With Knox Church’s debut OrganWORX season, featuring the church’s new state-of-the-art digital organ and talented organist Jenny Vincent, wrapped up, a new season is already scheduled.
Featuring organist virtuoso Isabelle Demers, the return of CBC’s Quirks & Quarks host Bob McDonald, and a painting exhibit from a Gabriola Island artist set to the performance of a professional choir, organizers expect season two to see maxed-out attendance.
“We were very pleased with the first season,” said Vincent. “It was more successful than we ever thought it could be. Every concert had wonderful attendance.”
Next year’s program begins with an organ performance Oct. 7 by Isabelle Demers, a native of Quebec, graduate of Julliard, head of the organ program at Baylor University in Texas, and a bit of a comic when it comes to talking with her audience.
“She likes to crack jokes,” said Paul. “She’s called a diminutive dynamo.”
“I’ve heard her twice, and she’s amazing,” said Jenny, adding that Demers will perform a variety of music, from Bach to parts of the Harry Potter suite.
“It should be a great concert,” said Paul.
The second concert sees McDonald return after his Cosmic Odyssey performance with Jenny last year, this time for a discussion on ecology and climate change called Earth, Wind, Fire and Life.
As with his previous performance, McDonald will give a talk, set alongside visuals projected onto to large screens, and punctuated by music by Jenny.
“Bob is almost as passionate about the environment and climate issues as he is about space,” said Paul. “I think in the last while, he’s devoting a lot more of his attention to climate change… he asked us would we mind having him back again to do this sort of new subject matter… What more topical issue than climate change right now?”
That concert takes place Feb. 3, 2019.
The third and final concert in the series will be on May 5, 2019, and will bring back the Schooner Cove Singers (a professional choir created this year for OrganWORX) conducted by Elroy Friesen.
But this time, the Schooner Cove Singers (accompanied by Jenny on organ) will perform alongside paintings by Gabriola Island artist Tony Grove.
A shipwright by trade, Grove is also a custom woodworker and eventually began painting boats in acrylic as well, said Paul.
About 20 of Grove’s paintings will be up at Knox during and possibly before the concert as an art exhibit, with the choir’s performance meant as a kind of interpretation of the art.
There may also be one of Grove’s boats in display in the Knox parking lot as well, said Paul.
“We’re trying to make these concerts unique — so that it’s not just an organ concert or a choral concert… we’re trying to attract new followers and share the organ with them and the choir,” said Paul.
OrganWORX began in 2017 as a way to celebrate Jenny’s skills and Knox’s newly purchased organ (A $93,000 Rodgers 599 Artist model), introduce more people to organ music and raise money to pay off the organ’s purchase.
That monetary goal has been achieved, said the Vincents, who, along with other organizers, are now able to bring in more expensive acts, and are deciding on what to do with the money made with the concerts. The group is looking to put that money back into the community, possibly through donations, scholarships, and to provide free tickets for seniors who can’t afford them.
A subscription to the series costs $75. This past year, some tickets for individual performances were available, but Paul said he believes this second season will sell out via subscription.
Those interested in purchasing a subscription can contact Paul at foggyrockbb@gmail.com, by calling 250-937-8911, or by contacting Knox church. All performances take place at Knox church (345 Pym St., Parksville).
For more info on OrganWORX, go to organworx.ca.
