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CIOC’s 2025 Grand Organ Festival: Celebrating the Ever-Evolving Instrument

By Kaitlyn Chan on 3 October 2025 Canadian Music, Classical Music, Contemporary, Jazz

Despite the organ’s extensive history dating back to the third century BCE, it still holds a vital place in the context of music-making today. The Canadian International Organ Competition (CIOC) proves this with their popular competitions, festivals, and concerts. This year’s Grand Organ Festival highlights up-and-coming organists, various musical genres, and a world premiere. “The organ is far from a dead instrument,” says Artistic Director Jean-Willy Kunz. Rather, it seems to evolve with the performers, composers, and audiences who enjoy it. During the festival, Kunz will perform on the pipe organ alongside a jazz quintet at Montreal’s St. James United…

From Coast to Coast

By Félix-Antoine Hamel on 3 October 2025 Jazz, La Scena Online, Scena Jazz

Recommended Fall gigs Vancouver For an Easterner, the Vancouver jazz scene always seems bursting with activity. This reviewer admits being a bit jealous of all the comings and goings in the city’s clubs and concert halls. In the past few weeks, for example, Vancouver jazz fans were able to see saxophonist George Garzone (on Sept. 23), the Bill Charlap Trio (Oct. 8), drummer Ches Smith’s new project Clone Row (with the twin guitars of Mary Halvorson and Liberty Ellman and the bass of Nick Dunston, Oct. 10), local legend PJ Perry (Oct. 17 & 18) and Indian-American saxophonist Rudresh Mahanthappa’s…

2025 Fall Festivals Guide

By La Scena Musicale Team on 3 September 2025 Baroque and Early, Classical Music, Contemporary, Jazz, Montreal, Ottawa, Quebec City, West

Montreal Canadian International Organ Competition (CIOC) Montréal, September 6 to October 26 | www.ciocm.org The Canadian International Organ Competition (CIOC) presents the 2025 Grand Organ Festival, with over 15 events in Montréal and across Québec from September 6 to October 26. Music lovers are invited to explore the King of Instruments through a varied program including jazz, classical, experimental, and everything in between. The headline concert on October 4 features Peter Richard Conte, who was principal organist at the legendary Wanamaker Grand Court Organ (the world’s largest fully functioning instrument) in Philadelphia for more than 35 years. VIP tickets include…

Nuée de Ritournelle (GRILL, Rimouski & C-IME, Belgium). Photo: Laurent Orseau

Fall 2025: Focus on Rimouski and Guelph

By Félix-Antoine Hamel on 3 September 2025 Jazz, La Scena Online, Region, Scena Jazz

Now that summer is almost over, the loud festival sets digested, the family vacation ended, some of us (maybe still smelling of campfires and bug spray) might want a change of pace—maybe some thought-provoking music instead of the danceable kind found in big, crowded events. From Rimouski, Que., and Guelph, Ont., come some exciting events in the next few months. Fresh sounds from Bas-du Fleuve For two decades now, Rimouski has fostered a remarkable assemblage of forward-looking musicians, revolving around bass player/singer-songwriter/organizer Éric Normand. Not only have Normand and his associates developed a whole school of improvisers (most of them…

Bourgie Hall Celebrates 15th Season

By Newswire on 21 August 2025 Chamber Music, Classical, Classical Music, Jazz, Montreal, Newswire, Opera, Orchestral, Piano, Scena Jazz

Montreal, August 21, 2025 – Bourgie Hall is opening its doors wide with more than 100 events featuring masterpieces from the repertoire, daring creations, and interdisciplinary encounters. In the preseason, on September 24, 2025, audiences will discover Les veilleuses, an artistic experience that combines music and dance and sets the tone for a rich program. The official start of the season will be on October 2, 2025, with internationally renowned pianist Leif Ove Andsnes. Conceived by artistic director Olivier Godin and executive director Caroline Louis, this new program highlights more than four centuries of repertoire, including contemporary creations, crossing styles, eras, and cultures. A look at the rich…

Sofiane Pamart; Carminho

2025-26 Concert Season Starts at The Royal Conservatory of Music

By Newswire on 5 August 2025 Classical Music, Jazz, Newswire, Toronto

The 17th season at Koerner Hall starts with one of the top 10 most streamed classical music artists in the world and a regular on prestigious stages in France and abroad. Sofiane Pamart makes his Koerner Hall debut in a concert blending classical piano with hip hop influences. “The Royal Conservatory’s 2025-26 concert season is a vibrant celebration of musical excellence, presented across our three stages – Koerner Hall, Mazzoleni Concert Hall, and Temerty Theatre,” said Alexander Brose, Michael and Sonja Koerner President & CEO of The Royal Conservatory of Music. Other September/October concerts include: A three-day celebration of Oscar Peterson’s 100th birthday with concerts, symposia, and master classes, featuring Christian McBride, the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, and Benny…

Victoria Symphony celebrates 85th anniversary with return of Symphony SPLASH!

By Newswire on 4 July 2025 Classical Music, Jazz, Newswire, Orchestral, Vocal

Vancouver, BC — Victoria Symphony announces the return and expansion of its cherished summer concert event, Symphony SPLASH!, in celebration of the organization’s 85th anniversary, at Victoria’s Inner Harbour, August 2 & 3, 2025. Returning after a five-year hiatus, the two-day event will feature four live orchestral performances on the Inner Harbour’s iconic barge stage from Victoria Symphony and The National Youth Orchestra of Canada, with special guest performers: JUNO-nominated Indigenous singer-songwriters Celeigh Cardinal and Shawnee Kish, and BC Hall of Fame percussionist Sal Ferreras and his Latin Jazz Sextet, with Cuban vocalist Adonis Puentes. The free, all-ages event will…

Summer 2025: jazz festival season

By Félix-Antoine Hamel on 30 May 2025 Jazz, La Scena Online, Montreal, Region, Scena Jazz

Rain or shine, for jazz fans summer always means one thing: festival season. As always, La Scena Musicale offers a wide selection of interesting shows and musicians, local and from abroad, who will appear on Canadian stages during the season. For experienced ears Ever since the 2018 reissue of his classic 1975 Valley of Search LP, Brooklyn-born saxophonist Alan Braufman is enjoying a late career renaissance. He has since released two new albums, reuniting with some old comrades (notably, pianist Cooper-Moore), but also meeting newer talents (like fellow saxophonist James Brandon Lewis and vibraphonist Patricia Brennan). Braufman will give a…

Oscar Peterson. Photo: Al Gilbert, C.M., F.R.P.S.

Oscar Peterson at 100: Beyond the Keys

By Viktor Lazarov on 30 May 2025 Interviews, Jazz, Montreal, Piano

A flurry of agile fingers churning up notes at dazzling speed like a turbo butterfly flying over fields of black and white keys. Instant delivery of musical thought to hands that look like they could render anything at a moment’s notice. Such is the impact of Oscar Peterson’s piano playing, even 100 years after his birth on Aug. 15, 1925. Peterson, who died on Dec. 23, 2007, transcended all barriers. A jazz pianist of historic proportions, he is revered by artists and musicians of all genres. Over the course of a career spanning more than six decades, he paved the…

Pierre Bourgie at Salle Bourgie's 2025–2026 season launch event. Photo: Frédéric Faddoul

Salle Bourgie’s 15th Anniversary: Building on Success

By La Scena Musicale Team on 1 May 2025 Chamber Music, Classical Music, Contemporary, Interviews, Jazz, Montreal, Newswire, Piano, Strings, Vocal

By: Madeline Boldt and Adrian Rodriguez Salle Bourgie marked its 15th anniversary on April 29 with a season launch that highlighted its steady growth and continued commitment to musical excellence. The event brought together artists, partners, and the public for an overview of what’s to come in 2025–2026. The launch featured three short performances that reflected the range of programming ahead. Soprano Aline Kutan, with pianist Michael McMahon, performed a lyrical selection that opened the evening with warmth. Historical clarinetist Maryse Legault was joined by Gili Loftus on the pianoforte for a nuanced exploration of early music. Later, Sal Sissokho…