11 Oct 2018

Wellington Cathedral goes digital with new organ

From Upbeat, 1:00 pm on 11 October 2018

In November 2016, as a result of the Kaikoura Earthquake, the pipe organ at Wellington’s Cathedral of St Paul was damaged.

The new digital organ at Wellington's Cathedral of St Paul's

The new digital organ at Wellington's Cathedral of St Paul's Photo: RNZ - David McCaw

Several of the larger pipes were dislodged, with some of them falling onto the choir stalls below.

Other internal pipes were damaged, and for a while the entire chancel area of the Cathedral was out-of-bounds until the remaining pipes and timber structure were made safe.

Damage of the organ at Wellington Cathedral of St Paul

Damage of the organ at Wellington Cathedral of St Paul Photo: Facebook

A new custom-made digital organ has just been installed in the Cathedral, and a Festival has been organized in celebration.

Michael Stewart

Michael Stewart Photo: Wellington Cathedral of St Paul

Joseph Nolan, one of the world’s finest organists, will give the inaugural recital on Friday 12 October.

Upbeat talks with Joseph Nolan and the Cathedral’s Director of Music Michael Stewart.