News

It is with much excitement that we announce Martin Jones as the 2021 winner of both the Sir Ernest MacMillan Memorial Foundation Prize and the Godfrey Hewitt Memorial Scholarship!

Martin Jones graduated in 2021 from Rice University with a BMus in organ, studying with Professor Ken Cowan. He also studied harpsichord with Mario Aschauer. In the fall of 2021, he is enrolling in the Leipzig Hochschule für Musik und Theater for a Masters of organ performance where he will study with Martin Schmeding. Click here for a full biography of Martin Jones.

Funded by the Sir Ernest MacMillan Memorial Foundation and administered by the RCCO, the Sir Ernest MacMillan Memorial Foundation Prize is a prestigious award of $7,500 given in memory of Canada’s preeminent musician from the 1920s through the 1950s.

The Godfrey Hewitt Memorial Scholarship was established to honour the late Godfrey Hewitt and is administered by the RCCO's Ottawa Centre. The $5,000 scholarship is awarded annually to an advanced organ student to support further courses of study.

Congratulations, Martin!

Dear Friends,

We are saddened to share news of the death of Past President, Mark Toews. Mark was diagnosed with cancer last fall. He remained positive through treatment regimens but succumbed to his illness on Saturday, May 22, 2021 at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto. Aaron James, President of the Toronto Centre sums up Mark's contributions to the RCCO and the organist community in Canada as follows:

"Mark has been a leading figure in the RCCO for many decades, serving in numerous roles in the organization including President of the Toronto Centre, President of the College (2002-2004) and Chair of the 2009 Centennial Organ Festival. A distinguished performer, he earned the DMA degree at the University of Michigan and was heard widely in concert in Canada, the United States, and England. Many of us are familiar with his CD Variations Plus recorded on his instrument at Lawrence Park Community Church, featuring the music of Bach, Bonnet, and Dupré along with a number of Canadian compositions including Eleanor Daley's trinitas, commissioned for the inauguration of the Lawrence Park organ. Mark was especially well known as an outstanding organ teacher, mentoring numerous young students many of whom have gone on to have prominent careers as performers in Toronto and elsewhere. All of us in the Toronto Centre are the beneficiaries of his leadership, wisdom, and generosity of spirit."

Our condolences go Mark's family, friends and the congregation of Lawrence Park Community Church in Toronto.

Sincerely,

Dr. Peter Nikiforuk
President, The Royal Canadian College of Organists

The deadline to register for Summer Organ Academy 2021 is coming up on May 31st! Don't miss this amazing opportunity to learn online this summer by registering for one of our three program streams: Youth Organist, Church Organist or ARCCO Examination Preparation. Access to a pipe organ is not required for any of the programs, and students can practice and complete all assignments using a digital organ, piano, or an electric keyboard. Read on for more information on each program!

Youth Organist

Dates: July 12 - 16 (from 12:00 PM ET - 3:30 PM ET daily)
Cost: $320.00
Lead Instructor: Sarah Svendsen

This stream is intended for young organists (ages 12-17) seeking knowledge and skill enrichment. Each day of the program includes 2 hours of lectures and masterclasses, 1 hour for collaborative project work, a 10-minute guest performance and 20 minutes of social and Q&A time. Daily topics include intro to improvisation, audience engagement, collaborative projects, jazz improvisation, intro to transcriptions, plus a wide array of repertoire study. Click here for the complete daily outline!

Register

Church Organist

Dates: July 19, 21, 26, 28 and August 4 and 6 (from 12:45 PM ET - 2:30 PM ET daily)
Cost: $250.00
Lead Instructor: Valerie Hall

This stream is intended for the community organist seeking professional development, and is aimed at the playing level of the Service Playing Examination. Daily topics include technique, registration, accompanying, score interpretation, the digital church, and music and liturgy. The complete daily outline is available here. Each day includes 90 minutes of class time plus 15 minutes to chat with your instructor and fellow students. Participants are also invited to submit up to 4 videos to be viewed by the instructor, with one video from each participant being screened during the academy.

Register

ARCCO Examination Preparation

Dates: July 20, 22, 27, 29 and August 3 and 5 (from 2:00 PM ET - 3:30 PM ET daily)
Cost: $250.00
Lead Instructor: Aaron James

This stream is intended for undergraduate or advanced high school organists who are seeking training geared towards the ARCCO exam, particularly keyboard skills and improvisation. Taught by the Chair of the RCCO's Examinations Committee, Aaron James, daily topics include practice strategies, pipe organ anatomy, open score reading, applied keyboard skills, organ history, careers, and a broad array of repertoire study. The complete daily outline is available here. Each day includes 90 minutes of class time and 15 minutes for socializing. Participants are also invited to submit 5 “homework assignments” as short videos which will be viewed by the instructor. The instructor will hold virtual office hours each week where students can receive individual and hands-on feedback on their work.

Register

The RCCO is hiring two temporary, part-time positions through the Canada Summer Jobs program.* It is expected that the successful candidates will be working remotely. The application deadline for both positions is May 21, 2021 at 5:00 PM ET. Please click on the job titles below for full job descriptions and application instructions:

Administrative Coordinator

Marketing Coordinator

The RCCO is delighted to announce that 6 talented young organists have been selected to compete in the 2021 National Organ Playing Competition (NOPC).

Please join us in supporting these talented young organists. Thanks to the generous pledges of several supporters of the NOPC, your donation will be matched dollar for dollar to help us reach our fundraising goal. Click here for more information.

We are pleased to announce that registration for Organ Festival Canada: Hamilton, 2021 is now open! This year's Festival takes place online from August 8-13. The Festival's dynamic programme features world-class organists, award-winning choirs, engaging clinicians, and chances to socialize with colleagues.

Please visit rccofestival2021.ca to read more about this year's programme and register.

We are deeply saddened by the passing of His Royal Highness Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh and extend our heartfelt condolences to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the Royal Family. Prince Philip devoted his life to duty, volunteerism, and service and will be remembered for the establishment of the Duke of Edinburgh International Award, a world-wide program to encourage and recognize the achievements of youth the world over including more than 500,000 Canadians.

The 2020-2021 membership renewal period is now open! Renew before May 31 to ensure you get the most out of the membership year. Please note that external memberships and magazine subscriptions are only available until May 31.

For detailed instructions on renewing your membership online, please click here.

Featuring an innovative new curriculum that will be delivered entirely virtually, this year's Academy offers a wide range of learning opportunities in three programs of study:

• Young Organist, July 12-16, 3 hours per day (for the experienced organist ages 12-17)
• ARCCO Examination Preparation, July 20 - August 5, 6 x 90 min. sessions
• Church Organist, July 19 - August 6, 6 x 90 min. sessions (includes preparation for the Service Playing Certificate)

Regular access to an organ is not required. Participants will submit pre-recorded performances for masterclasses and can complete all exercises at a piano or electric keyboard. Click here to read the full details and register!

Alison Clark, long-time member of the RCCO, was honored to play the organ for Walter Gretzky's funeral this past Saturday, March 6, 2021. Alison's playing can be heard at the 1:39 mark in the below video.