Christopher's studied piano in Townsville and entered the Queensland Conservatorium in 1980. Being the recipient of the AMEB Scholarship in 1979 and during his course winning the Margaret Nickson Prize (accompaniment) and Minnie May Bussie Bursary (piano), together with the Organ Society of Queensland's Pipe Organ Competition he graduated in piano and organ in 1983,
Christopher has performed as both soloist and accompanist, playing with the (then both) Qld orchestras, the Badinerie Players (as founding harpsichordist), and various choral groups on organ, harpsichord and piano.
The fascination he holds with the organ is the variety of traditions and schools of organ playing. He seeks to be faithful to the underlying style and schools of composition and registration.
During 1982-83 Christopher acquired much experience as the Sub Organist of St John's Cathedral, Brisbane, working under the direction of Robert Boughen. He has taught and examined organ for the Queensland Conservatorium and the then Kelvin Grove Music Department since 1983. He has recorded for the ABC and stations 3&4MBS, and has made a record accompanying trumpeter Paul Terricini. He participated in a project of MOVE Records [Catalogue Number: MD3190] to record the works of George Dreyfus, performing the technically demanding ‘Stant Litore Puppes’ on the Fincham at St Peter's Eastern Hill. (Most likely the only solo recording on this instrument. see also)
Christopher has performed on many notable organs in Australia and is in regular demand in accompanimental roles on both piano and organ. Organ performances include recitals for the Inaugural Fremantle Bach Festival [including the Art of Fugue], the opening of the rebuilt St James Cathedral Organ in Townsville, the Queensland Performing Arts Trust's ORGAN PLUS SERIES and for the Queensland Conservatorium of Music. He has performed in the Albert Hall, Launceston for the Organ Historical Trust of Australia and performed in the Evening Series of Recitals in St Paul's Cathedral, Melbourne. Whilst in Brisbane, he appeared as pianist, organist and accompanist in the Brisbane City Hall's Music at Midday concerts.
Overseas, he has performed solo recitals in UK at Windsor Castle & Southwark [Ang] Cathedral (1997) and St Peter & St Sigfrid Anglican Church, Stockholm (2000).
As part of his broader free-lance (Brisbane) activities, Christopher conducted the Queensland University Musical Society for part of 1993. Until moving to Melbourne, he was a member of the Anglican Archbishop's Advisory Committee on Church Music and was the Queensland Councillor for the Organ Historical Trust of Australia.
In Melbourne since February 1994, he was appointed Director of Music at St Peter's Church, Eastern Hill (Sep 1994-Apr 2002) and currently teaches piano at Westbourne Grammar School and is an organ lecturer for the Australian Catholic University, Melbourne and Monash Universities. Christopher continues as a Director of the Organ Historical Trust of Australia, and persues freelance performing engagements, accompanying and examining. During 1993 he acted as Interim D/Music at St Patrick's Mentone.
Returing to Brisbane in 2004, Christopher was the Assistant Organist at St John's Cathedral, Brisbane, teaching piano at TSS. From Jan-Aug 2005, he is Acting Dircetor of Music at St John's Cathedral, Brisbane.
Hobbies include house purchase and renovation, gardening and cooking, raising ducks, promotion of the pipe organ as a musicians' instrument, practising the trumpet, and assisting in the preservation of our wonderful organ culture. Other goals are returning to the local gym on odd days, and the dangerous (and in Australia, frustrating) business of trading Options.
Born 1962, St Andrew's Hospital, Wickham Terrace, Brisbane SECONDARY (1975-79) Townsville Grammar School Dux Form V, Proxime Accessit Form VI,TE Score: 990
TERTIARY - Queensland Conservatorium of Music (1980-83) BMus (Piano & Organ)
DIPLOMAS Fellowship of Trinity College, London (Organ) Licentiate of Trinity College, London (Piano) Licentiate Music Australia AMEB (Piano)
PROFESSIONAL WORK Organ tutor, QCM 84-90; Organ tutor, KGCAE 88-91 SubOrganist, St John's Cathedral 82-83; Organist, St Francis College, Milton; 83-88 Chapel Organist/Choirmaster, Anglican Church Grammar School 84- 88;Director of Music, All Saints' Wickham Terrace, 1985-1993
Director of Music, Choirmaster, Organist, [general dog's-body], St Peter's Church, Eastern Hill, Melbourne, September 1994-March 31, 2002. Interim Director of Music, St Patrick's Church, Mentone, Melbourne, part of 2003.
Assistant Organist, St John's Cathedral, Brisbane February 2004.
Occasional Organ Tutor for Melbourne University Faculty of Music; Monash University; Australian Catholic University; St Michael's Grammar School, St Kilda; (1993-96)
Member of the Anglican Archbishop's Music Advisory Committee, Diocese of Brisbane 92-93 Qld then Vic Councillor of the Organ Historical Trust of Australia; accompanist for GPS events and ANCA Choral Festivals; accompanist and assistant conductor for QUMS 1990-93; accompanist/piano teacher - Westbourne Grammar School, Melbourne (1999-) piano teacher - The Southport School (2004-)
TEACHERS/SHORT COURSES Piano: Alice Wetherell, Barbara Smith, Leah Horwitz (QCM) Organ: Graeme Morton (QCM) Visiting Tutor: Gillian Weir (QCM) European Organ Courses I (1985) Michael Radulescu (Vaduz, Leichtenstein), Xavier Darasse (Toulouse, France, RIP) European Organ Courses II (1997) Alkmaar Summer Academy (Holland); In Tempore Organi (Italia)
European Organ Courses III (2000) In Tempore Organi (Italia); Goteborg Organ Academy, Sweden; Early Music Festival, Magnano (Italia) on fortepiano and clavichord
In Australia, full accreditation is held as a member of the Victorian Music Teachers Association (1995-2004).
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Last tampered with April 2005