RCCO Ottawa Centre CRCO Section d'Ottawa

MATTHIEU LATREILLE

Matthieu Latreille is a Canadian graduate student from Québec who is studying at the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal, specializing in the work of Maurice Duruflé. He won the First Prize in the Concours de musique du Canada (2007) and at the Lynnwood Farnam Competition (2005) (previously the John Robb Competition). He was awarded the Prix du lieutenant gouverneur du Québec in 2005 on graduating from the Conservatoire de musique de Gatineau. He is the organist of Église Notre-Dame-de-Grâce and of the Church of Saint Augustine of Canterbury, both in Montréal. He has been presented in recital in many parts of Canada. Matthieu Latreille intends to study with Olivier Latry at the Conservatoire national supérieur de musique de Paris in the summer of 2009.

Godfrey Hewitt, C.D.,D.Mus. (Cantuar), FRCO, Hon. ARSCM, died in 2002 at the age of ninety-three. For over seventy years a prominent figure in sacred music in Canada, Dr. Hewitt left a very significant legacy to Canadian music. Born in Yorkshire, England, in 1909, he came to Canada in 1931 after serving as Organist for the Archbishop of Canterbury at Lambeth Palace, London, in 1930. He became Organist and Master of the Choristers at Christ Church Cathedral, Ottawa, in 1931, and remained there for half a century, until his retirement in 1980. In 1973, Dr. Hewitt was awarded the Lambeth Doctorate of Music by the Archbishop of Canterbury; he was made a Member of the Order of Canada in 1976. He was famed as performer, teacher, composer, and organ designer.

This scholarship has been established in his name both to honour his memory and to increase the number of highly-trained professional Canadian organists, not only to serve as organists in universities, concert halls, and churches, but also to teach future generations of performers. Previous winners of the scholarship were Craig Humber (2005), Isabelle Demers (2006), Michael Unger (2007), and Ryan Jackson (2008).

The next annual competition for the Godfrey Hewitt Memorial Scholarship in organ will close on April 30, 2010. Details may be found on the web site of the Royal Canadian College of Organists, Ottawa Centre: www.rcco-ottawa.ca

Further details may be obtained from:

Frances Macdonnell
613-726-7984