Thank you to all of our generous donors during a challenging year!
It is with your generosity in these uncertain times, along with the support from all three levels of government, that the CIOC is able to continue producing digital content until it is safe to resume live performances. With that said, it is our pleasure to announce to you… [more]
With all the challenges everyone experience last year, let’s take a look back at some of our highlights from the year.
PIPE DREAMS Pipe Dreams give you an inside look into the weird and wonderful world of competitive organ playing. With 3 sold-out screenings nad having been featured in over 10 festivals, Pipe Dreams made its’ TV… [more]
Montreal, December 7 – The Canadian International Organ Competition (CIOC) is proud to announce a series of three new concerts, available virtually, throughout the month of December as we countdown to the holidays. Bringing together musicians from across Canada, these special Christmas concerts will be performed on some of Canada’s most iconic pipe organs.
The series begins this Thursday, December 10ths with Christmas Across Canada #1 and will continue Thursday, December 17th with Christmas Across Canada #2. Listen to traditional Christmas carols and excerpts from the Nutcracker arranged for pipe organ, along with music by Johann Sebastian Bach and many others.
Finally, celebrate Christmas Eve together with the Canadian International Organ Competition team on December 24th with The CIOC Celebrates Christmas. Recorded from the Maison Symphonique in Montreal, this special performance includes some Christmas carol favourites and other festival music.
Each concert will be streamed on QuebecBaroque.com at 7:30PM EST on their respective show date and will be available on demand for one week following the show. Tickets are presently available for purchase at a cost of $10 through QuebecBaroque.com.
The Canadian International Organ Competition is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to creating unique events and activities that showcase the talents of organists throughout the world. The promotion of the cultural importance of pipe organs – treasures of our heritage – through collaboration with partner organizations in the organ world, is at the core of its’ mission.
Celebrate the holidays with CIOC and an evening filled with music!
Presenting 16 virtual events throughout the month of October
With further shutdowns and restrictions announced for the Montréal region, your safety and security are of the utmost importance to us. We are pleased to announce that we will retain a full schedule of online events during the month of October, including live broadcasts of the Festival des couleurs de l’orgue français and video recordings on the newly designed CIOC Bach-Mobile!
Festival des couleurs de l’orgue français: now online!
Tune into our Facebook Live or YouTube Channel each Sunday at 3 p.m. for broadcasts from the Grand Séminaire de Montréal! Programs include French-Classical and Baroque gems, along with new works from the 20th and 21st centuries.
4 Oct. – Yves-G. Préfontaine 11 Oct. – Jacquelin Rochette 18 Oct. – Raymond Perrin 25 Oct. – Adrian Foster
Virtual Performances from friends of the CIOC
Each week we will broadcast original performances from past competitors and friends of the CIOC. With repertoire ranging from Bach, Howells, Duruflé, Messiaen, world-premieres, and more! Keep an eye on our Facebook page and YouTube Channel and don’t miss these exclusive broadcasts!
8 Oct. – Oliver Brett 9 Oct. – Alcée Chriss III 15 Oct. – Maria Gajraj 16 Oct. – Mária Budáčová & Jonathan Oldengarm 22 Oct. – Laurence Jobidon 29 Oct. – ‘In C(IOC)’
Pipes on Wheels! Unveiling the new Bach-Mobile
We’re thrilled to present performances from Nicholas Capozzoli, Yulia Draginda, and Rosemarie Tougas on the CIOC’s brand new Bach-Mobile, a mobile stage and organ console designed by DIX au carré and made possible by support from the Conseil des arts de Montréal. Many thanks to our additional partners Christ Church Cathedral, Place des Arts, and Groupe Spinelli.
5, 6, 7 Oct. – Nicholas Capozzoli plays Bach, Ravel, Burge, and Williams 17 Oct. – Yulia Draginda plays Rheinberger 23 Oct. – Rosemarie Tougas plays Bach 24, 26, 27 Oct. – Nicholas Capozzoli plays Albright, Saint-Saëns, and Elgar
Ticket sales and donations are an essential part of the CIOC operating budget. In order to ensure our programming is easily accessible to as many people as possible, we have decided to make all of our digital content available free of charge. Do you normally buy tickets to a CIOC event or donate when attending a free concert? If yes, please consider making either a one-time or monthly donation online today! If you have never bought a ticket to a CIOC event, now is the perfect time to dive in and support our artistic activities and public outreach.
Donations can also be made by cheque or through securities transfer. Should you wish to have more information about giving options, please do not hesitate to contact us.
The preliminary round for the next CIOC took place at the beginning of March in Montréal, and we wish to thank the 5 jury members for their excellent work:
John Grew, cofounder and Artistic Director Emeritus of the CIOC
Isabelle Demers, concert organist and professor of organ at Baylor University in Waco, TX
Christian Lane, concert organist, teacher, and 2011 CIOC First-Prize winner
Leo Marchildon, concert organist, composer, and cathedral organist in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
Kimberley Marshall, concert organist and professor of organ at Arizona State University, AZ
The level of talent and artistry of the 58 applications we received from 24 countries was exceptionally high, and the preliminary jury selected 16 candidates from 9 countries to participate in the 5th edition of the Canadian International Organ Competition.
Much has changed over these past months, and many questions and incertitudes remain for the months to come, including:
The ability to travel in a safe and healthy environment
Access to organs and churches
The possibility of gathering together to listen to music
The CIOC has a duty to provide our candidates, international jury, and audience with optimal conditions to prepare, participate in, and attend the competition. For these reasons, we decided to postpone the Competition by one year. The 5th edition of the CIOC will therefore take place in Montreal from October 11th to 25th, 2021.
We wish to thank everyone involved for having agreed to this delay, and we are pleased that all of the jury members and 16 candidates will be able to come to Montréal next year.
The repertoire for the first two live rounds in Montreal stays the same. However, we made a slight change for the programme of the final round at the basilica Notre-Dame : the imposed work by Charles Tournemire is abolished, and replaced by an imposed work by Marcel Dupré, from a selection of 4 pieces.
Unveiling of the chosen competitors and updates on the upcoming competition in a special livestreamed virtual press conference, May 12, 2020.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Montréal, Québec, April 29, 2020 – The Canadian International Organ Competition (CIOC) will host a special press conference regarding the upcoming 5th edition of its triennial organ competition. It will be broadcast live on the CIOC’s Facebook and YouTube pages, Tuesday, May 12, 2020, at 2:00 p.m. EDT.
Artistic Director Jean-Willy Kunz will present updates on the competition and unveil the names of the 16 young organists who have been chosen to compete in three live rounds in Montréal. These candidates were selected by a prestigious international jury from among 58 applicants representing 24 countries.
What to expect:
Important updates on the 5th edition of the CIOC
Unveiling of the 16 candidates (representing 9 countries) who will compete in Montréal
Video greetings from the 16 competitors and 9 jury members
Q&A with 2011 first-prize winner Christian Lane , 2014 first-pize winner David Baskeyfield, 2017 first-prize winner Alcée Chriss III, and 2017 third-prize winner Nicholas Capozzoli