Focco Presents: Chris Mawby Lunchtime Organ Recital

Friends of the Christ Church Organ lunchtime concert series features Chris Mawby!

Join us for a free lunchtime concert from 12:15-12:45 on the 4th of October 2023!

Chris said his performance will “include some personal favourites. I hope that those present on the day will likewise enjoy hearing them. It has been said that concerts do not include music reserved for occasions such as Weddings. Well, some of you may not have had the opportunity to attend a wedding in quite a while. Hence the inclusion here of Schubert’s Ave Maria – and as a small tribute to this catholic boy’s favourite Mum! With all that said here are the items I intend playing for you all on the day:
Sinfonia from Cantata 29 ‘Wir danken dir, Gott’ (We thank you God) - J S Bach. Arr. by Martin Setchell
Gymnopedie II - Erik Satie. Arr. by June Nixon
Polovtsian Dance from ‘Prince Igor’ - Alexander Borodin. Arr. by Martin Setchell
Prelude in a classic style - Gordon Young
Ave Maria - Franz Schubert. Arr. by Lawrence Grant
The Lost Chord - Arthur Sullivan. Arr. by Andrew Gant
Toccata - Eugene Gigout

A bit more about Chris’s life and love for the organ:
“I was fortunate to be born into a very musical family. Mum played the piano and both my parents were members of church choirs and the Wellington Operatic and Gilbert & Sullivan Societies. They sacrificed much, while paying off a triple mortgage(!) to ensure that most of us 8 kids had numerous opportunities to develop any musical talents.
While Mum taught us singing from an early age, piano lessons began for me about age 6 with the late Sister Mary Casimir (Sisters of Mercy) at St. Catherine’s in Kilbirnie.
In my early teens I got the pipe organ bug well and truly! While attending a wedding at St Mary of the Angels in Wellington, I got to see Maxwell Fernie playing the organ. Thereafter frequent bus trips into town saw me conversing with him and of course watching him play the organ while simultaneously he would conduct the church choir!
In the 70’s while singing with the late Pat Kershaw’s Flying Squad Choir opportunity knocked for me to have pipe organ lessons with the late Evan Roberts, organist at St Annes in Newtown. Through Evan’s tuition my journey started on what was the old Paramount Theatre organ then installed in All Saints Church in Hataitai. That instrument still had some of its Wurlitzer features in working order. e.g. piano and tubular chimes.
Through the 80’s and 90’s I played for St Giles in Kilbirnie on their modest little pipe organ while also continuing tuition with Evan for a few more years. My knowledge of the pipe organ was considerably improved upon about this time through accompanying various congregations on both cathedral and suburban parish instruments. Frequently I ran between services; from the Presbyterians to the Catholics, then to the Anglicans all on a Sunday morning! That schedule worked out very well so long as the sermons were brief and hymns didn’t have eleventeen verses!
In 2005 I resumed organ studies this time with Dianne Halliday, then organist at St Peters on Willis Street. While studying with Dianne I took the opportunity to attain Trinity College’s ATCL and LTCL Recital Diplomas in Organ.
Today I reside in Foxton where I play for St Mary’s Catholic Church, while occasionally assisting at Our Lady of Lourdes in Palmerston or the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit.
From earliest years I have enjoyed a variety of musical styles but nothing has toppled my fondness for Wurlitzer style theatre organ performances.
When not playing keyboard(s), I enjoy my latest musical interest that of creating and playing Native American style flutes. Unfortunately, they are one that my chief critic Ellie does not share! That however doesn’t stop us enjoying one another’s company as I walk her in the forest or along the beach with one of her many favourite tennis balls!”

Free concert Wednesday 4th October, 12:15-12:45
Please come join us!