On Sunday 9 March Brett’s Voluntary on ‘Tallis’ Canon’ was the recessional at the 2014 AMEB Presentation Ceremony, performed by the composer. Thank you to all those who made positive comments, not just about the piece, but the inclusion and prominence of contemporary Australian repertoire.

On Sunday 5th January 2014, the Eve of the Feast of the Epiphany, organist Heather Moen-Boyd premiered Brett’s Sarabande for the Epiphany. It was performed at Trinity College Melbourne as part of a concert during the RSCM Summer School.

This organ work is based on the Gregorian introit for the Epiphany, as are Brett’s Passacaglia and Gigue Fugue for the Epiphany. All three together form a Suite for the Epiphany or Suite on a Gregorian Theme (the latter title used when it is performed at other times of the year). The Passacaglia was written for organist Kurt Ison and has been performed in Westminster Abbey, St Mary’s Cathedral Sydney and St Paul’s Cathedral Melbourne. The Sarabande premiered on Sunday last was written for Heather Moen-Boyd. The Gigue Fugue for Sydney organist Stacey Yang. The entire suite lasts about 16 minutes.

The Passacaglia will be performed on 26 January in the USA by organist Dr Brent Nolte – see the below post for details.

Congratulations Heather – I have received lovely comments about the performance – and thank you!

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!

Congratulations to saxophonist Rob Woodward and pianist Benjamin Burton who premiered Brett’s Scherzo for Saxophone at Sydney Conservatorium of Music on 26 June 2013 during the Clarinet and Saxophone Festival. Well done chaps, it was a great performance!

This work is available in the Australian Saxophone Anthology published by Wirripang: http://australiancomposers.com.au/shop/wirripang-australian-piano-anthology-2011-book-1

Brett’s organ work Passacaglia for the Epiphany was commissioned by Sydney organist Kurt Ison for a concert on the Feast of the Epiphany in Westminster Abbey, London in 2013.

Kurt performed this same work at St Paul’s Cathedral in Melbourne on 26 June 2013. He says, ‘It fitted the organ like a glove’!