You will be in for a treat next Tuesday, if you attend the organ concert at St. John's Anglican Church on Highway 9. Ian Sadler and Angus Sinclair are performing a selection of music perfect for the whole family on the church's Makin digital organ.

A digital organ basically sounds the same as a traditional organ without the need to be maintained in the same way. This one even has a "concert hall reverberation" program that gives the impression it is being played in a large church. It has a full keyboard and a full foot keyboard.

So, as a fundraiser for the renewal of the church roof, at the invitation of music director Keith Thompson, Ian Sadler and Angus Sinclair are playing together for this concert.

Of course, you will remember that Keith Thompson was mayor of Mono for some years until the last election. His defeat, albeit graciously accepted, was a signal for him to leave politics once and for all. He and his wife Lynn have moved to New Hamburg, which is closer to the area in she was raised. He is happy with the move, although, as he commented to me, he has spent the last 30 years living in Mono and it is hard to say goodbye to all his associations and occupations.

Perhaps first and foremost of these is his role at St. John's as, not only music director, but also organist and choirmaster, for which he has, necessarily, given his notice. Likewise, in his occupation as computer professor in Orangeville with Georgian College, it is too difficult to travel the distance to maintain a part-time job, which he clearly loves.

His favourite of the courses that he teaches is the 50's Plus course which helps older people, who are fed up with their grandchildren running circles around them at the computer. Imagine the questions and disbelief that a computer course of this kind would create.

Says Keith, "These classes are filled with laughter."

Back to the concert.

Ian Sadler was a choirboy in St. Paul's Cathedral, London, England in his youth. After his studies, he played as an organist in Cambridge and performed the organ music for the film "Chariots of Fire".

He came to Canada in 1970 and taught as a professor for the university in Sudbury, although nowadays, his life is given over to his extensive and busy concert schedule.

Angus Sinclair is the organist for "The Three Cantors" who perform in all the major synagogues in Ontario. He was, for some time, the organist for the cathedral in London, Ontario.

Mr. Sinclair is also a jazz musician, happily doing gigs in night clubs around the province. Sometimes, he persuades the pipes of the organ to mimic those of the bagpipe, such is the whimsy of his "wry sense of humour". With such talent and versatility, Tuesday evening's performance is bound to be a great treat.

It is on this note that the concert is based. Keith was concerned to offer a concert that everyone will enjoy. The pieces are all short enough for entertainment. Selections from the worlds of sacred, secular and popular music are all part of a program that will enchant every taste. Keith is anxious that it should be known that there are no long concertos from Bach.

There was the question of there only being one organ and two musicians, but here too, there was an answer. Keith told me, "They will each play as soloists while the other sits to one side, but there are pieces when they will play as a duet on the one organ - four hands and four feet playing the one instrument. In fact, we are turning the organ around so that everyone can see how this is being done. It is quite extraordinary."

For Keith Thompson it is all about the music. Although he does not make his living at music it is his passion. He and Lynn sing with the Stratford Concert Choir and have travelled with them to the U.K. to sing in cathedrals there. He has worked and sung with Mark DuBois at different venues in this area. He has played as organist and choirmaster for the Anglican Church for some time and enjoys it all so much.

So, he is sensitive to what will please the audience coming to the concert next Tuesday. And he promises us a show we will love.

The concert starts at 8 p.m., although the seats are not reserved and early arrival is recommended.

Tickets are available here at the Citizen, BookLore and through Theatre Orangeville if you want to pay with your credit card.

See you there.