Lunchtime Concert: Brett McKern, Organ Recital

Dr Brett McKern PhD DCA BMus BTh BEd FRCO FTCL FRSM FGCM FLCM FNCM FVCM(Hons) FCompASMC LMusA AMusA ACertCM CertRS HonGCM FGMS MMTA

Dr Brett McKern is an organist, composer, choir director, lecturer, music teacher, and consultant on music and music education.

Brett has performed as an organist and choir director in multiple countries, and been recorded for DVD, CD and film. He has released a solo CD of organ music and improvisations, and featuring as organist, conductor or composer on others.

Brett has an international career as a composer with his music being performed in at least eight countries and broadcast and performed in Australian. An award-winning composer, Brett has published over one hundred works. He is often commissioned by professional soloists (particularly organists), liturgical and secular choirs (such as the Song Co), orchestras, and others. His pedagogical material includes the latest AMEB piano sight-reading book. Performances have been at such prestigious venues as Westminster Abbey and St Paul’s Cathedral, London; and Washington National Cathedral.

Brett holds degrees in music, education, theology, and two doctorates in musical composition; and numerous fellowships including of the Royal College of Organists, Trinity College of Music, London, and the Royal Schools of Music. He has lectured at universities and theological college and was an Adjunct Associate Professor. Brett is Chief Examiner for Theory and a syllabus adviser for the Australian Music Examinations Board (AMEB), and examines university research degrees. Brett has adjudicated composition competitions and sits on the Advisory Panel for the music publisher Wirripang, Australia’s largest independent publisher of Australian art music. He is a Represented Composer of the Australian Music Centre, and consults on music and music education internationally, as well as lecturing to music teachers on pedagogical technique.

Many of Brett’s organ, theory and composition students have gone on to read music at universities and conservatoria in Australia and abroad, and a number are now professional musicians.

 Programme: 

Introduction and Passacaglia in D minor, WoO IV/6 – Max Reger (1873-1916)

A Fancy – William Byrd (c.1540-1623)

Fantasie en La – César Franck (1822-1890)

Grande Offertoire de St Cecilia, Nr. 2, Op. 8 – Édouard Batiste (1820-76)