Waikato’s first Organ Week to be hosted in Cambridge
By Eon Malan | At the organ bench, 1 July 2021
Click here to view the full programme for Organ Week 2021
Waikato’s first Organ Week to be hosted in Cambridge
Cambridge Organ Week promises a festival of organ music in the picturesque town this July.
The first week of July will be filled with the majestic sound of organ music. Cambridge will host its first Organ Week where well-known organists from around the North Island will participate in a week-long programme of free lunchtime concerts. This feast of music takes place in the iconic St Andrews Anglican Church where the pipe organ was recently renovated, now delivering a powerful and uplifting sound. This project takes place 5-9 July 2021 and is presented by Music in Sacred Spaces, a collaborative initiative to encourage the use of beautiful venues for musical experiences.
The format for Cambridge Organ Week is simple: A free lunchtime concert is open to the public every day of the week from 12:15 to 12:45 where a range of programmes will be presented by visiting organists. The schedule promises to be filled with a wide selection of music which will appeal to any audience:
Monday 5 July: Paul Rosoman (Wellington)
Tuesday 6 July: Eon Malan (Hamilton)
Wednesday 7 July: Rachael Griffiths-Hughes (Hamilton)
Thursday 8 July: ‘Hymn Singalong’
Friday 9 July: Mark Eyre (Karapiro)
The week of organ music officially kicks off on the Sunday before with a splendid organ concert at St Peter’s Cathedral in Hamilton where Paul Rosoman, renowned international concert organist from Wellington, will present a recital of well-known organ pieces. The concert takes place on Sunday 4 July at 2pm and is free (koha appreciated to support the music ministry at the cathedral).
Says Eon Malan, Artistic Director at Music In Sacred Spaces: “We are thrilled to present this event where we can celebrate the beauty of organ music. We are very lucky to host Cambridge Organ Week at St Andrews as their refurbished pipe organ is an absolute joy to play. We also run a hugely successful series of free lunchtime concerts here on the first Wednesday of every month which the local community has supported from day one so it really feels like coming home.”
The opportunity to hear four organists in a single venue during the course of a single week is rare and is sure to be a highlight on the calendar of many music lovers in July. “We are honoured to have accomplished organists share their talent with us. This truly is a first for the Waikato and we can’t wait to see you there,” concludes Mr Malan.
