Maxine Thevenot, who graduated with a bachelor of music (music education) with distinction in 1991, will appear at the opening concert of the American Guild of Organists (AGO) National Convention in Chicago July 2nd. She will be the final performer on the evening's program and will play the Concerto for Organ and Strings by Richard Proulx, who will be given the AGO Composer of the Year award at the convention.

"I feel especially honoured to have this opportunity - and to be the only female on the program," said Thevenot. "To play on that stage in Orchestra Hall, on an organ built by the oldest pipe organ company in Canada – Casavant – with conductor Julian Wachner and the members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, I would say it's definitely one of the career high points."

Over the course of that career, Thevenot has twice been a featured performer at the Royal Canadian College of Organists National Convention and is the recipient of several competition prizes and scholarships, including first prize in the Canada Bach 2000 National Organ Competition.

Born in Zenon Park, Thevenot is currently based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. This May, she received her doctoral degree from the Manhattan School of Music in New York, as well as, for the second time, the Bronson Ragan Award for most outstanding
organist.

Thevenot releases her first CD called Without Boundaries this month on the Raven CD label.