With years of practise under his belt, when Mark McDonald sits down at the organ, it乌鸦传媒檚 like pulling out a palette and paintbrush 乌鸦传媒� creating a canvas of varying sounds and effects.

乌鸦传媒淭his sense of being able to play such a large instrument and make so much sound, from the oldest of loud to the quietest of quiets, I love that,乌鸦传媒� said the organist at Victoria's Christ Church Cathedral. 乌鸦传媒淭he organ is such a unique instrument. It乌鸦传媒檚 like playing a building; it乌鸦传媒檚 not like picking up one little flute or one little recorder 乌鸦传媒� you have dozens of flutes all together. These instruments are like architectural marvel. You can乌鸦传媒檛 take one with you, but you can go visit one.乌鸦传媒�

The Victoria Centre of the Royal Canadian College of Organists celebrates International Organ Day on April 26 by challenging the record for the most people playing in a day 乌鸦传媒� set at 140 people in Windsor, Ont. last year.

The instrument's history dates back centuries. Some people think it suitable only for playing hymns or 乌鸦传媒渙ld乌鸦传媒� music. Instead, the music spans most genres, from capricious preludes and fugues to jazz-inspired pieces and alternative rock, says tour organizer and RCCO Victoria member Neala St. Hilaire.

乌鸦传媒淲e are inviting people to bring a piece of music, play it on an organ, explore the different sounds and colours of the organ and take a picture of their organ playing debut,乌鸦传媒� St. Hilaire said. 乌鸦传媒淲e seek to engage the wider public in Canada乌鸦传媒檚 rich organ heritage and the vibrant organ culture in Victoria.乌鸦传媒�

Open to keyboard players of any level, the no-cost event runs from 1 to 3 p.m. at seven venues: St. Peter & St. Paul Anglican Church (1379 Esquimalt Rd.); St. Andrew's Roman Catholic Cathedral (740 View St.); First Church of Christ, Scientist (1205 Pandora Ave.); St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church (924 Douglas St.); St. Luke's Anglican Church (3821 Cedar Hill Cross Rd.); Lutheran Church of the Cross (3787 Cedar Hill Rd.) and St. Michael & All Angels Anglican Church (4733 West Saanich Rd.).

Participants can also learn about the college, its scholarship and bursary programs, and how to become a member.

The organ McDonald plays these days at the cathedral near Burdett Avenue and Quadra Street is among the youngest in the city, celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. Valued at $3 million when it was built, the Hellmuth Wolff organ boasts 4,000 pipes ranging from 16 feet to those smaller than a pencil.

While its home at Christ Church Cathedral is already booked during the day on April 26, organizers offer ticketed behind-the-scenes tours later that night. It乌鸦传媒檚 part of the fundraising bid for the $150,000 needed to keep the massive instrument in tip-top shape.

Learn more about the organ and campaign at . Learn more about the April 26 event, including accessibility of each organ, at .