We offer a variety of ways to enjoy a meaningful and much-appreciated involvement in activities centred on the Cathedral. Ring the office (02 4821 2206) or email us at [email protected] for information about any of the following:
Choir
St Saviour's choir and regular recitals in the Cathedral provide great opportunities for music lovers. We are keen to encourage more choral participation by young people under the direction of our Choir director,Debra Mc Connell..Debra Mc Connell teaches at the Goulburn Conservatorium of Music
.Debra has also been a long standing member of the Catherdral Choir.Debra has also been involved with many musicals for example the Lion King etc.
Organists
Phil Fraser and Brett Mc Kern have wealth of experience in organ music.Phil Fraser is also a member of the St Saviours Cathedral Choir.
Dr Brett McKern is a composer, conductor, organist, and academic. Organist and Director of Music at St John’s Church, Gordon, he holds degrees in music, education, theology and two doctorates in musical composition.
Brett is an award-winning (Australia & Canada) composer of church and organ music and his music has been performed in Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Belgium, Germany, France, and the USA. His organ solos have been performed at such prestigious venues as Westminster Abbey and St Paul’s Cathedral, London; Sint-Rombout’s Cathedral, Mechelen, Belgium; and Washington National Cathedral. His choral compositions have been performed at Westminster Abbey and Westminster Cathedral in London, Ely Cathedral and York Minster, to name a few. His music has been broadcast on radio in Victoria, Queensland and NSW. Brett has published over seventy compositions in Australia and abroad; a number with the Australian publisher Wirripang. His publications include a book of piano sight-reading exercises for the AMEB (Australian Music Examinations Board), and works for choir, orchestra, chamber works, and works for solo instruments including organ, harpsichord, piano, cor Anglais, saxophone, recorder, carillion, and others. Brett has adjudicated multiple composition competitions.
As an academic, Brett has worked at the Universities of Sydney, Wollongong, and Western Sydney; lectured at theological college; and was an Adjunct Associate Professor of Music. His publications, in addition to musical compositions, include reviews of concerts and CDs for journals and articles on church music. Brett is called on as an examiner of university theses, compositions and performances and examines written music subjects in NSW and online and diplomas and consults for the AMEB. He is also an S.S. Wesley and Herbert Howells scholar. Brett’s private students have gone on to read for degrees in music at various conservatoria and universities in Australia and abroad, and a number are now professional musicians.
As an organist Brett has been broadcast on radio and recorded for DVD, CD and film. He makes a specialty of improvisation at the organ. As a choir director he has performed extensively in Australia, Germany and the UK: in many Australian churches and cathedrals, as well as places such as York Minster, Westminster Abbey, and St Paul’s Cathedral, London.
Brett is passionate about adding to the corpus of Australian organ and choral music as can be seen by his compositional output, and by the number of new choral works he has commissioned from other Australian composers. An ardent supporter of the pipe organ and church music, Brett has served on the committees of the RSCM (Royal School of Church Music), Organ Music Society of Sydney, and the Guild of Church Musicians, serving as the latter’s national Chair for ten years and eight years as Director of Studies in Australia and New Zealand. He has served on the committees or as consultant for eight pipe organ restorations or rebuilds in Australia and the UK.,
This information has been contributed by Doctor McKern.
Bellringers
St Saviour's 13 bells - named after ships of the First Fleet - make up one of Australia's few full peals, and are renowned throughout the bell-ringing fraternity. New, experienced, or visiting bell-ringers are welcome.
Cathedral Guides
The Dean has called the cathedral "the Gospel Story in glass and stone". Our guides assist visitors in viewing the beauty and historical significance of the cathedral. St Saviour's attracts thousands of visitors from around the world every year. We have a group of guides, under the direction of Mr Fred Rainger. Our guides take great pride in welcoming tourists and others who might be drawn to St Saviour's calm beauty and interesting history. To learn more about being a guide, or organising a group tour, call the Cathedral office (02 4821 2206).