Jim Picken is an Associate Director of Music Ministry at Knox Presbyterian Church, accompanist for the Calgary Men’s Chorus, and enjoys collaborative work, on piano or organ, with solo singers and instrumentalists.

After twenty years in church ministry, Jim’s latent musical gifts became a second calling. He was always drawn to the organ, and rediscovering that early love gave him a new and more ambiguous way to participate in church.

He is proud of the numerous organ recitals he has performed, among them: a recital at Christ Church in April 2001 in aid of Amnesty International; at Central United to celebrate Alberta’s Centennial in 2005; and at the Jack Singer Concert Hall for the First North American OutGames in April 2007.

Jim has also played some of the world’s most famous pipe organs: during a seminar in 2001 he played in Notre-Dame, St.-Sulpice, La Madeleine, and La Trinité, Paris. During tours with Christ Church Choir to England in 2002 and 2011, he accompanied choral services on the organs of Wells Cathedral, Chichester Cathedral, St. George’s Chapel Windsor, and St. Paul’s Cathedral, London.

Because he is a late bloomer, he is like a kid in a candy shop when it comes to learning new repertoire: for organ, Franck and Bach hold endless fascination; for piano, he wonders why it took so long to discover Schubert! Plus all the things that singers and cellists throw at him!

A Francophile who has never visited Quebec City, Jim plans to rectify this grave omission this summer.

You can learn more about Jim’s recordings by visiting his website at www.jamespicken.ca.