I’m the Chairman of the Town Hall Organ Trust. This trust is the guardian of the new four million dollar organ built in the Town Hall in 2010. The Trust engages international and New Zealand organists to perform in the Town Hall each year. The Trust works with Auckland Live [part of Regional Facilities Auckland], Auckland Council and other arts groups like the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra to present concerts of the highest standard. In 2010 Thomas Trotter and Thomas Heywood played the instrument as well as New Zealand’s Indra Hughes and John Wells. In April 2013 we presented Olivier Latry from Notre Dame, Paris and in July 2013, Cameron Carpenter. In 2014 we presented Isabelle Demers from Baylor University, Texas as well as high profile New Zealand organist, Kemp English. In the last few years we’ve seen Christopher Herrick, Kevin Bowyer, David Briggs, Joseph Nolan, Christopher Wrench, Benjamin Sheen, Raúl Prieto Ramirez and the late John Scott play our Town Hall Organ. The organ is known across the world as possibly the best town hall organ in the world. See the Trust’s website for more detail www.aucklandorgan.org.nz and the Town Hall Organ Facebook page www.facebook.com/TownHallOrgan [if you’re one of the many brilliant organists who’ve played our instrument and your name isn’t listed here, I apologise]

I’ve planned, managed and delivered hundreds of events over the past three decades which have included product launches, dinners, concerts and recitals, congresses and festivals and even guided overseas tours. Recent work has been for the Auckland Council; the 100 year anniversary of Auckland Town Hall being one such high profile event. Much of my work is in partnership with Auckland Live.

My voluntary work also included management of Musica Sacra, one of New Zealand’s leading choirs. I was the General Manager for ten years. The choir performed around fifteen times each year in venues throughout New Zealand and many of its performances have been recorded for broadcast by Radio New Zealand. The last CD produced, Christmas Spectacular is a brilliant example of the superb music this choir presented to audiences in this country.

As an organist I have played for many weddings, funerals and services. I have a Trinity College London diploma [LTCL]. I also play the piano and have done so for at least 40 musical theatre shows in Hamilton, Wellington and Auckland. I’ve also directed some twenty shows. Recently I’ve enjoyed duet work.

For many years I’ve sung in choirs. Music study included a master’s dissertation on Russian composer Alexander Glazunov, who wrote eight symphonies and around 120 other works between 1882 and 1934. My thesis is an analysis of his eight symphonies. I’ve written and presented talks for Radio New Zealand Concert and each year present pre-concert talks for the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, among others.

I enjoy the academic analysis of music; with harmonic analysis being a particular interest.

I have an interest in photography and enjoy seeing improvement in my own work. I have a range of other interests and fascinating work I do from time to time is to proof read PhD theses before they’re submitted.