About the Calgary Centre
The Calgary Centre of the Royal Canadian College of Organists was formed to serve the needs of the College and its membership in southern Alberta. These include maintaining and fostering high standards of organ playing and choir performance in our churches, and uniting organists in sharing mutual interests and solving similar problems.
The Calgary Centre strives to uphold its purpose with concerts, workshops and recitals held during the College year. Regularly scheduled Executive meetings and an Annual General Meeting serve to fulfil the managerial needs and requirements of the Centre’s operation.
In 2018 the Calgary Centre hosted the RCCO Organ Festival, Spirit Wind, a “celebration of the pipe organ and the people who play them, build them, and love them.”
What we do
Education
- Workshops by local and traveling clinicians: organ and choral
- Field trips to area churches
- Monthly in-service programs led by Centre members
Performance
Performance programs allow members the opportunity to perform through playing, conducting or by being part of the organizing committee.
- Member recitals
- Organ “Club”
- Hallowe’en organ event
- Christmas concerts
- Hymn festivals
- “Pipes Spectacular” concerts
- College services
Networking / Mentoring
Membership puts church musicians in contact with others who share similar interests in church music. Through our events calendar, members and the community at large are kept informed of happenings in the Centre.
Fellowship
Social gatherings are held at least four times annually:
- Organizational “Gathering” (September)
- Twelfth Night Epiphany Potluck (January)
- Organist/Clergy Tea (Spring)
- A.G.M. Barbeque (June)
Our Executive
The Calgary Centre is run by a volunteer Executive elected at the Annual General Meeting.
Born in Hong Kong, Gary Tong comes from a Methodist family. His mother and grandmother sang in the choir of the Chinese Methodist Church in…
Ethan Hill is a Calgary-based organist, pianist and composer. He studied composition and theory at the University of Victoria (2015–19) with Anna Höstman, and piano…
Chellan Hoffman was born in Yorkton, Saskatchewan, in 1967 and grew up on a farm near Ebenezer. She began lessons on electronic organ at age…
Join the RCCO
The RCCO assists its members in the development and practice of fine organ and choral performance and sound church musicianship. Membership includes Organ Canada, the RCCO’s quarterly journal, access to annual examinations and conventions, and advice on church employment through a nationwide network of colleagues.
For information on how to join, the membership regulations and the full benefits of membership, please visit the RCCO membership page, or contact us directly.