The first Maxwell Fernie organ scholarship will be officially presented by Hon. Chris Finlayson, Minister for Arts at St Mary of the Angels in Wellington on Sunday 25 April 2010 at 7pm.

On the same day, one hundred years earlier, Maxwell Fernie, musician and organist, began his long and lustrous life under the bright shining of Halley's comet.  His last forty-one years were spent in Wellington.  They were in many ways his best and musically his most productive. From a small space in the crypt of St. Mary of the Angels in Boulcott Street, he set out to work what he called kiwi "fallow ground".  He did it with vision, hard work, determination and a great deal of fun and satisfaction.  At the closing of his given time he could look back contented that he had achieved just that.

All this calls for a celebration!  A free memorial concert will take place at St Mary of the Angels in the evening of ANZAC Day when the scholarship will be presented.  There will be many concert participants, including the new scholar, all giving their time and talent freely, plus a few surprises are kept in store to delight the audience on the night.  A specially collated souvenir centennial CD will be available on the day. The evening will conclude with a birthday cake and supper served in the hall adjacent to the church.

 The full programme for the concert will soon be posted on www.maxwellfernietrust.com