The Art of the Impossible

Event details

  • Sunday | 31 May 2026
  • 15:00
  • Église Saints-Anges de Lachine 1400, Boul. St-Joseph Lachine (Qc) H8S 2M8
  • Aucun billet requis / Don suggéré : 15$

Isabelle Demers, organ

Native of Lachine, Isabelle is admired for her powerful playing, phenomenal memory, and ability to turn the organ into an orchestra, pushing the limits of the repertoire.

This exceptional concert highlights the 350th anniversary of the foundation of the Saints-Anges Parish. 

Details

Free Admission | Suggested Donation $15

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Isabelle Demers

With her virtuosic and expressive playing, Canadian organist Isabelle Demers leads a dual career as a performer and pedagogue in numerous countries across Europe, the United States, Canada, and Asia.

She has been invited to many major conventions, including those of the American Guild of Organists, the Royal Canadian College of Organists, the International Society of Organ Builders, and the Organ Historical Society. Her engagements include performances in the cathedrals of Cologne and Regensburg (Germany), St Paul’s Cathedral and Westminster Cathedral as well as Westminster Abbey (London), the Royal Opera House in Muscat (Oman), the Royal Festival Hall in London, the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg and the Berlin Philharmonie (Germany), the Town Halls of Auckland (New Zealand) and Melbourne (Australia), as well as in major American universities and concert halls: Yale University, Eastman School of Music, Rockefeller Chapel – University of Chicago, Disney Hall (Los Angeles), Davies Hall (San Francisco), the Kimmel Center (Philadelphia), the Schermerhorn Center (Nashville), and the Wanamaker Organ (Philadelphia). She recently performed at the Royal Albert Hall in London for the BBC Proms and has also served on the jury of several major international competitions, including those of Longwood Gardens, Montreal, and Toulouse.

Her discography includes several recordings, among them the complete Chorale Fantasias of Max Reger and an album devoted to the organ works of Rachel Laurin.

After completing her doctoral studies at the Juilliard School in New York with Paul Jacobs—studies crowned with the Richard French Prize for the best dissertation—Isabelle Demers served as Professor of Organ at Baylor University (Waco, Texas) from 2012 to 2022. Since August 2022, she has been Associate Professor of Organ at McGill University (Montreal, Canada), as well as Organist-in-Residence at the Church of St Andrew & St Paul in Montreal. She is also a Visiting Professor at the Norges Musikkhøgskole in Oslo, Norway.

 

Program

Prélude en mi-bémol majeur BWV 552/1 J-S BACH (1685-1750)
Cantate BWV 118, “O Jesu Christ mein Leben’s Licht”
trans. Demers
Fugue en mi-bémol majeur BWV 552/2
Sonate #1 op. 91
– Allegro agitato
– Berceuse mariale
– Carillon-Toccata: Allegro leggiero
RACHEL LAURIN (1961-2023)
Nimrod
Trans. Demers
SIR EDWARD ELGAR (1857-1934)
Fantasia and Fugue on BACH FRANZ LISZT (1811-1886)

 

Thank you to all our sponsors

Grants

 
Emploi d’été Canada
Arrondissement Lachine
Entente culturelle
Conseil des arts de Montréal
PME MTL
Bingo Lachine
 

Major sponsors – Platinum

 
Fondation Azrieli – Azrieli Foundation
Desjardins Caisse de Lachine
Collégial international Sainte-Anne
 

Major sponsors- Gold

 
Spinelli, partenaire officiel
 

Sponsors – Silver

 
Acier lachine
Atelier lyrique de l’Opéra de Montréal
Piano Vertu
 

Sponsors – Bronze

 
Club de croquet
CabinetDentaire.ca
Cognitive Group
 

Concert sponsors

 
Centre visuel Victoria
MLV Immobilier
J.J. Cardinal Lachine
Jean Coutu Aboud Georges
Martin & Cie, comptables professionnels agréés
IGA Extra Vallée