Events

2025

Saturday 15th February, Annual Recital and Lunch

11.30am concert, followed by lunch at 12.30pm
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Gawler (corner Second Street & Seventh Street, Gawler South)
Organist: Andrew Georg (Organist & Assistant Director of Music at St Peter’s Cathedral Adelaide)
Cost for lunch: $35*
Following on from the successful equivalent event last year, once again the recital and lunch will be at the same venue so there will be no problems moving from one to the other. Helpfully the church has ample parking on-site. Andrew Georg will play a short concert on the 1912 Fred Taylor organ (previously in the Dale Street Methodist Mission Church, Port Adelaide), followed by a lovely two course lunch of meats and salads and dessert in the adjacent air-conditioned hall. BYO alcoholic or other drinks; water, tea and coffee will be available. Celebrate the start the organ year in the company of your friendly OMSA members. This annual event is always a worthwhile and popular occasion.

March & April events

Once again Adelaide and surrounding areas are full of organ related events during March and April. Rather than try to add yet more to these, we would encourage you to enjoy at least some of these other opportunities. The Cathedral of St Francis Xavier in Adelaide has a full programme of Fringe Festival events in late February and during March.

At the end of April the Barossa has its Vintage Festival including organ events. OMSA had thought of visiting this area later in the year for an organ crawl but decided instead to suggest that members join in the Pipe Organs & Bells event on 25th April – please note that, given the event programming, there won’t be the opportunity for those attending to try out the organs visited, as is the case at the usual OMSA organ crawl events.

Also Pilgrim Uniting Church has announced its exciting 2025 International Organ Recital Series which starts in April.

Thursday April 10th, 1.00 pm Richard Pearce (UK)

Sunday May 11th, 2.30pm Martin Baker (UK)

Saturday June 21st, 5.00pm David Drury (Australia)

Sunday July 20th, 2.30pm James O’Donnell (UK/USA)

Sunday September 14th,  2.30pm Jean-Baptiste Robin (France)

Thursday October 23rd,  1.00pm Alana Brook (Australia/UK)

Sunday November 23rd , 2.30pm Daniel Roth (France)

Sunday recital admission: $40/$30
Thursday recital admission: Free
David Drury film improvisation admission: $20

Monday May 12th, 7.30pm Gerard Brooks

North Adelaide Baptist Church, Tynte Street

Gerard Brooks (UK) will be visiting Adelaide again for a special family occasion and he has very kindly agreed to give us a personal evening presentation on ‘Forgotten Musical Treasures’ – this will be a programme of lesser-known but attractive French repertoire with commentary. His workshop on registering French organ music on an English-style organ in November 2023 was very well received by all those who attended. All are very welcome to what looks to be a fascinating evening of organ music.

Monday June 16th, 7.30pm, Pilgrim Uniting Church

It is several years since the last playing visit to Pilgrim by OMSA members so it will be good to reconnect. On this occasion, both organs at Pilgrim (their 4 manual pipe organ which is the largest in the state, and also the chamber organ) will be demonstrated by Pilgrim Organ Scholars, Val Estrella and Casey McEwan, with members then free to try either instrument for themselves (it may be necessary to have a planned playing roster!).

Sunday July 20th, 2.30pm

A trip down memory lane: Music-making with expressive acoustic keyboard instruments pre-WWII style. Circumstances have led to OMSA taking on custody of the large Smith American Organ (harmonium/reed organ) which was for many years at St. Chad’s Church, Burnside and more recently at St Augustine’s, Unley. It is now housed in the music studio of music teacher and Committee member Mark Freer. In this meeting we will explore how piano and harmonium are structured to allow expressive music performance by amateur and professional players, illustrated by selected musical examples for both instruments. Full details of venue will be given in the next newsletter.

August

We hope to join in some way with Wesley Uniting Church, Kent Town, in their 160th Anniversary celebrations. Further details will be given in the July Newsletter.

OMSA AGM and Recital

Our recitalist will be Suki Wu, organ scholar at Bethlehem. She has a Master of Music degree and is a private part-time piano tutor, currently studying organ with Bethlehem’s Principal Organist, Gina Dutschke. Following the recital there will be the business meeting (full details to come) and a time of refreshment to enjoy time together with fellow OMSA members.

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2024

OMSA Annual Opening Recital & Lunch

Where:              The Church of the Epiphany, Crafers
When:                Saturday, February 24^th, 2024
11:00 am: Recital featuring Adelaide organists Christopher Bridge & Gina Dutschke
12:15 pm: Lunch

 

Sunday 21st April, 2.30pm Visit to Scots Church

Saturday 22nd June, 1 – 3pm Workshop: ‘Helps for Hymn Playing’

St Columba’s Anglican Church, Hawthorn

Presenters: Gina Dutschke and Graham Bell
Playing hymn tunes, whilst once a basic for worship services, is not the easiest of undertakings for many keyboard players. So many questions! Should pedals always be used? How fast should this tune be played? Does a different key matter? How many singers are present? How can the sound be varied on a small organ? What should be used as an introduction? What about varied harmonies?

Monday 15th July 7.30pm – Olivier Latry at Pilgrim

Rather than putting on an OMSA event during July, we are encouraging members to attend the recital by Olivier Latry at Pilgrim Uniting Church. Appointed titular organist of Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris, at the age of 23, Olivier Latry is widely recognised as the global number one organ virtuoso. He performs regularly in the world’s most prestigious venues, is the guest of leading orchestras, records for major labels, and has premiered many works by leading contemporary composers. His recital will will include works by Guilmant, Brahms, Saint-Saëns, Vierne, Gigout, Alain and Dupré, as well as an improvisation.

Saturday 20th July 7:30pm – James O’Donnell at Pilgrim

James O’Donnell was Organist and Master of the Choristers at Westminster Abbey from 2000 to 2022, leading the choir on many state occasions. A prize-winning organist, he has given solo recitals globally, including at the BBC Proms, and performed with leading orchestras.

Monday 12th August, 7.30pm St Michael’s Anglican Church, Mitcham

This planned visit will give an opportunity to see, hear and play the Bishop & Son organ at St Michael’s Anglican Church, Church Road, Mitcham. Built in 1878, the instrument has 2 manuals and pedal, 13 speaking stops and mechanical action. It is a beautiful intact example of a parish organ by the prestigious firm of Bishop and Son in its original home.

Lesley Lewis has agreed to play a short recital on the organ with a number of pieces to demonstrate the instrument’s qualities, after which our OMSA members are invited to have a play informally. Whilst you are encouraged to bring your music and have a try, you may also like to just look and listen.

Sunday, 22nd September, 2.30pm: 2024 Annual General Meeting

St David’s Anglican Church, 492 Glynburn Road, Burnside, 5066.

The business component of the AGM will be held first this year, followed by a time of refreshment and fellowship. At 4pm there will be an organ recital by OMSA member Kristy Sueng Youn Choi. Kristy is originally from Seoul, South Korea and has studied in both S. Korea and Australia. She currently plays at St John’s Anglican Church, Halifax Street and is Music Director of the Adelaide Piano School. Her programme will include Bach’s Prelude and Fugue in E flat major (BWV 552), conclude with the Finale of Vierne’s 1st Organ Symphony and also include music by Mendelssohn, Sibelius, Morricone and hymn arrangements by Kristy herself. 

Saturday 19th October, 2.30pm St Peter’s Anglican Church, Glenelg

This meeting will be an organ concert and social gathering to acknowledge the long and loyal membership in OMSA of Tony Whitehill, former Organist and Music Director at St Peter’s for more than 40 years. Length, depth and stability of membership has been a feature of our Society over many years and has enabled us to maintain an effective programme of activities and be an influence for good in the organ culture of South Australia. Our archive holds a Minute Book from 1964 which contains a list of financial members for that year including four who are still with us after 60 years: Tony is one of them.

Organists, including Graham Bell and David Heah, who have played at Glenelg during Tony’s tenure as organist, will join Tony himself in providing the music for this event.

Sunday 17th November, 2.30pm North Adelaide Baptist Church, Tynte Street

At this meeting jointly sponsored by the Organ Music Society of Adelaide and the National Trust SA, Music Director and Organist of the Church, Frank May and organist friends will present a concert of organ music to demonstrate the historical and heritage significance of the instrument located here. They will also illustrate the ongoing contribution of the organ to musical culture in Adelaide as it has features which are not found in many other parish instruments especially those relevant for teaching.

There will also be an update report on the restoration of the Bevington chamber organ which the Trust possesses and to which the Society and members have made donations to fund restoration. Information on how to make tax deductable donations to the Restoration Fund will also be distributed. There will be a retiring collection for spontaneous non-deductable contributions.

Monday 9th December, 7.30pm, Christmas Social at St Andrew’s, Walkerville

Greg Crawford will demonstrate the organ for us, after which any who so wish are invited to play this 2 manual and pedal instrument with 35 speaking stops. All welcome, please come along to enjoy the seasonal food and fellowship and music!

As has become our tradition over recent years, for our last meeting of the year we will be
gathering to enjoy festive music and refreshments and a chance to enjoy each other’s
company in a relaxed setting. The organ is a 1898 JE Dodd instrument organ, rebuilt in 1962 by JE Dodd & Sons Gunstar Organ Works with subsequent additions made by organ builders Lyall Von Einem, a past St Andrew’s organist, and Leith Jacob.