Organ inaugurated

Commissioned in 2001, and completed only a few months ago, the Ronald B. Bond Bach Organ can be heard for the first time in performance starting on Sept. 22 during a special nine-day inaugural festival and symposium. The organ has been named in honour of Dr. Ron Bond, former provost and vice-president (academic), in recognition of his 33 years of service to the university.

The organ was constructed by world-renowned German organ builder Jürgen Ahrend Orgelbau. This organ is one of only four in North America designed by the Ahrend workshop in Leer, Germany, and is the only instrument of its kind in Canada.

“The instrument will play an important part in the musical life of our city, and with the students, faculty and guest artists who perform here,” says organist Neil Cockburn, who was also recently appointed the University of Calgary’s Cantos Music Foundation Organ Scholar.

Many local, national and international guest artists will gather to perform on this new organ for the first time. Organists to perform at this festival include Neil Cockburn, Simon Preston (conductor and organist), John Grew (McGill University organist), John Butt (the Gardiner Chair of Music at the University of Glasgow), Luc Beauséjour (Canadian organist and harpshichordist) and four U of C alumni including Chris Fullerton.

All performances take place at 8 p.m. in the Rozsa Centre. For ticket information, call (403) 220-5496 or visit www.ffa.ucalgary.ca/rozsa-organ