February 2010

2009 in Retrospect 

2009 was a busy year at Casavant. In spite of the challenging economical times we live in, we have installed six new instruments and we got commissioned to build no less than seven new organs and to refurbish some of our own instruments. We feel very fortunate that people continue to put their confidence in us, and we want to express our heartfelt thanks for this outstanding support.

First Casavant Organ in Macau 

We are very pleased to announce the signature of a contract for a new organ to be installed at the Igreja de Sao Lazaro (St. Lazarus Parish) in Macau. The instrument, to be built with electric-slider windchests, will have 37 stops/46 ranks on three manuals and pedal. A Catholic center of great historical importance, Sao Lazaro is the oldest existing Chinese parish in the world.

Recent Installations 

Our new organ at The Church of the Little Flower in Bethesda, MD, which was dedicated in November, has proven to be a great asset to enhance the liturgy of this vibrant parish. Completed in 1967, the church was prepared for the installation of a pipe organ, which was made possible by the clever leadership of the parish. 

A two-manual, four-stop practice organ built with mechanical action was recently installed at the John J. Cali School of Music on the campus of Montclair State University in Montclair, New Jersey.

A breathtaking building by celebrated architect Bertram Goodhue, Christ Church in Bronxville, New York is the home of a new four-manual, 52-stop instrument designed with a definite English flair. The instrument features two large expressive divisions that contain some Pedal stops also, thus providing optimal flexibility for accompaniment. The new organ, which was used for the first time during the Christmas services, was formally dedicated during the Evensong on Sunday, January 31^st.

New Recordings 

Frédéric Champion has made a recording of French organ music (Widor, Duruflé, Escaich, Florentz, Robin, Alain, Dupré, Saint-Saëns) on the 1915/1995 Casavant organ at Saint-Jean-Baptiste Church in Montréal, Québec. The young French organist is the winner of the 2008 Canadian International Organ Competition, a prestigious new competition held in Montreal that plays an important role in recognizing and promoting the value of organ music

September 2009 -

Rebuilds & Restorations 

This website's section dedicated to organ rebuilds & restorations has been thoroughly revised. In addition to information about how we approach these projects, we are presenting a portfolio of more than twenty recently completed projects that show a broad range of work, from restoration to renovation and enlargement of existing pipe organs.  Please follow this link to access this new section.

New Contracts 

We are pleased to announce the commission of three new organs in the last months.

 - St. Aloysius Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Two manuals, 32 ranks, mechanical action.  Please follow this link for additional information.

 - Immanuel Baptist Church in Paducah, Kentucky. Three manuals, 38 ranks, electro-pneumatic action.  Please follow this link for additional information.

- Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Seattle, Washington. Three manuals, 36 ranks, mechanical action.  Please follow this link for additional information.

 Also, a contract was signed with All Saints' Anglican Cathedral in Edmonton, Alberta, for a comprehensive refurbishment of its 1959 Casavant organ. The project will be done in collaboration with Stephen D. Miller, our representative in Western Canada.

Current Projects

The new organs we are currently building for the Grand Theater of Hefei, China, and First Presbyterian Church in Charleston, West Virginia, have been added to the Current Projects section. Follow this link to access this section.

Dedications 

Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT, will formally dedicate its new Chapel of the Holy Spirit with a week-long series of events that will begin on Sunday, September 27th. The weekend’s festivities will inaugurate a year of special events to celebrate the opening of the new chapel that will include Masses, ecumenical services, academic convocations and concerts featuring the new Casavant organ. Follow this link for additional information on the University's website

Our new organ at The Church of the Little Flower in Bethesda, MD, will be dedicated on Sunday, November 1st, with a concert featuring Dr. Peter Latona, Director of Music for the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. Dr. Latona served as consultant on the project. The church choir will also perform some pieces to showcase the combination of voices and the organ, and the congregation will be asked to sing some hymns.

New Recordings 

David Palmer has made a recording of works by Canadian composers (Brent Lee, Deirdre Piper, Peter Paul Koprowski, Chan Ka Nin, Alain Gagnon, Robert Evans) at Jack Singer Concert Hall in Calgary, Alberta.  Please follow this link for additional information.

Denis Bédard has made a second recording of his own organ works at Holy Rosary Cathedral in Vancouver, British Columbia. Please follow this link for additional information.

Please click on this link to read the specifications of a vintage Casavant organ for sale.