Members! Advertise your events. Something musical happening in your life? Members, send your events to: publicity (at) rcco-ottawa (dot) ca and we'll share them on Facebook!

NEWS BRIEFS

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PRO ORGANO 2023-2024 SEASON

Our 2023-24 season is now announced. The details are on our Pro Organo page. Come and bring you friends to these 4 exciting concerts.

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KIWANIS FESTIVAL - ORGAN CLASS RESULTS

At the recent Organ classes in the Ottawa Kiwanis Music Festival, held in April 2023 in the Christian Science Church, our Student Member Aleesha Katary performed in both Open classes, playing a total of seven pieces by Bach (3 pieces), Franck, Mendelssohn, Vierne, and the American composer Robert Cundick. Aleesha is a student of Thomas Annand, and formerly of Frances Macdonnell. The adjudicator was Wesley Warren.

Wesley awarded both Scholarships available to Aleesha - the RCCO Scholarship of $500, and the Kiwanis Arnt Loa Scholarship of $600.

As Aleesha is beginning university next fall, these funds will prove to be extremely useful! At present, Aleesha is hoping to attend Waterloo University with a Major in Computer Engineering and a Minor in Music.

Thank you to the First Church of Christ, Scientist, and to their organist Mervyn Games, for their wonderful continuing hospitality to our students.

Congratulations, Aleesha - well done!

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MEMBER OF THE YEAR AWARD

The RCCO Ottawa Centre is delighted to announce that this year’s Member of the Year is Sue Sparks. Sue has had a lifelong interest in the organ, and has had a number of mentors along the way. Bernard Howard was the organist at the church she grew up in, and was the first to kindle the flames.

She holds a B.A. in Geography and a B.Ed from University of Western Ontario. She also holds the Specialist Certificate in Special Education. She was the Special Education Director at Redeemer Christian High School for many years. When she moved to Ottawa in 1981, as a young bride, it was Julia Mills who took her under her wing and once more fanned the flames.

After raising 4 children, it was Paul Wharram, the organist at McPhail Memorial Baptist Church, who encouraged and challenged her to once more embrace her love of the organ. After Paul retired from McPhail in 2010, Sue became the organist and choir director of the church, where she still serves.

After she retired from teaching, Sue was able to embrace her passion for the organ by studying with Robert Jones. She has attained the practical part of the RCCO Colleague exam and still hopes to complete the written part. It was Moira Hayes, who called Sue to ask if she would consider being the vice president of the Ottawa Centre. Sue accepted and went on to serve as President, National Councillor, and currently as secretary. Thank you Sue. We appreciate the dedication and support that you have given to our Centre.

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CENTRE HISTORY

Please note that this timeline can be found by selecting Centre Info | Web Archive pages | Ottawa Cente History Timeline on the menu above.

The Centre History kiosk made its debut at Orgelfest 2013. This is an interractive display which places significant events on a timeline. Bill Vineer supplied muich of the content and Rick St Germain put it all together. Click on the graphic below to access this display.

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