NEWSLETTER MAY 2016 FROM THE PRESIDENT The Annual NZOA Congress in Christchurch deserves our full support. As Trevor Lord (Christchurch Organists’ Association representative on the NZOA Council) describes in his guest ‘Montre’ in the May issue of NZ Organ News, the Christchurch earthquakes resulted in the loss of many pipe organs and hit the Christchurch organ community hard. A planned Congress in Christchurch in 2013 was replaced with the Melbourne Congress. Three years on, and over five years after the quakes, is the right time to demonstrate solidarity with our Christchurch colleagues. You will see in the NZOA Annual General Meeting documents that Tom Chatterton, Organist and Director of Music at St Matthew-in-the-City in Auckland, and a new member of AOA, has agreed to be nominated as a Vice President of NZOA. Because there have been no other nominations, Tom will be declared elected at the AGM on 6th June. Congratulations Tom! The AOA Committee is working on plans for hosting the 2018 NZOA Congress in Auckland. The Congress will feature the newly installed Nicholson Organ at Holy Trinity Cathedral, as well as the organ at St Matthew-in-the-City. Please support the Colin Andrews Masterclass and Town Hall Organ Concert – the details follow on the next page. TOM CHATTERTON We welcome Tom Chatterton as a new member of AOA. Tom began his musical career as a Chorister at Lincoln Cathedral. He was Organ Scholar and studied for a degree in music at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. He was also Acting Organ Scholar at Jesus College. Whilst at Cambridge, Tom made a number of CD and BBC recordings accompanying various College Choirs, and gave many organ recitals across the UK and on international tours. After graduating, Tom spent a further year at Jesus College as Assistant Organist. Tom then took up a position as Organist and Music Teacher at Oakham School and was also conductor of the Oakham Choral Society. Tom, his wife Emma (a Kiwi) and newly-arrived baby Arthur moved to Auckland in July 2015. He was Acting Organist at St Luke’s Presbyterian Church, Remuera, before be appointed to his current role at St. Matthew-in-the-City. Welcome Tom, Emma and Arthur!
Transcript
NEWSLETTER
MAY 2016
FROM THE PRESIDENT
The Annual NZOA Congress in Christchurch deserves our full support.
As Trevor Lord (Christchurch Organists’ Association representative on the NZOA Council) describes in his guest
‘Montre’ in the May issue of NZ Organ News, the Christchurch earthquakes resulted in the loss of many pipe organs and hit the Christchurch organ community hard. A planned Congress in Christchurch in 2013 was replaced with the Melbourne Congress. Three years on, and over five years after the quakes, is the right time to demonstrate solidarity with our Christchurch colleagues. You will see in the NZOA Annual General Meeting documents that Tom Chatterton, Organist and Director of Music at St Matthew-in-the-City in Auckland, and a new member of AOA, has agreed to be nominated as a Vice President of NZOA. Because there have been no other nominations, Tom will be declared elected at the AGM on 6th June. Congratulations Tom! The AOA Committee is working on plans for hosting the 2018 NZOA Congress in Auckland. The Congress will feature the newly installed Nicholson Organ at Holy Trinity Cathedral, as well as the organ at St Matthew-in-the-City. Please support the Colin Andrews Masterclass and Town Hall Organ Concert – the details follow on the next page.
TOM CHATTERTON We welcome Tom Chatterton as a new member of AOA.
Tom began his musical career as a Chorister at Lincoln Cathedral. He was Organ Scholar and studied for a degree in music at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. He was also Acting Organ Scholar at Jesus College. Whilst at Cambridge, Tom made a number of CD and BBC recordings accompanying various College Choirs, and gave many organ recitals across the UK and on international tours. After graduating, Tom spent a further year at Jesus College as Assistant Organist.
Tom then took up a position as Organist and Music Teacher at Oakham School and was also conductor of the Oakham Choral Society.
Tom, his wife Emma (a Kiwi) and newly-arrived baby Arthur moved to Auckland in July 2015. He was Acting Organist at St Luke’s Presbyterian Church, Remuera, before be appointed to his current role at St. Matthew-in-the-City.
Welcome Tom, Emma and Arthur!
COMING EVENTS
Saturday, 28 May, 10.00am, St Peter’s Church, Takapuna Masterclass with Colin Andrews Presented by AOA in association with St Peter’s Church, Takapuna
Born in Bristol, England, Colin Andrews initially studied organ with Garth Benson of St. Mary Redcliffe Church. He entered London’s Royal Academy of Music for organ and piano study under principal professors Douglas Hawkridge and Margaret McDonald. He later moved to Geneva, Switzerland where he was a student of Professor Lionel Rogg. Following his return to Britain he studied privately for two years with Dame Gillian Weir.
Colin Andrews has been the recipient of many awards; most notably, he was a prizewinner at both the 1980 and 1982
Dublin International Organ Competitions in Ireland, and, in 1993, The Royal Academy of Music, London, bestowed an Associateship upon him in recognition of his distinguished performing career. In addition to his recitals, Colin Andrews is an active teacher and lecturer.
He has served as a national councillor and local President of the IAO in the UK and has served as Organist and Master of the Choristers at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Goldsboro, NC, USA, his country of residence. In the fall of 2005 he joined his wife, American organist Janette Fishell, on the East Carolina faculty when he resumed Lecturer status, teaching in the areas of Applied Organ and Organ Literature. During the 2008-2009 academic year, Andrews was Interim Director of Organ and Sacred Music Studies at East Carolina University.
Sunday, 29 May, 2.00pm, Great Hall, Auckland Town Hall Organ Concert – Colin Andrews playing the Klais Organ Presented by the Auckland Town Hall Organ Trust
Colin’s Town Hall concert will be based on the theme “A Tale of Three Cities”: London, Leipzig & Paris. The music will be by Bach, Bliss, Messiaen and others, and includes the Royal Wedding favourite: the Toccata from Widor's Symphony No 5.
Friday, 3 June – Monday 6 June, Christchurch Annual NZ Organ Association Congress and Annual General Meeting
Guest artists include John Linker (Organist and Director of Music at ChristChurch Transitional Cathedral), Michael Stewart (Organist and Director of Music at Wellington Cathedral of St Paul, Music Director of the Tudor Consort, and NZOA Vice President), Barry Brinson (versatile and talented organist and musician, well known to Congress attendees) and Helen Webby (Harp).
Check www.organz.org.nz for details and a Registration form if you can’t find yours!
Look out for details of other future planned events on the AOA calendar:
a joint organ and choir concert with the RSCM at St. Matthew-in-the-City
a visit to the Whittaker’s Music Museum on Waiheke Island
play the organ at Holy Trinity Cathedral (students and others)
an AOA-hosted BBQ with the organ-builders from Nicholson’s
the next AGM at St Mary’s in Holy Trinity Cathedral, preceded by an organ recital by Philip Smith on the (then) newly restored 1909 Croft organ of St Mary’s (March 2017)
2016 NZOA ORGAN
PERFORMANCE COMPETITION The 2016 Organ Performance Competition will be held on the recently restored 1872 Bevington organ of S. Michael and All Angels Church, Christchurch. AOA will be represented in the competition by at least one member, Paul Chan, and possibly by one or more others. Good luck Paul!
The Willis organ of St. Matthew-in-the-City, Auckland
The Concerto Organ (Waters & Son, New York , 1877) at the Whittaker’s Music Museum, Waiheke Island.
The console of the 1909 Croft organ at St Mary’s in Holy Trinity Cathedral, Auckland
The 1872 Bevington organ of S. Michael and All Angels Church, Christchurch
FROM THE ARCHIVES AOA’s first year (1952) – and events and the people
The AOA affiliated with the Incorporated Association of Organists (IAO) in London, and with the Auckland Music Council, with two AOA members being appointed as Delegates on the Council. Membership grew during the first year, with 83 financial members by the time of the 1953 AGM. Events held in 1952 included:
a ‘Presidential Evening’ at St. Mary’s Cathedral where Joseph Papesch, Freda Lewins and Arthur Reid played the organ
an excursion to Cambridge (at Queen’s Birthday weekend) to visit St Peter’s School Chapel where Stanley Jackson gave an organ recital
an ‘Organ Promenade’ concert (on 3rd July, as part of the 1952 Auckland Music Festival) on the 1911 Norman and Beard organ of the Auckland Town Hall, with the organists having been chosen by ballot – these were Arthur Reid, Donald Edgar (current AOA member), Freda Lewins and Trevor Sparling
a visit to the Norman and Beard organ of the Auckland Town Hall (19th July) where Donald Osborne (of Lawton and Osborne) gave an address
an organ recital at Pitt Street Methodist Church (16th August) where the organists were Dr Neville Stephenson (President of AOA), Trevor Sparling and Arthur Cook
a lecture “The art of Extemporisation” given in September at the Auckland Art Gallery by Oliver Harris
a recital at St Patrick’s Cathedral (given by Maxwell Fernie of Wellington) which included a string quartet (26th October)
a Christmas recital at St Matthew’s Church (21st December) given by George Wilson (Organ) and the St Matthew’s Choir
Arthur Reid was organist and choirmaster at Pitt Street Methodist Church for 21 years (1944–1964). In 1953 he was elected President of AOA. In 1958 he (with Peter Godfrey and Lin Saunders) was involved in establishing the RSCM Auckland.
Trevor Sparling (d. 1965) was organist and choirmaster at the Anglican Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Khyber Pass Road, for 13 years (1928–1941), followed by St David’s Presbyterian Church, Khyber Pass Road, for 21 years (1941–1962). He was organist for the Auckland City Council. He taught the organ to John Hargraves.
Joseph Papesch (1908–1970) was a gifted blind organist, teacher and composer. He was elected as a member of the AOA Committee at its first meeting.
Freda Lewins was organist at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Auckland.
Oliver Harris was organist at St George’s Anglican Church, Epsom.
George Wilson was organist and choirmaster at St Matthew’s Anglican Church.
Donald Osborne worked on the installation of the Norman & Beard organ of the Auckland Town Hall Organ in 1911. He established the Onehunga factory of Lawton & Osborne with E H Lawton of Aberdeen, after returning from World War I in 1922.
