Craft Afternoon 4th Thursday of the month

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 MCCONNELL

Cello, Violin, Keyboard, Piano and Voice

Debra received her musical education through the university of New South Whales Bachelor of Music/Bachelor of Education program. Debra achieved a major in piano and minor in violin and studied subjects in theatre and film. Whilst studying at university Debra undertook extra students in Dalcroze Eurhythmics and holds a certificate in I and AMEB Speech and Drama where she obtained an Associate diploma – practical. 

After moving back to Goulburn she has:

Taught at the Goulburn TAFE specialising in Early Childhood music Education,                                                                                                                          Taught music years 7-12 at Goulburn High School,                                                                                                                                                                  Conducted choirs, orchestras and ensembles primary school and high school,                                                                                                                          Directed and musical directed musicals for the Argyle Society and St Saviour’s Cathedral (The Sound of Music, My Fair Lady, Godspell, Nunsense),                        Is a founding member of Rocky Hill Musical Theatre Company and is musical director (Joseph and his Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Oliver, the Wizard of Oz, Aida by Elton John, The Lion King Jr and the Addams family musical),                                                                                                                                        Conducted Singfest 2012 for the Catholic Schools Northern Region Concert,                                                                                                                           Was founding Violin tutor as part of the Goulburn Strings Project (5 years),                                                                                                                              Studied Suzuki Talented Educaton and holds a certificate III in Violin Education,                                                                                                                        2021 recently developed “Hume Music Time” Early Childhood Music Education via Youtube and Face to face,                                                                            2023 Director of Music at St Saviour’s Cathedral, Goulburn and conductor of St Saviour’s Cathedral Choir and Children’s Choir.

Debra currently teaches Early Childhood music, piano, violin and musical theatre. She leads the Allegro Strings ensemble. Debra prepares students for AMEB examinations and Suzuki graduations. 

What genres do you teach?

Classical, musical theatre, sacred music, film/tv music, preschoolmusic

What is it that you love about teaching music?

Watching the growth and enjoyment in music and in self confidence 

Please share a particular career highlight and why it's special to you

I am proud that I have continued to find ways to have music education and music experience to all accessible

What's one piece of music that you'd recommend people listen to?

.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).