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Concert Archives |
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2008 Events: Concerts & events / Book concert / Nostalgia Nights / Book for Nostalgia | Concert Archives |
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Biographies and images of artists who have performed at TOSA Concerts in South Australia at the Capri Theatre, Goodwood. |
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Chris has studied music through the Australian Guild of Music and Speech, and gained his Associate Diploma with Honours in 1992. He has been awarded the position of Co-Patron of the Electronic Organ Club of South Australia. In June 1993, he was acclaimed as winner of both the Senior Section and Overall Winner of the American Theatre Organ Society's Young Theatre Organist competition.
Chris is in regular demand for concerts around Australia and overseas. In mid 1999 Chris was featured in the American Theatre Organ Society's National Convention held in London, performing on the legendary Buddy Cole Wurlitzer. In September 2002, he returned to the USA for his sixth concert tour.
Chris has just released his sixth commercial recording titled 'Strawberry Wine & Citron Tarts'.
Ryan began his formal music training at the age of seven on recorder and violin, and progressed to electronic organ at the age of nine. His first encounter with the Theatre Pipe Organ was at the Capri Theatre in 1992, where he began performing at club nights and movie sessions. He made his concert debut in 1993 at the Adelaide Theatre Organ Convention on the Capri's 4/29 Wurlitzer hybrid organ.
In 1997, Ryan entered and won the Intermediate division of the ATOS Young Theatre Organist Competition and travelled to Indianapolis where he subsequently won the overall division of the competition. In 1998, he returned to the USA to present a concert as the Overall winner and has performed in various concerts around Australia both in a solo and duo capacity, including Adelaide, Sydney and Perth.
Ryan works as a dentist and currently lives in Nyngan, rural NSW with his new wife Michelle. In his spare time he enjoys listening to music and working on his newly acquired Rodgers digital Theatre Pipe Organ. He has also recently embarked on a new passion - learning how to fly. He is very excited about returning to Adelaide to perform with Chris. |
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2007 Events: Concerts & events / Book concert / Nostalgia Nights / Book for Nostalgia | Concert Archives |
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Sunday 20 August 2006 |
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Australian born musician Neil Jensen made his first professional appearance as an organist in Brisbane in 1973. He first studied classical piano, then turned his creative talents to the organ, becoming especially fascinated by the theatre pipe organ.
In 1983 Neil toured extensively in New Zealand, Canada and the United States, during which he performed a whirlwind concert tour of more than thirty cities. The release of his debut commercial album Neil Jensen Australiawide coincided with this tour. He returned to the USA in 1985 and has maintained a busy concert schedule in subsequent years.
In 1987 Neil became Musical Director at the Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace in Cremorne, NSW, which was being restored to its original art deco opulence. The restoration included the installation of a 1924 Wurlitzer theatre organ, formerly installed in the Wilson Theatre in Fresno, California. Neil has become an icon at the Orpheum, where he continues as musical director and performs regularly at scheduled film events.
Neil promotes an annual series at the Orpheum - the Wurlitzer Pipe Organ Pops - attracting capacity crowds and featuring internationally renowned keyboard artists. He also performs regularly with 'The Mell-O-Tones" dance orchestra, a dynamic and distinctive combination of theatre organ and orchestra, which has become a popular sell-out attraction.
A gifted, all-round musician, Neil has an innovative approach to keyboard styling. His knowledge and application of state-of-the-art music computer technology combines with his traditional talent to produce a creative, individual and stylistic trademark. This is evident in the work he has designed and directed during the reinstallation, tonal finishing and expansion of the Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace Wurlitzer pipe organ.
In addition to his full calendar of musical commitments, Neil directs and operates his successful corporate and personal fitness consultancy.
From 30th National Festival of Theatre Organ Music booklet produced by TOSA (SA) 2003 |
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Neil Jensen (NSW) |
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Sunday 24th September 2006 |
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Rob Richards (USA) |
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Career highlights include:
*... the 2005 "Organist of the Year" award from the American Theatre Organ Society *... designing his own five manual digital theatre organ *... a concert appearance with famed pianist Liberace *... playing the famous Radio City Music Hall organ in New York *... a concert series on the world's largest Wurlitzer pipe organ *... two years as guest organist at the Ohio Theatre in Columbus *... a special engagement as soloist: Flagstaff (AZ) Symphony *... six international concert tours: England, Australia & Japan *... the 40th Anniversary Mary Poppins Re-premiere, with Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke |
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Robert Wetherall (SA) and Scott Harrisson (VIC) |
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SUNDAY 5th November 2006 |
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Robert Wetherall is 23 years old and was born in Brisbane, Queensland. He started playing the organ by ear around the age of 7. A few years later he took piano lessons for 4 years, and continued playing the organ using his music study with his ability to play by ear. In 1995 he began playing at his local church for services and weddings. It was around this time that Robert started performing solo for local organ clubs in Brisbane.
In 2000, Robert was one of four young organists from Australia and New Zealand chosen to perform in Sydney at the annual Theatre Organ Convention. He also performed a year later at the 2001 Organ Odyssey and the Brisbane Film Festival.
In 2002 Robert moved to Adelaide to further his musical development. Later that same year he competed and won the senior division of the American Theatre Organ Society Young Organist Competition and flew to America to perform and receive his prize.
Since moving to Adelaide he has performed in concerts, club nights, film sessions and private functions at the Capri Theatre and also performed at the 2003 Festival of Theatre Organ. As part of promoting the Festival, "The Advertiser" did a story on Robert and the Capri Theatre to spark interest in the event.
Robert enjoys regular concert performances around Australia as well as working fulltime at Bendigo Bank as Assistant Manager. He also enjoys helping to keep these wonderful instrument working as he is a member of the organ maintenance team at the Capri Theatre.
His other interests include the design and history of theatre pipe organs, keeping fit and listening to and studying a wide range of music.
Scott Harrison Having now had the opportunity of performing on Theatre Organs since 1987,1 have appeared at many theatre organ venues both here in Australia, New Zealand, United States and a couple of visits to England.
I was very fortunate to have held the role of 'City Organist' for the then City of Moorabbin (now Kingston) for a period of six years from 1987 through to 1993 residing over their magnificent 4/21 Wurlitzer. During this time I also spent two years residing over TOSA Vic's prize 3/15 Dendy Wurlitzer. TOSA Vie gave me the honour of opening their 2005 National Convention on the 4/21 Kingston Wurlitzer, which was re opened at this convention after extensive renovations. In 1992 I had my first overseas performance on Theatre Organ playing to a capacity audience at the Baycourt Theatre TAURANGA New Zealand. This program was the start of my ongoing association with the Theatre Organ society in New Zealand and the upgrading program of Baycourt's Style H 2/10 Wurlitzer OPUS 1482. It's been a great pleasure to work with these folks in seeing this organ evolve musically.
1993 saw me undertake organ studies with the Late Father James Miller at his home in Fenton, Michigan. USA. From this time forward I have many return visits to the US playing some wonderful instruments in both Northern and Southern California along with brief visits to Chicago, Atlanta and Wichita KA.
Much of my professional working life has been spent with Telstra and Coles Myer. In 2003 I undertook a new challenge in buying an established music shop in Melbourne, Pianos Plus. We are very excited to celebrate our 20th birthday as a company in 2008, and have seen incredible growth in all aspects of our business over the past 3 years. We are proudly one of the largest piano shops in Melbourne and are the sole importers of Viscount Classical Organs and also have a range of Rodgers Classical Organs.
I have had the pleasure of appearing in Adelaide on a few occasions now, having played my first convention in 2003 at the 2/12 Wyatt Hall Wurlitzer, a further concert at the 2/12 in 2004, the closing concert for the 2/12 later that year, and last year my first appearance at the mighty Capri organ. Adelaide to me has become almost like a second home with the many friends I have made there. I guess to sum it all up, Music is what makes the world go round, and I consider myself very lucky to be able to share my music with so many wonderful people all around the world.
Source: SA TOSA News October 2006 |
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SUNDAY 16th JULY 2006 |
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Chris McPhee (SA) & Ryan Heggie (NSW)
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