It was great to hear Brett’s ‘Lo! The Star’ on 2MBS-FM 102.5 Fine Music on Sunday night last on the ‘Hosanna’ programme. It was a performance by The Cathedral Singers from their disc ‘Lo! The Star’ of which this work was the title track. This disc can be purchased from the Cathedral Singers at http://www.cathedralsingers.org.au/cds.html.

The work has been performed at St Andrew’s Cathedral Sydney and Christ Church St Laurence Sydney. It is available for purchase from Wirripang at http://www.australiancomposers.com.au/authors/brett-m-mckern/lo-the-star-score.

Dr Brett McKern has been awarded 2nd Prize in the International Composition Competition for the 125th Anniversary of the Church of St Mary Magdalene, Toronto.

Dr Healey Willan, composer and church musician, was Precentor and Director of Music at the famous church of St Mary Magdalene in Toronto 1921-1968. Willan is well-known in church music circles and his organ and choral works are still performed. He was an Englishman and was awarded the Lambeth degree of Doctor of Music by the Archbishop of Canterbury in 1956, and made a Companion of the Order of Canada at its inception in 1967 in recognition of his services to church music. He was also Professor of Music and University Organist at the University of Toronto.

St Mary Magdalene in Toronto is a notable for its Anglo-Catholic tradition and maintains several choirs including their award-winning Gallery Choir (who will perform the McKern Mass), and their Ritual Choir who sing the chants at Mass. It has been described as a ‘mecca’ for church musicians from the time of Willan

Organist Dr Brent Nolte plays a concert at 4pm on 26 January, 2014 at Martin Luther College, 1995 Luther Court, New Ulm, MN 56073. The new College Chapel houses a fine 57 rank Schantz organ. The concert will include Brett’s “Passacaglia for the Epiphany” and other music for the Feast of the Epiphany by Bach, Kauffmann, Schildt, Müller-Zürich, Janzer, Hakim and Reger.

Congratulations to organist Kurt Ison on a splendid performance of “Voluntary on Tallis’ Canon” in his recital in the Christ Church St Laurence, Sydney organ recital series on Sunday 17 November 2013.

Saxophonist Robert Woodward and pianist Benjamin Burton have recorded the Australian Saxophone Anthology which includes Brett’s “Scherzo” for saxophone. This great new recording includes other new Australian works for a variety of saxophones, some with piano accompaniments. Well done Rob & Ben!

Details at: http://www.australiancomposers.com.au/cds/classical/australian-saxophone-anthology-the-cd

Brett wrote a new Anglican chant for woman’s voices and organ (SSA) for the special Evensong featuring women’s voices at St John’s Church Gordon on 14 July 2013. Well done ladies! The chant sounded great!