The Singing Pipes - Music of Handel, Bach, Haydn & Beyond
Date
Saturday 10th January, 11.00AM
Venue
St John’s Anglican Church, 103 Napier St, Creswick 3363
Duration
60 minutes
Experience the magic of St John’s outstanding 19th-century Fincham & Hobday organ in The Singing Pipes: Music of Handel, Bach, Haydn and Beyond. One of Australia’s finest organists, Rhys Boak takes you on a journey through centuries of music, from Handel’s majestic Occasional Oratorio Overture and Bach’s intricate Prelude and Fugue in A minor, to Haydn’s charming 8 Pieces for a Musical Clock and Mozart’s elegant Minuet in D. The program also features expressive works by J. K. F. Fischer, John Stanley, Théodore Dubois, and contemporary reflections such as Zsolt Gárdonyi’s Mozart Changes, highlighting the organ’s remarkable versatility — from lyrical singing lines to jubilant, celebratory flourishes. Performed in the resonant setting of St John’s Anglican Church, Creswick,, this recital invites listeners to hear the organ in all its splendour, bridging centuries of musical tradition while speaking directly to the heart.
Artists
Rhys Boak – Organ
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Rhys Boak was born in Melbourne into a musical family. Experimenting as a toddler playing the piano, his formal training commenced at age 4 with his mother, Laurice Boak. Rhys began playing the piano as he learned to walk, and his interest in the king of instruments, the pipe organ started soon after.
Rhys has been the organist and Manager of Music at St Michael’s Uniting Church in Melbourne’s CBD since June 2007. Notably in 2005 he initiated the first series of organ recitals to be held in mainland China, when he opened the world’s largest pipe organ museum in Gulangyu China along with Japanese organ virtuoso Ryoko Mori. He has undertaken numerous international tours throughout Europe and Asia.
In 2006, Rhys notably toured China playing duets with the late Geoffrey Tozer, and has toured with many artists, most recently as part of the nationwide ‘My Hero’ tour with Australian soprano, Greta Bradman presented by Universal Music. He has toured Europe twice with the Australian Chamber Choir, and also with the Choir of Ormond College of the University of Melbourne. Rhys is also a notable collector and restorer of historic Australian pianos and is a certified piano technician. As a highly active orchestrator and arranger, his work has been recorded by the likes of the English Chamber Orchestra, Sir Richard Bonynge and can be heard on the Sony, Decca and Move Records labels.
Rhys has been the organist and Manager of Music at St Michael’s Uniting Church in Melbourne’s CBD since June 2007. Notably in 2005 he initiated the first series of organ recitals to be held in mainland China, when he opened the world’s largest pipe organ museum in Gulangyu China along with Japanese organ virtuoso Ryoko Mori. He has undertaken numerous international tours throughout Europe and Asia.
In 2006, Rhys notably toured China playing duets with the late Geoffrey Tozer, and has toured with many artists, most recently as part of the nationwide ‘My Hero’ tour with Australian soprano, Greta Bradman presented by Universal Music. He has toured Europe twice with the Australian Chamber Choir, and also with the Choir of Ormond College of the University of Melbourne. Rhys is also a notable collector and restorer of historic Australian pianos and is a certified piano technician. As a highly active orchestrator and arranger, his work has been recorded by the likes of the English Chamber Orchestra, Sir Richard Bonynge and can be heard on the Sony, Decca and Move Records labels.
