Godilieve Ghavalas and the
Sydney (Australia)
Summer Organ Academy
“I think it's been amazing. What has been so good is that we've had organists from age 10 to 70 all learning from each other and socializing and generally having a great time.”
"I've enjoyed it enormously. I've really admired the wide range of ages and standards amongst the students and have loved the way in which everyone has respected everyone else's views, ideas and achievements. It's also lovely that the atmosphere in the classes has been encouraging and supportive. Even in a few days, everyone here has made some changes and improvements to their technique and, above all, have developed their love of the music studied.”
The Sydney Summer Organ Academy was organised by the Organ Music Society of Sydney and took place from Wednesday the 29th December 2010 to Sunday the 2nd January 2011. At first we were not sure whether these dates would attract any participants being just after Christmas and over New Year celebrations, but we ended up with thirty organists from Sydney, Brisbane, Tasmania, Singapore and New Zealand.
The idea was to get young organists together for five days of tuition, with the motto of “learning amongst friends”. What happened was that older students wanted to participate too and this resulted in a very happy mix of people.
We knew of James Parsons (UK) who has very successfully run a Summer School for Organists in Oundle (founded in 1985). James has enjoyed opening doors for thousands of young organists through Oundle’s and the Royal College of Organist’s residential summer schools and day courses. Two of the committee had met James previously and a liaison was formed. However, we wanted some local tutors to be involved as well. The tutors were James Parsons (UK, Head of Student Development RCO, serves on the Academic Board and is an Examiner for RCO) Oliver Brett (UK, Assistant Organist, Durham Cathedral) Philip Swanton (Head of Organ Studies at the Sydney Conservatorium), Peter Kneeshaw (Principal Organist of St Mary’s Cathedral, Syd ney), Robert Ampt (City of Sydney Organist) and Peter Jewkes (Organ Builder and Principal Organist of Christ Church St Laurence, Sydney).
Shore School in North Sydney hosted the event. The school which has a chapel and boarding facilities is set amongst beautifully kept gardens overlooking Sydney Harbour. Of course one of the major attractions was that Shore has an incredible vantage point from which the New Year’s Eve Sydney Harbour Fireworks can be enjoyed. 18 participants resided at the school.
Days were planned to incorporate master classes (Baroque, Romantic . . .), presentations on “The glories of the Baroque” and “The magic of the English Cathedral Organ”, a visit to the Opera House Organ, an evening ramble playing organs of St Mary’s, Young Organist Day (recital highlighting talents of young players) on the Sydney Town Hall Organ, private lessons, Contrasts – an entertaining social evening with John Miley, presentations on accompanying hymns, Lutheran hymnody and improvising, service planning and preparation and then workshops to follow and ending with “The Academy Concert” on Sunday afternoon.
The major challenge was the timetable and venues. The participants were divided into five groups according to their skill level and not being like Oxford or Cambridge, with many organs being in walkable distance, had to catch trains and buses and often go by shank’s pony. We were very lucky to not have had 40 C temperatures that week.
All in all, it was most successful! And a very big thank you would have to go to those who made it possible!
______________________________
Sydney (Australia)
Summer Organ Academy
“I think it's been amazing. What has been so good is that we've had organists from age 10 to 70 all learning from each other and socializing and generally having a great time.”
"I've enjoyed it enormously. I've really admired the wide range of ages and standards amongst the students and have loved the way in which everyone has respected everyone else's views, ideas and achievements. It's also lovely that the atmosphere in the classes has been encouraging and supportive. Even in a few days, everyone here has made some changes and improvements to their technique and, above all, have developed their love of the music studied.”
The Sydney Summer Organ Academy was organised by the Organ Music Society of Sydney and took place from Wednesday the 29th December 2010 to Sunday the 2nd January 2011. At first we were not sure whether these dates would attract any participants being just after Christmas and over New Year celebrations, but we ended up with thirty organists from Sydney, Brisbane, Tasmania, Singapore and New Zealand.
The idea was to get young organists together for five days of tuition, with the motto of “learning amongst friends”. What happened was that older students wanted to participate too and this resulted in a very happy mix of people.
We knew of James Parsons (UK) who has very successfully run a Summer School for Organists in Oundle (founded in 1985). James has enjoyed opening doors for thousands of young organists through Oundle’s and the Royal College of Organist’s residential summer schools and day courses. Two of the committee had met James previously and a liaison was formed. However, we wanted some local tutors to be involved as well. The tutors were James Parsons (UK, Head of Student Development RCO, serves on the Academic Board and is an Examiner for RCO) Oliver Brett (UK, Assistant Organist, Durham Cathedral) Philip Swanton (Head of Organ Studies at the Sydney Conservatorium), Peter Kneeshaw (Principal Organist of St Mary’s Cathedral, Syd ney), Robert Ampt (City of Sydney Organist) and Peter Jewkes (Organ Builder and Principal Organist of Christ Church St Laurence, Sydney).
Shore School in North Sydney hosted the event. The school which has a chapel and boarding facilities is set amongst beautifully kept gardens overlooking Sydney Harbour. Of course one of the major attractions was that Shore has an incredible vantage point from which the New Year’s Eve Sydney Harbour Fireworks can be enjoyed. 18 participants resided at the school.
Days were planned to incorporate master classes (Baroque, Romantic . . .), presentations on “The glories of the Baroque” and “The magic of the English Cathedral Organ”, a visit to the Opera House Organ, an evening ramble playing organs of St Mary’s, Young Organist Day (recital highlighting talents of young players) on the Sydney Town Hall Organ, private lessons, Contrasts – an entertaining social evening with John Miley, presentations on accompanying hymns, Lutheran hymnody and improvising, service planning and preparation and then workshops to follow and ending with “The Academy Concert” on Sunday afternoon.
The major challenge was the timetable and venues. The participants were divided into five groups according to their skill level and not being like Oxford or Cambridge, with many organs being in walkable distance, had to catch trains and buses and often go by shank’s pony. We were very lucky to not have had 40 C temperatures that week.
All in all, it was most successful! And a very big thank you would have to go to those who made it possible!
______________________________