St James' Old Cathedral

Organ

 

The present organ was built in 1991 by Australian Pipe Organs, restoring and expanding the 1866 Fincham organ. 2 manuals, 18 speaking stops, 8 couplers, electro-pneumatic action.

Gt: 8.8.4.4.2.III. Sw: 8.8.8.4.2.III.8. Ped: 16.16.10-2/3.8.4. Our organist is David Brown.

 

The Old Cathedral Voices

 

Formed in March 2009 from some of Melbourne’s finest choral soloists, The Old Cathedral Voices specialise in one-voice-per-part performance of English Church music from the renaissance to the present day. The founding Director, Dr Jenny George, has served in this capacity for fifteen years. She stepped back in April 2024, when Alex Ritter took over the role.

 

St James' is committed to commissioning new music for the ensemble and to date over twenty pieces have been written for and premiered by the group. Our Composer-in-Residence is Andrew Anderson.

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In 2022 we launched a CD of Anderson's choral music, much of which was commissioned or premiered at St James' Old Cathedral. CDs can be purchased at the church and the music can be listened to on Spotify and YouTube.

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In July 2011 the Old Cathedral Voices released their debut CD, A Musical Devotion. In July 2013 they released their second CD, Tallis & Byrd, an exploration of music for lower voices (Alto, Tenor and Bass) by those composers. They can be purchased online at CD Baby.