2012 Congress to hear Olivier Latry in concert with NZSO

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Those attending the 2012 ORGANZ Congress in Wellington will have the opportunity to hear one of the most renowned of modern French organists.

Paul Rosoman, President of the Wellington Organists' Association (WOA) has announced that Olivier Latry, eminent titular organist at Notre-Dame Cathedral, Paris, will feature in the opening event of the Congress weekend, a concert by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.

Latry will be the guest soloist in the Poulenc Organ Concerto. This exciting announcement is the outcome of a collaboration between the NZSO and WOA and culminates three years' planning, he said.

The Wellington Organist's Association is also delighted to announce that Olivier Latry is appearing, courtesy of the NZSO, as the Guest Artist at the 2012 Organz Congress which they are hosting this year.

Full programme details for the 2012 Congress will be available soon. In the meantime, the following link to the NZSO's website gives detailed information of this concert. http://www.nzso.co.nz/concerts/concert/spellbound/

Otago-Southland Association celebrates 50 years

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The Otago-Southland Organists' Association, ORGANZ's southernmost regional association, celebrated its 50th Anniversary in Dunedin on Saturday 13th of August.

The day began with lunch at The Bog Irish Bar & Restaurant and was followed by a special presentation at Knox Church. John Hargraves of the South Island Organ Company, visiting from Timaru with a seven-strong party, gave an overview of the founding and growth of the company.

A well-supported public concert followed utilising the church's two organs. Performers included David Burchell, Alan Edwards, Simon Mace and Peter Stockwell who also compered the event. The Hill, Norman & Beard 1931 instrument was used for the solo presentations, whilst Alan and Peter played two-organ duets using also the Compton Miniature two manual extension instrument situated in the upstairs gallery.

Approximately 60 past and present members (including a group from Invercargill) enjoyed a celebratory jubilee afternoon tea, OSOA President Mark Hughes passed on greetings from several ex-members, spoke of the establishment of the Association and proposed a toast to its past and future. He also cut (below) a remarkable Anniversary cake designed and made by Sue and Robert McLintock depicting 'Norma', Dunedin's majestic Town Hall organ. OSMA_50th_DSC_0028

Sarah Kim dazzles Auckland audience

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ORGANZ Congress recitalist Sarah Kim (Paris) stunned the audience at the Town Hall in the feature recital of the Auckland Organ Festival on Saturday evening, 4 June. In a dazzling performance that belied the fact that she had practised on the new Klais for only a few hours, Kim so impressed that she earned the first standing ovation and foot-stamping reception since the inauguration of the new organ.

Her programme exhibited amazingly virtuosic technique of both hand and especially feet in pieces like the opening "Hommage to Igor Stravinsky" by Naji Hakim and the Scherzo and Final from Vierne's 6th Symphony. But most memorable for many were the many touches of exquisite artistry in the slower pieces such as Messiaen's "Alleluias sereins" from "L'Ascension" (on the eve of that Feast), and the Duruflé "Meditation". The beauty of the programme was greatly assisted by the profusion of lovely soft solo voices provided by Klais Orgelbau. Kim used many such stops thoughout and the Maori Koauau and Pukaea in John Wells' "Kokako Fanfare and March.

Earlier in the day, the Town Hall had hosted an Organ Discovery Day in which families and especially children were able to explore a variety of small organs, including one played only with the feet, make pipes out of cardboard and see a narrated stage show "Carnival of the Organ Pipes".

The weekend began on Friday evening with City Organist Dr John Wells forsaking the country's largest organ at the Town Hall for one of the smallest and certainly the oldest: the 1779 one manual Avery at Ponsonby Baptist Church. He thrilled with his technical mastery of the 17th and 18th century repertoire of the instrument's own era and ability to generate many more colours and textures than such a small instrument has any right to possess.

The Congress continued on the Sunday with a service celebrating the centenary of the Croft organ at Pitt St Methodist Church. At 5pm there was a choral eucharist service at Holy Trinity Cathedral. Widor's "Mass for Two Choirs and Two Organs" at Holy Trinity Cathedral (5pm). The Cathedral pipe organ was played by John Wells and a Rodgers electronic organ Sarah Kim. The two choirs, one at each end of the nave, were directed by Indra Hughes. The large congregation in attendance for the 19th century French organ mass heard some magnificent singing and organ music.

Memorial Fund for earthquake victim will help train young organbuilders

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A special fund has been established in memory of Neil Stocker, long serving workshop foreman of the South Island Organ Company, who died in the 22 February Christchurch earthquake while working on the Durham Street Methodist Church organ.

The idea originated with Neil Stocker’s wife Margaret. Knowing how passionate Neil was about his work, she suggested a fund that would provide special educational opportunities for apprenticed or recently qualified young organbuilders working full time in the craft in New Zealand. These might involve exchanges with overseas organbuilders or special courses of instruction in any of the many skills they need.

Although the rules of the fund have not yet been formalised, and there has been virtually no publicity, the fund has already attracted several thousand dollars.

The fund is being administered by the New Zealand Organ Preservation Trust (NZOPT). Donations may be sent to the NZOPT Treasurer (see below) or to the NZOPT's Stocker Memorial Fund account 030866 0171409 - 01 (Westpac bank, Sydenham Branch, 443 - 445 Colombo Street, Christchurch; SWIFT Code for International Transactions: WPACNZ2W). NZOPT is registered charity CC40007 and tax credit can be claimed for donations. To obtain a receipt for donations made directly to this account, please ensure your name is included in the direct payment procedure and then send your name and address separately to the NZOPT Treasurer ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or D K Thorby, 65 King Street Rangiora 7400). If you post a cheque to Mr Thorby and want a receipt, please write your address clearly.

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ORGANZ (The New Zealand Association of Organists Inc.)

We welcome anyone with an interest in the organ, whether a player or not, to join one of the regional organists' associations in Auckland, Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch and Otago-Southland. (There are also local organ groups in the Manawatu and Waikato.) The regional associations will link you into the organ community in your own area. It is also possible to join the national body ORGANZ direct.

This website contains a range of news and information for everyone with an interest in the organ in New Zealand and items are being added all the time. Visit it regularly to keep up with developments, such as news from the organ world, upcoming concerts and events such as our national Congress, held each year during Queen's Birthday Weekend.

Use the links on this page to contact the Regional or National Secretaries for details. Many of the menu items at left expand when clicked to show more pages under the general headings.

Small church organ At the console Fine pipes and Trompette-en-Chamade