SOPRANO AND U OF T GRAD BAYRAKDARIAN TO PERFORM BENEFIT SHOW AT CONVOCATION HALL<\/p>\n
World-renowned soprano and University of Toronto graduate Isabel Bayrakdarian will perform a benefit concert at Convocation Hall Nov. 25 to raise funds towards the restoration of the century-old pipe organ in the historic building. Bayrakdarian, a 1996 graduate of the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering, decided to follow her heart and pursue a career in music. Bayrakdarian’s acclaimed career has seen her perform in opera houses in New York, Paris, San Francisco, Toronto and London. <\/p>\n
The Convocation Hall organ, a Casavant Opus 474, was manufactured by Casavant Frères, Limitée of St-Hyacinthe, Que., in 1911 and installed in 1912. This latest round of repairs will help to complete the job begun in 1994 when two of the organ’s six mechanical divisions were replaced. An estimated $150,000 to $200,000 in funding will be needed to complete the work. <\/p>\n