Christopher Wrench (born 14 October 1958 in

Brisbane Brisbane ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the states and territories of Australia, Australian state of Queensland, and the list of cities in Australia by population, third-most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a populati ...

, Australia) is an

organist An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ (music), organ. An organist may play organ repertoire, solo organ works, play with an musical ensemble, ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumentalist, instrumental ...

and lecturer.Review
of Christopher Wrench and

Piers Lane Piers Lane (born 8 January 1958) is an Australian classical pianist. His performance career has taken him to more than 40 countries. His concerto repertoire exceeds 75 works. Early life Lane's English father and Australian mother met while au ...

Concert

Education

Wrench attended

Brisbane Grammar School , motto_translation = Nothing Without Labour , established = 1868 , type = Independent, day & boarding , gender = Boys , denomination = Non-denominational , slogan = , key_people = , ci ...

, the

Queensland Conservatorium of Music Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University (formerly the Queensland Conservatorium of Music) is a selective, audition based music school located in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, and is part of Griffith University. History The Conservatori ...

(with Nancy Weir) and undertook postgraduate studies in Vienna at the

Vienna Conservatorium The Music and Arts University of the City of Vienna ( (MUK)) in Vienna, Austria, is a university of music and the arts. It was previously (2005−2015) named (KONSuni, Konservatorium Wien University), and before that (Conservatory of Vienna). ...

and then at the

Hochschule für Musik A music school is an educational institution specialized in the study, training, and research of music. Such an institution can also be known as a school of music, music academy, music faculty, college of music, music department (of a larger in ...

(with

Michael Radulescu Michael Radulescu (born 19 June 1943) is a Romanian-German composer, organist, and professor. He was born to a Romanian father and a German mother. He studied with Anton Heiller and Hans Swarowsky at the University of Music and Performing Arts i ...

).''Musical Notes'', Kawai Keyboard Series 2007
(

MS Word Microsoft Word is a word processing software developed by Microsoft. It was first released on October 25, 1983, under the name ''Multi-Tool Word'' for Xenix systems. Subsequent versions were later written for several other platforms includin ...

)

Awards

Wrench won 1st Prize at the Melbourne International Festival of Organ and Harpsichord Bach Competition in 1985, the Audience Prize at the 1989

St Albans International Organ Festival The International Organ Festival (IOF) is a biennial music festival and organ competition held in St Albans, England since 1963. Originally held annually, it was changed to every two years in 1965 due to the complexity of organising the increasin ...

, 2nd Prize at the Dublin International Organ Competition in 1989 and 1990, and First Prize at the 1992 Carl Nielsen International Music Competition.

Career

Wrench returned to Australia in 1991 where he became lecturer in organ at the Queensland Conservatorium. He appears regularly as a recitalist throughout Australia and Europe and has performed as soloist with the Adelaide Chamber Orchestra, the

Australian Chamber Orchestra The Australian Chamber Orchestra (ACO) was founded by cellist John Painter in 1975.Verghis, Sharon"Bach with more bite pays off" ''Sydney Morning Herald'', 2 September 2005. Richard Tognetti was appointed Lead Violin in 1989 and subsequently appo ...

, the

Queensland Philharmonic Orchestra Queensland Symphony Orchestra (QSO) is an Australian symphony orchestra in the state of Queensland. The orchestra is based in the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's building in South Bank. The Orchestra is funded by private corporations, the ...

Queensland Symphony Orchestra Queensland Symphony Orchestra (QSO) is an Australian symphony orchestra in the state of Queensland. The orchestra is based in the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's building in South Bank. The Orchestra is funded by private corporations, the ...

, the Queensland Youth Symphony Orchestra, and the

Canberra Symphony Orchestra Canberra Symphony Orchestra (CSO) is the professional orchestra of the Australian Capital Territory based in Canberra, the national capital of Australia. History Officially formed on 14 March 1950 and registered as an amateur ensemble, the C ...

. Wrench was Director of Music at

Christ Church, Vienna The Anglican Church of Christ Church, Vienna is located in central Vienna, Jaurèsgasse 17-19, off the Rennweg. Worship services are held in English on Sundays and Wednesdays. On the first Sunday of the month there is a service of Evensong (except ...

(1986–89) and at St. Mary's Anglican Church, Kangaroo Point in Brisbane from 1994 until 2012. In 2013 he was appointed Director of Music at Christ Church, St Lucia in Brisbane. He is married to choral conductor

Emily Cox Emily Cox may refer to: * Emily Cox (actress) (born 1985), Austrian actress * Emily Cox (puzzle writer), American puzzle writer * Emily Cox (conductor), Australian conductor and choir master {{DEFAULTSORT:Cox, Emily ...

Discography

*2012: ''Joy to the World'' (Christmas at the Sydney Town Hall); Move Records *2009: ''J.S. Bach Organ Sonatas,

BWV The (BWV; ; ) is a catalogue of compositions by Johann Sebastian Bach. It was first published in 1950, edited by Wolfgang Schmieder. The catalogue's second edition appeared in 1990. An abbreviated version of that second edition, known as BWV2a ...

525–530'',

Garrison Church, Copenhagen Garnison Church, Copenhagen The Garnison Church () is a church at Sankt Annæ Plads in Copenhagen, Denmark. The Baroque church was erected as a church primarily intended for military personnel stationed in the city. History In the 17th century, ...

; Melba Recordings *2000: ''One Two One'' (20th Century Music for Trumpet & Organ); Move Records

References

External links

Portrait
at Melba Recordings {{DEFAULTSORT:Wrench, Christopher 1958 births Living people Australian musicians Australian classical organists Male classical organists People from Brisbane Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University alumni Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University faculty 21st-century organists 21st-century Australian male musicians 21st-century Australian musicians