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Christ Church Cathedral maintains a music program that has benefited this city for nearly 200 years – the first record of music at the Cathedral dating back to 1835 when a finger and barrel organ was in use. During that time, the choirs, organists and musicians have enhanced the worship of our church, diocese and city, and provided entertainment on the concert platform in one of Australia’s finest and most historic buildings.
Music-July-to-Sept-2024.pdf
The Cathedral’s music includes two choirs – the Christ Church Cathedral Choir and the children’s choir (St Nicholas Choir), the Christ Church Camerata, which is the resident orchestra of the Cathedral, and the Cathedral Strings, a string orchestra comprising the best young players of Newcastle and the Hunter Valley.
The main events in the musical life of the Cathedral are two services each Sunday – Choral Eucharist at 10am, and Evensong at 6pm. In addition the choirs sing at all the major Feast Days of the Cathedral, as well as occasional weddings, concerts and other events. The choir also makes recordings and tours, with a future tour of the United Kingdom in planning at present.
The Cathedral’s Director of Music is David Banney, and the Organist-in-Residence is David Drury, both of whom bring many years of experience, nationally and internationally, to the liturgical life of the church. The choir’s repertoire spans a wide variety of styles and 1500 years, embracing and encouraging new music.
Christ Church Cathedral plays a significant role in the life of the city outside its services of worship. It is one of the most popular concert venues in Newcastle, and features significantly in the annual Newcastle Music Festival.
Beyond all of this, the Cathedral offers music education through the Newcastle Cathedral College of Music. Under the auspices of the National College of Dance, the College of Music offers VET courses at Certificate IV and Diploma level.
STAFF
David Banney – Director of Music
David Drury – Organist-in-Residence
Keith Murree-Allen – Organist Emeritus
For the St Nicholas Choir
Veronica Butcher – Family Ministries Co-ordinator and Musicianship Teacher
Jenny Pickering – Musicianship Teacher and Accompanist
Rosie Murree-Allen – RSCM Co-ordinator
