Annual organ curator's concert 2025
Some of the 1300+ assembling before an earlier concert in the Christchurch Town Hall.
Thanks to the support of the Friends of the Christchurch Town Hall Organ Trust, and Venues Management Otautahi, my annual FREE organ curator’s concert this year will again take place in the Town Hall auditorium on King's Birthday public holiday afternoon, Monday 2 June 2025 at 2.30pm.
By popular demand, Thomas Eves makes a welcome return as my guest artist for another 'Sound the Trumpet' concert which was so well received in 2023. Thomas is principal trumpet with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, and he will join me to play scintillating Baroque music by Viviani and Bach, as well as the witty Sonatina for trumpet and organ by Hans Hielscher.
I have also invited a young, talented Christchurch organist (whom I've had the pleasure of mentoring over the last few years), to contribute an item. Sea-am Thompson, currently organ and choral scholar at Christchurch Cathedral and accompanist for the Christchurch City Choir will be leaving us to take up an Organ Scholarship at Magdalen College, Oxford in September. |
(Photos of Thomas Eves and Sea-Am Thompson supplied)
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Although the concert is free, you need to reserve your seat using Eventbrite. To do that:
I do hope you will be able to join us for this annual celebration of our iconic Rieger pipe organ in concert.
- Click this link and it will take you direct to the Eventbrite booking site with all the details
- Scroll down to the bottom and click the red bar marked GET TICKETS.
- On the next screen under Tickets, hit the + sign till it shows the number of tickets you want.
- Once again, the Trust is bringing you this concert FREE OF CHARGE, but is requesting a koha/donation of $10 (or whatever you can afford) to help defray our costs. (Being a public holiday there are extra costs e.g. for our Venues Otautahi house staff). Please help us to keep this annual event free; every little helps the cause!
- If you wish, you can donate online or you can donate in cash at the concert on the day. As we are a registered charitable trust, all donations of $5 or more qualify for the 33% IRD donation rebate. Our treasurer will email you a receipt if you supply your email address.
- Then hit CHECK OUT and fill in the fields marked CONTACT INFORMATION so your booking can be confirmed by email.
- Then scroll down to the last bit marked Ticket 1 General Admission and fill in the name of the person attending. If more than one in your group, do the same for Ticket 2, 3, and so on.
- Finally, hit the red bar marked REGISTER at the bottom of the page and checkout.
I do hope you will be able to join us for this annual celebration of our iconic Rieger pipe organ in concert.
Past Events
Martin with the commendation he nearly didn't notice
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The 2022 Organ Curator's concert was a popular event on Monday with around 1300 people attending. Organist Martin Setchell got the biggest surprise of his life when Mayor Lianne Dalziel announced that the City Council was about to present him with a commendation in honour of his 25 dedicated years as curator of the iconic Rieger organ. Everyone in the audience was let in on the secret, but blinded by spotlights, Martin didn't see Councillor Yani Johanson trying to present him with the award, and sat down to begin playing.
The delighted laughter of the audience alerted Martin to the approaching award and he paused long enough to accept it, lost for words. But his playing said it all. Thank you Martin, for those 25 amazing years.
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Christchurch Town Hall
organist Martin Setchell
organist Martin Setchell
Buy "Resounding Aftershocks" CD from which Martin chose his programme for the re-opening concerts. Order here.
(Presented by the Friends of the Christchurch Town Hall Organ Trust)
Christchurch Town Hall
86 Kilmore Street
Christchurch 8013
86 Kilmore Street
Christchurch 8013