When watching an award show, the biggest thrill often comes when the top category is announced, such as movie of the year or best new artist. The anticipation builds, the envelope opens, and the winner is revealed.

For organ enthusiasts in Grey and Bruce counties, that same excitement surrounded the announcement of the first-ever “Grey Bruce Pipe Organ of the Year 2025”. And the winner is… Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Walkerton!

A Local Treasure

Sacred Heart’s Casavant Frères pipe organ was installed approximately 35 years ago and remains one of Walkerton’s musical jewels. Built in the French Baroque style, the instrument is rich in colour, brilliance, and volume — perfectly suited to the church’s renowned acoustics. (As organ builders often say, “the most important ‘stop’ on the organ is the room’s acoustics.”)
Beyond its role in weekly worship, the instrument has played a central part in the Walkerton Rotary Music Festival, serving for decades as the venue for the Pipe Organ category. Its presence has inspired generations of young and older musicians to study and perform on a true concert-quality organ.

Celebration Event

To mark this recognition, the Grey Bruce Chapter of the Royal Canadian College of Organists (RCCO) will host a special event on Friday, October 10, at 7:00 p.m. at Sacred Heart. A commemorative plaque will be presented, followed by a recital showcasing the instrument’s splendour.
The featured performer will be local organist Anna Perrone, fresh from completing her music degree. For Anna, this will be both a professional milestone and a homecoming performance. Her program will highlight the full range and expressive power of the organ.
As an extra bonus, choral music will also be part of the recital. Grey County’s own St John’s Sacred Music Schola Choir, under the direction of Chloe Willis, will perform sacred works.

An Invitation

This celebration is more than an award ceremony — it is a chance to hear one of our region’s finest instruments brought to life by a rising local talent.
We warmly invite you to join us on Friday, October 10 at 7:00 p.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Walkerton for an evening of music, history, and community pride. A Free Will Offering will support the Saugeen Hospice Fundraising Campaign.

Come and experience why this remarkable Casavant organ has earned the title of Grey Bruce Pipe Organ of the Year 2025!