At the console of the Letourneau organ of St.Mary's Cathedral, Sydney
(Photo: Max Herford)

Edward began his musical studies at an early age and at 13 began to teach himself to play the organ.

He studied pianoforte with Alexander Sverjensky at the NSW State conservatorium of Music and in 1969 went to Rome where he studied for six years with the celebrated Italian organist Fernando Germani, obtaining the Diploma in Organ and Organ Composition. He also studied Sacred Music with Domenico Bartolucci, formerly Director of the Choir of the Sistine Chapel.

Edward Theodore has participated in the summer courses at the Accademia Musicale Chagiana in Siena, in the Cours d'Interpretation de Romainmoteir(Switzerland) with Lionel Rogg and Guy Bovet and has also studied with Andre Marchal and Maurice Durufle.

He has given numerous concerts in Italy, Germany and the United Kingdom as well as sydney Town Hall, Opera House, Great Hall Sydney University, St. Andrew's Cathedral and St. Paul's Cathedral Melbourne.

Edward returned to Sydney in 1982 and is presently organ and piano tutor at St. Ignatius College Riverview, SCEGGS Darlinghurst and The Scots College, Bellevue Hill. From 1984 -88 he was Deputy Organist at St. Mary's Cathedral. His 1992 CD of the organ music of Maurice Durufle, recorded in St. Patrick's Cathedral, Melbourne, (on the Move label, md3102) received many favourable reviews, including a written accolade from the late composer's widow, Marie-Madeleine Durufle-Chevalier, herself a well-known organist and composer.

Daniel Canaris
Liturgical Music Scholar

I'm delighted and honoured to have been awarded the liturgical music scholarship at your parish. I thought it would be useful for me to give a few brief words as an introduction into your parish. I've been learning the organ for nearly four years, firstly under Mark Quarmby, the assistant organist at St Andrew's Cathedral and now Kurt Ison. What drew me to the organ is precisely what has drawn me to many of my other pursuits – my fascination with the liturgy of the Church. It is thus no accident that my other labour of love is classical languages. I was very fortunate to have had the opportunity to study Latin throughout secondary school. It was an unwilling encounter. My school, Redfield College, made Latin compulsory in years 7 and 8. In year 7, I loathed the language and couldn't see the point of studying a dead language. But for some reason, I attended a Latin Summer School held at Sydney University in the following year and quickly I fell in love with the language. For a while, I think my interest bordered on the obsessional – my free time was occupied by trying to 'rationalise' the English language according to Latin logic. My enthusiasm quickly evaporated when I found out that it had all been done before.

Somewhere in this flurry of passions I also learnt piano. But it wasn't until the end of Year 10, after having attended a Gregorian chant conference, that I decided that I really wanted to learn the organ. The process for selecting a teacher was quite simple. I scanned through various pictures of organists on the Sydney organ web site and chose the teacher that looked the least mad. Initially, I practiced only in the chapel of my school. But as school holidays approached, I really needed to find a church where I could practice as my school was quite a distance from where I lived. My organ teacher, Mark, suggested that I practice on the organ at St Paul's Anglican Church in Burwood. He insisted that the rector there was highly supportive of the organ and would love to have me practice on his organ. I could have never foreseen the predicament of such an innocent request. Before I knew it, I was singing in the choir each Sunday morning and being given liturgical organ tuition from the choirmaster, Peter McMillan. There were very few places in Sydney which were able to give such a solid grounding in liturgical playing, especially to someone who was just starting out on the organ. I really hope that my scholarship at St Francis of Assisi will be able to build upon what I have learnt at St Paul's and that also I will be able to become a valued member of your parish and music ministry. Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity.

Elizabeth Williams
Liturgical Music Scholar 2008
Elizabeth writes:

I am 20 years old. I have been living in Sydney for the past 18 months studying a Bachelor of Music (Music Education) at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, my principle study is organ. After I complete my degree I would like to get a job teaching music preferably in a catholic high school. I am currently residing in Coogee, but I lived in Dubbo most of my life with my parents, my sister and brother. I went to school at St John’s College in Dubbo, and was a part of the St Brigid’s Parish. Music is a really important part of my life. I started taking music lessons at a young age. I played the electronic organ for 12 years before I started learning the organ. Throughout school I was involved in the school choir, I also played the trombone in the concert band and stage band.

I am very excited about my new scholarship at St Francis of Assisi, and I am looking forward to developing my skills in choral singing and conducting. I am excited to improve my accompaniment skills on the organ and learn more about the Catholic liturgy.

Former Liturgical Music Scholar (2005-2008), and former Assistant Director
James Dixon

James Dixon, born in Sydney in 1986, started his music education (piano and choir) in year three at St Aloysius' College, Milson's Point in 1995. The experience of a European Choir Tour in 1998 was a major exposure to the pipe organ. With this continued participation in the musical program of the school, after having studied flute since 1998, James decided he would like to play more than one flute at a time. A few lessons from the then music teacher and organist of the college, Tom Gahan in 1999 had him hooked. He later started in earnest under the tutelage of Peter Kneeshaw in 2001. After completing the NSW HSC in 2004 James successfully auditioned for various tertiary musical institutions, selecting the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, where he is presently in his third year of studies specialising in Pipe Organ under the direction of Philip Swanton. In September 2005 James was the successful applicant for the Liturgical music scholarship at St Francis of Assisi, Paddington where he's presently being trained as an organist, accompanist, chorister, choral director and pastoral musician within the tradition of the Latin (Novus Ordo) Rite of the Catholic Church under the supervision of Bernard Kirkpatrick (2005/2006) Noël Debien and Edward Theodore. Following his undergraduate studies he intends to pursue further study in choral conducting and church music.The Parish pursues this as a means of training and succession planning for sacred musicians within the Archdiocese of Sydney.

Apart from his responsibilities at St Francis of Assisi, Paddington, James is also the resident organist of St Joseph's Catholic Church, Neutral Bay.

Through the generous gift of an initial and anonymous benefactor, the parish has been able to appoint and stipend James Dixon as Liturgical Music Scholar to the Parish. A second generous donor came forward for the 2007 Year - also wishing to remain anonymous.

James was appointed Assistant Musical Director for 2007 in recognition of his strong progress in the leadership and facilitation of sacred music in the liuturgical context.

Cantor
Nicole Smeulders B.mus(Ed), L.T.C.L, A.mus.A