Press Release

Organ Improvisation League (2003 Season)

FESTIVAL ORGUE ET COULEURS announces the Winter / Spring 2003 - 2nd Season of the Organ Improvisation League (LIO)
January 31 to Mai 4: Ten Regular Season Games
May 9 and 16: Two Playoff Games
June 15: Championship Game

Montreal, January 24, 2003 - Organist Régis Rousseau, artistic director of the FESTIVAL ORGUE ET COULEURS, is pleased to announce the launching of the 2nd season of the ORGAN IMPROVISATION LEAGUE (LIO). Taking its cue from the popular comedy improv league in which two teams compete against each other hockey-style, complete with rink, referees, and penalties, the LIO offers an original way to hear organ music in all its glory and win over legions of new fans by giving a modern twist to this traditional art.

The LIO's 2nd season kicks off Friday, January 31, 2003, at 8:00 p.m., at the Saint-Nom-de-Jésus Church in Montreal, and wraps up with two playoffs games on May 9 and 16 and the championship game on Sunday, June 15, 2003. The matches will be presented with much brio and panache by referee-in-chief Raymond Perrin - organist and director general of the Orchestre symphonique de Trois-Rivières - and master of ceremonies Patrick Bélanger - a graduate from the École nationale de l'humour.

The five original teams are still in the competition, representing renowned Music Schools or major cities in Quebec. Each team consisting of at least three organists will be part of the 2003 Season that features games either on Fridays at 8:00 p.m. or on Sundays at 3:00 p.m. at the following dates: SEVEN GAMES IN MONTREAL on January 31, February 9 and 14, March 2 and 14, April 25 and May 16 // TWO GAMES IN TROIS-RIVIÈRES on March 9 and May 4 // ONE GAME IN QUEBEC CITY on February 21 // ONE GAME IN LÉVIS on March 21 // and ONE GAME IN DRUMMONDVILLE on May 9. The CHAMPIONSHIP GAME will be held IN MONTREAL on Sunday, June 15 at 4:00 p.m. Low admission fee (see the following schedule for more details).

The LIO is a successful combination of tradition and topicality, a showcase for talented performers in a light-hearted atmosphere, an interactive format in which the audience is invited to vote on the winning team of the night. Will the McGill 2002 Season Winning Team succeed for a second time?

Organized by the Festival Orgue et couleurs, the Improvisation League was created with the assistance of McGill University, the Montreal and Trois-Rivières conservatories of music, the Maison de la culture Maisonneuve, Pro Organo Mauricie, Diffusion culturelle de Lévis, the Amis de l'Orgue de Québec, Palais Montcalm, the Amis de l'Orgue de Drummondville, Rodgers/Roland Canada, Beaudoin Musique and the Centre de Pianos et Orgues Mauricien.

For further information: 514-899-0644 / www.orgueetcouleurs.com

Media Relations: Marie Marais / 514-845-2821 / marais@cam.org

[7210] News posted Friday, January 24, 2003.