serve as the chair of the Board, the National Council, and of the Centre Presidents Council and subject to the authority of the Board, shall have general supervision of the affairs of the Corporation.

President-Elect
The President-Elect shall act in the place of the President in the event that the President is unable to fulfill the duties of that office, and shall act on behalf of the President when requested to do so by the President. The President-Elect shall be a director, shall serve as vice-chair of the Board and as an ex officio member of the Regional Council.

Chair of Advocacy
The Chair of Advocacy will work collaboratively with the Board of Directors and Executive Director to raise awareness and visibility for the RCCO and the work that we do and will advocate to the public, external organizations, and governmental bodies to implement policies that will further the RCCO vision and mission.

Chair of Communications
The Chair of Communications will develop a comprehensive strategy for internal and external communications and create a communications plan that leverages and integrates all communication and social media platforms that will engage members as well as the general public.

Chair of Development
The Chair of Development is responsible for creating a comprehensive fundraising plan to secure funding through donations and fundraising initiatives that will build revenue capacity and meets the financial needs of the College. Duties include identifying, qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major individual donors, corporate, and/or foundation gifts and overseeing the submission of grant applications.

Chair of Governance
The Chair of Governance ensures that all governance and policy documents are up to date and that the College complies with governmental legislation to meet our regulatory and constitutional requirements. The Chair of Governance also conducts the annual board self-evaluation for the purpose of improving board effectiveness. This position requires knowledge of applicable not-for-profit legislation and excellent oral and written communication skills.

Chair of Marketing
The Chair of Marketing work collaboratively with the Board and Executive Director to design branding, positioning, and promotional material and is responsible for ensuring the RCCO brand messaging is strong and consistent across all platforms and levels of governance and will create a marketing strategy in alignment with the Strategic Plan that will reach new audiences.

Chair of Programming
The Chair of Programming will provide oversight of College programming for the purpose of strengthening existing programs, retiring underutilized or outdated programs, and developing new initiatives that align with the strategic direction, vision and mission of the College. The Chair of Programming will also serve as the Chair of the Programming Council which is comprised of the Chairs of the various College Committees.

The James M. Weaver Prize in Organ Scholarship celebrates and fosters scholarly research The OHS James M. Weaver Prize in Organ Scholarship celebrates and fosters the scholarly research of pipe organs, wherein finalists, through lecture and performance, illustrate the influence that provenance has on both repertoire and performance practice.

This new initiative perpetuates the story of pipe organs in the United States and Canada. Organ scholars can demonstrate their passion of an instrument through an inspired historical lectures and performances. Significant awards are available for the finalists of this Prize.

For more details and to register, please visit the website at weaver.organhistoricalsociety.org

At its recent meeting, the Board of Directors discussed the need for an official policy with respect to COVID-19 health and safety guidelines. As we are all beginning to resume in-person activities, the policy provides clarity regarding conducting and attending RCCO events, activities and meetings.

As a result, the following policy was approved:

All College and Centre events and meetings must comply with provincial, local and venue COVID-19 public health requirements and regulations.

Due to the nature of legislation concerning public health, these requirements and guidelines will vary depending on location. Please consult your local, regional, and provincial governments to determine the requirements applicable in your area.

Please do not hesitate to contact the National Office at info[at]rcco.ca or 416-929-6400 should you have any questions.

We need your support! Help us raise $5,000 in the next 24 hours for...

This GivingTuesday, you can help us continue to preserve the organ’s rich musical heritage and strengthen its importance to music and culture in Canada. With your help, we can raise $5,000 by midnight! Plus, today only, CanadaHelps will add $2 to every gift of $20 we receive.*

If you've been following our daily posts on social media, you'll know that your donation will help us continue to:

• provide scholarships and prizes for organ study
• advocate for the pipe organ and attract new audiences through our FutureStops initiative
• grow and advance the Summer Organ Academy
• bring discovery and fun to children across Canada with OrgelkidsCAN
• support Canadian organists through our examinations program

The RCCO is 112 years old and looking forward to the future. We are the ultimate resource in Canada for all things organ. Every donation we receive helps us to continue providing our core services, and implement new initiatives that will help us to grow and evolve in the 21st century.

Your personal gift will go towards supporting Canadian musicians and composers, developing new talent in the organ music world, introducing new audiences to the transformative power of the pipe organ and so much more.

Will you help us by making your #GivingTuesday gift today?

           

Not able to donate this year? Help us spread the word to your friends and family! Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube for campaign content, organ news and progress on our goal.

We can only continue our work with your help.

As always, thank you for supporting the Royal Canadian College of Organists and being a part of our community.

* Terms and Conditions

Sincerely,

Peter Nikiforuk
President

Job Posting: Social Media Marketer / Event Coordinator

Position Summary:

The Royal Canadian College of Organists (RCCO) is seeking a skilled and passionate Social Media Marketer/Event Coordinator for a 10-month contract in support of an exciting contemporary music initiative.

Candidates must have professional experience as both a social media marketer and event coordinator.

This position will support and promote the RCCO’s FutureStops initiative, which includes the FutureStops Podcast, the (evolving) FutureStops web platform (futurestops.org), and an ambitious and cross-disciplinary FutureStops eSymposium to be held in September, 2022. At the beginning of this contract we anticipate that Social Media Marketing duties will require approximately 80% of the hours associated with this position, with 20% used to support the eSymposium coordination. Gradually we expect this ratio to be reversed, with planning requirements for the eSymposium taking up more and more time as the eSymposium approaches. The 4-6 weeks leading up to and during the eSymposium are expected to be especially demanding.

FutureStops - the 21st Century Organ Experience is an initiative of The Royal Canadian College of Organists. The FutureStops project will connect new audiences with the organ and its music by creating innovative organ-centric culturally-specific experiences designed for digital discovery, sharing and interaction, and will ultimately expand citizen awareness of, and appreciation for, the organ and its musical community.

Key Duties Social Media Marketing:

Key Duties Event Coordination:

Collaborate closely with the FutureStops eSymposium Curator to:

Skills and Qualifications:

Organizational Profile:

Founded in 1909, the RCCO is the national voice of the organ and its music across Canada. Our vision is: Inspiring connections with organ music. We support, promote and celebrate Canada’s organ music community by providing learning opportunities, resources, outreach and professional development opportunities through our programs and services. We seek to enrich the lives of Canadians by engaging the wider public in Canada’s rich organ heritage and vibrant organ culture. The RCCO is committed to providing greater access to the organ and its music through technological innovations that can enhance its reach and actively engage Canadians of all genders, ethnicities, age, abilities, or geographic location, in the art of the organ.

Terms:

This position pays $30.00 per hour. From January through June 2022 the workload will be 25 hours per week. From July 1 through October 14 2022 the workload will be 40 hours per week.

Location:

Initially, the successful candidate will be working remotely but closer to and during the event will be working on location in Toronto.

How to Apply:

Interested candidates should send a resume, 3 references and a cover letter of no more than 2 pages stating clearly why they want this position and what strengths they will bring to it to Elizabeth Shannon at execdirector[at]rcco.ca no later than November 22, 2021.

The Royal Canadian College of Organists is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from persons identifying as visible minorities and indigenous heritage. All applicants are thanked for their interest, however only those selected for an interview will be contacted. No telephone calls please.

New OAC program supports careers of young professional artists

Toronto, November 3, 2021 – The Ontario Arts Council (OAC) has established Career Catalyst: Project Grants for New Generation Artists, a $1 million grant program for professional artists aged 18 to 30. The program supports activities that will help build career momentum as individual artists recover from pandemic-related challenges.

Program details and applications are now available through OAC’s website.

The grants for this one-time program are set at $2,000 each. The deadline to apply is December 16, 2021. Applications will be reviewed through a streamlined peer assessment process, and applicants will be notified of results approximately 12 weeks after the program deadline.

Please forward this bulletin to any professional artists you think might be eligible.

Who can apply to the Career Catalyst: Project Grants for New Generation Artists program?

This program is open to professional artists who are aged 18 to 30 (at the time of their application) who can demonstrate that they have a professional practice in any discipline or activity funded by OAC. It is the only OAC program dedicated to New Generation Artists, one of six OAC priority groups.

What does this program fund?

Eligible activities include:

• Skills development through training and mentorship,
• Marketing and promotion,
• Purchase of artist materials and supplies,
• Software and hardware upgrades,
• Studio or workspace upgrades,
• Artist’s website development.

Artists new to OAC grant programs who may have had limited access to public arts funding are encouraged to apply.

Proposals with the potential to benefit an applicant’s career in the long term will be prioritized.

The program will also prioritize New Generation artists who are also members of other OAC priority groups (artists of colour, Deaf artists and artists with disabilities, Francophone artists, Indigenous artists, and artists living in regions outside Toronto).

Learn more about the Career Catalyst: Project Grants for New Generation Artists program.

For specific questions, please contact:

Zhe Gu Officer 416-969-7459 Toll-free in Ontario: 1-800-387-0058 zgu@arts.on.ca		Shawna Caspi Program Administrator 416-646-7469 Toll-free in Ontario: 1-800-387-0058 scaspi@arts.on.ca

For general information about OAC, please contact:

Kirsten Gunter Director of Communications 416-969-7403 Toll-free in Ontario: 1-800-387-0058 kgunter@arts.on.ca