"ORGAN AND TRUMPET"

Presented by the Friends of the Christchurch Town Hall Organ Trust, and supported by Venues Ōtautahi.

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THE CONCERT

Martin's FREE annual organ concert on the magnificent Rieger pipe organ in the Douglas Lilburn Auditorium at the Christchurch Town Hall has become a firm favourite in the Christchurch music calendar.

Once again it will be held on King's Birthday Monday afternoon, 2 June at 2.30pm.

It will begin appropriately with Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance March No. 4 in G, played at the coronation of KIng Charles III in Westminster Abbey in 2023, and end with Dubois' popular Toccata in G. Martin will also feature some of his entertaining arrangements for organ, including Gounod's Funeral March of a Marionette, (made famous as the Alfred Hitchcock theme music).

Guest artist Thomas Eves will play some thrilling Baroque music for trumpet and organ and Hans Hielscher's delightful Sonatina. by Bach and Viadana, as well as Hans Hielscher's delightful Sonatina.

As in previous years, admission will be FREE, with a koha donation of $10+ to defray costs requested. Tickets must be booked here online in advance.

Admission without pre-booked ticket on the day will be possible only if there are any seats left!

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THE ORGAN

The pipe organ in the Christchurch Town Hall was installed in May 1997 by Rieger of Austria, 25 years after the hall opened in 1972. About 96% of the cost came from public donations and bequests, so this is truly the people’s organ. In early 2011, 12 new ranks of pipes were being installed by Rieger when the devastating earthquake struck. The organ was silenced for eight years while the building was repaired, but fortunately, it had suffered only minor damage and was fully restored by Rieger between November 2018 and January 2019. Now with a total of 4307 pipes, it was reopened by Mayor Lianne Dalziel on 6 March, 2019.

The organ’s website: www.nzorgan.com

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THE ORGANIST

Christchurch city organist Martin Setchell has served as Town Hall organ curator since the Rieger pipe organ was opened in May 1997, performing an annual concert until 2010. Post-earthquakes, he worked tirelessly to preserve this iconic instrument, overseeing its restoration, and gave the first concerts when the organ was officially re-opened on 6 March, 2019.

He has also given numerous re-opening concerts on new city church organs including the Transitional Cathedral, St Paul’s Papanui, Knox Presbyterian, Oxford Terrace Baptist, and All Souls Merivale.

Recently called ‘New Zealand’s most widely-travelled concert organist’ he is an international performer who believes in promoting entertaining organ music to a wide audience. In the last 20 years he has performed in Europe, the USA, Canada, Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, China,Japan, and throughout New Zealand.

Born and educated in England where he was awarded his Fellowship of the Royal College of Organists, he studied at various times with Pierre Cochereau, Marie-Claire Alain, Piet Kee, and Peter Hurford. He immigrated to New Zealand in 1974 on his appointment to the University of Canterbury. After 40 years’ lecturing, he resigned as Associate Professor of Music in 2014 in order to pursue his international performing career full-time, but continues to serve as University graduation organist. In 2008 he received a Civic Award for services to music in the community and the Town Hall organ and in 2022 a commendation scroll marking his 25 years as Town Hall organist. He has recorded 6 CDs on the Town Hall organ: Let the pealing organ blow, Bonbons for organ 1 & 2, Pink and White (an anthology of New Zealand organ music), Great Australasian Organs VII, and Resounding Aftershocks (2019 - the first recording on the restored and enhanced organ).

Martin’s website: www.organist.co.nz

THE TRUMPETER

Thomas Eves is from Christchurch and has been playing trumpet since the age of 6.

Brought up playing in the Woolston Brass Band and St Andrew’s College Jazz Band,

Thomas went on to focus on orchestral trumpet playing and has played with

professional orchestras throughout New Zealand, Australia, and the United Kingdom.

Thomas has been Principal Trumpet of the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra since

2014. Previously, he has held Acting Associate Principal Trumpet contracts with the

Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra and trialled for the position of Principal Trumpet

with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. 

In 2012, Thomas completed a Master of Performance with Distinction at The Royal

College of Music in London. Thomas received the Herbert Samuel Prize for Trumpet

and the Brodie Prize for Senior Brass. He was generously supported as a RCM Jane

Barker Scholar, as well as NZ scholarships including Dame Malvina Major Arts

Excellence Awards and Patricia Pratt, Kiwi Music, Anne Reid Memorial Trust and

Keith Laugesen Music Scholarships. He is also extremely grateful for support he

received from Dame Adrienne Stewart and Elizabeth Edgar. He gained his Bachelor

of Music with First Class Honours in Performance Trumpet from the University of

Canterbury in 2010.

During his time in London, Thomas got the chance to play under esteemed

conductors such as Lorin Maazel and Bernard Haitink. He also got the opportunity to

perform solo recitals at Cadogan Hall and in The Elgar Room at The Royal Albert

Hall. Back in NZ, he was runner up in the 2012 Gisborne International Music

Competition.

Thomas is an active teacher around Christchurch, teaching at Burnside High

School, Christ’s