Organ Recital Series 2026 -David Drury - 150yrs of the Father Willis Organ

🎉 150 Years of the Historic Henry Willis Pipe Organ at St Peter’s, East Maitland
The Anglican Parish of East Maitland warmly invites you to St Peter’s Anglican Church to celebrate a remarkable milestone — 150 years of our treasured ‘Father’ Henry Willis pipe organ.
Originally installed in 1876 in the old school building while St Peter’s was being rebuilt by the Blackett firm, this magnificent instrument has remained a vital part of worship and celebration for generations. Still retaining much of its original character with minimal modifications, it holds enormous historical and cultural significance — being the oldest playable Henry Willis organ in Australia, and the second organ from the Willis firm to be shipped to Australia, out of just eleven Father Willis organs brought to the country.
🎼 150th Anniversary Organ Recital Series – 2026
As part of our 150th anniversary celebrations, St Peter’s is presenting 10 organ recitals from February to November 2026, held on the last Sunday of each month at 2:00 PM, featuring organists from across Australia and the United Kingdom.
The 2026 series features:

February 22 – Marko Fry
March 29 – Philip Reichardt
April 26 – Gerard Nicholls
May 31 – Sean Weatherley
June 28 – Gavin Ward
July 26 – James Brew
August 30 – Tim Li
September 27 – Robert Eather
October 25 – David Drury
November 29 – Students of Suzuki Music

🎹 David Drury – Sunday 25 October 2026
We are delighted to welcome David Drury, Organist-in-Residence at Christ Church Cathedral, Newcastle, and Organist and Composer-in-Residence at St Paul’s College, University of Sydney, for the ninth recital in our 2026 series.
David Drury is one of Australia's leading concert and church organists. A graduate of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, he undertook further organ studies in England with David Sanger at the Royal Academy of Music. In 1987, David became the first and only Australian to win the Tournemire Prize for improvisation at the St Albans International Organ Competition.
Since then, he has performed throughout Australia and internationally, including recitals at Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral and Westminster Cathedral in London, King's College Cambridge, Notre Dame and La Madeleine in Paris. He has also appeared as an organ soloist with major orchestras including the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and regularly works with Sydney Philharmonia Choirs and other ensembles.
David's particular gift for improvisation will also feature in this recital, bringing the programme to a conclusion with improvisations on the historic Willis organ.
🎵 Programme
J. S. Bach (1685–1750) -Fugue on the Magnificat
Christian Erbach (1570–1635) - Canzona
Georg Boehm (1661–1733) - ‘Vater unser im Himmelreich’ (The Lord’s Prayer)
Improvised Interlude
William Byrd (1543–1623) - Three Dances (Galliard, Pavane, Galliard)
Henry Purcell (1659–1695) - Chaconne (from King Arthur)
Christopher Dearnley (1930–2000) - Dominus regit me (The King of Love)
Improvised Interlude
Felix Mendelssohn (1809–1847) -Sonata No. 2 in C minor
Grave, Adagio, Allegro maestoso e vivace, Fugue
📍 Event Details
David Drury – Organ RecitalSunday 25 October 20262:00 PMSt Peter’s Anglican Church, East Maitland
Come along and experience an afternoon of exceptional organ music performed by one of Australia's most accomplished organists, on one of the country's most historically significant pipe organs.
We look forward to welcoming you to St Peter’s as we continue celebrating 150 years of this remarkable Henry Willis organ.