2022 OHTA SYDNEY ORGAN WEEKEND
SYDNEY ORGAN WEEKEND
30 September – 3 October
The NSW board members have arranged an in person mini-conference in Sydney over the Labour Day long weekend in September-October this year. The event is designed to include the Sydney Organ Competition, being organised by the Organ Music Society of Sydney for Monday 3 October: we are pleased that the Society has agreed to admit our participants for the same fee as their members ($10 per section, or $20 for the day). During the weekend we plan to hear, see and play interesting organs by Fincham, Forster & Andrews, Gray & Davison, Hill, Möller, Rendall and Walker.
We are also pleased to include a scheduled lunch-time recital at St Stephen’s Uniting Church, Macquarie Street, Sydney, on Friday 30 September from 1.10pm, featuring our NSW board member Mark Quarmby. Following the recital (for which a note donation is customary), two other organs in the city will be visited.
On Saturday 1 October, a bus will leave a central location at 8:45am and will return at around 5:15pm, after visiting five organs in the south-eastern suburbs of Sydney.
On Sunday 2 October the bus will leave a central location at 1:15pm, returning at 5:45pm, after visiting three organs in the inner suburbs.
On Monday 3 October participants are invited to attend the Sydney Organ Competition. The Junior section will commence at 10:30am at St Aloysius’ College Chapel, 47 Upper Pitt Street, Milsons Point (Letourneau 1989). The intermediate section will commence at 2:30pm at Sydney Church of England Grammar (Shore) School Chapel, Blue Street, North Sydney (Holroyd & Edwards 1923, rebuilt and enlarged progressively by Pitchford). The open section will commence at 7:00pm at St Patrick’s Catholic Cathedral, Victoria Road, Parramatta (Norman & Beard 1898, renovated and installed by Jewkes 2005).
Note 1: No transport is being organised for Monday 3 October as Milsons Point and North Sydney are readily accessible by train. The trip to Parramatta can be undertaken by a combination of train and taxi, although travel by private car is recommended, provided participants make enquiries of local attendees for a ride to the event and a suitable drop-off after its conclusion.
Note 2: No meals or accommodation are included over the weekend. It is recommended that participants from outside Sydney book their own accommodation in the area around Central Station, where there is a good range of hotels. (In the past OHTA has secured accommodation at the Mercure Hotel on Railway Square and at 28 Hotel in nearby Regent Street: while we regret not being able to arrange similar for either hotel this year, intending participants may be able to secure an excellent online rate). Likewise, no meals are included, although meal breaks will occur after visits to churches located close to cafes and restaurants.
Note 3: Registration is now open via “Try Booking”. Click this link or copy it into your browser: https://trybooking.com/BZMEM. Those seeking more information should email Kelvin Hastie at [email protected]
