Mervyn John Byers FTCL ARCO (CHM) FRSCM (Hon) (23 March 1924 – 2 March 2011) was an Australian organist and composer.

Background

He was born on 23 March 1924 in Burwood, Sydney. After five years' war service, he won a scholarship to the

Sydney Conservatorium of Music The Sydney Conservatorium of Music (formerly the New South Wales State Conservatorium of Music and known by the moniker "The Con") is a heritage-listed music school in Macquarie Street, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is one of the old ...

. He then completed his education at the

University of London The University of London (UoL; abbreviated as Lond or more rarely Londin in post-nominals) is a federal public research university located in London, England, United Kingdom. The university was established by royal charter in 1836 as a degr ...

. After he retired from Selby Abbey in 1987 he moved back to Australia. He died on 2 March 2011 in Blackheath, NSW

Appointments

*Organist at

Bridlington Priory Priory Church of St Mary, Bridlington, , commonly known as Bridlington Priory Church is a parish church in Bridlington, East Riding of Yorkshire, England, in the Diocese of York. It is on the site of an Augustinian priory founded in 1113 which ...

1952 - 1957 *Organist at

St Andrew's Cathedral, Sydney St Andrew's Cathedral (also known as St Andrew's Anglican Cathedral) is a cathedral church of the Anglican Diocese of Sydney in the Anglican Church of Australia. The cathedral is the seat of the Anglican Archbishop of Sydney and Metropolitan o ...

1957 - 1965 *Organist at

Selby Abbey Selby Abbey is an Anglican parish church in the town of Selby, North Yorkshire, England. It is Grade I listed. Monastic history It is one of the relatively few surviving abbey churches of the medieval period, and, although not a cathedral, ...

1966 – 1976 and 1980 - 1987Musical opinion and music trade review - Volume 111, Issue 1324; Volume 111 - Page 125

Recordings

He is well known for the recording of organ music he produced from Selby Abbey in 1969.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Byers, Mervyn Jones 1924 births 2011 deaths Australian classical organists Male classical organists Sydney Conservatorium of Music alumni 20th-century Australian musicians 20th-century Australian male musicians