Christopher Wrench (born 14 October 1958 in

Brisbane Brisbane ( ; ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and largest city of the States and territories of Australia, state of Queensland and the list of cities in Australia by population, third-most populous city in Australia, with a ...

, 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 Concert

Education

Wrench attended

Brisbane Grammar School Brisbane Grammar School (BGS) is an Independent school, independent, fee charging, non-denominational, day school, day and boarding school for boys, located in Spring Hill, Queensland, Spring Hill, an inner suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Austra ...

, the Queensland Conservatorium of Music (with Nancy Weir) and undertook postgraduate studies in Vienna at the Vienna Conservatorium and then at the Hochschule für Musik (with Michael Radulescu).''Musical Notes'', Kawai Keyboard Series 2007
( MS Word)

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, 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 Queensland Philharmonic Orchestra,

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. Wrench was Director of Music at Christ Church, Vienna (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.

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 Catalogues of classical compositions, 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 and the third edition in ...

525–530'', Garrison Church, Copenhagen; 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 classical organists Australian male classical organists Musicians from Brisbane Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University alumni Academic staff of Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University 21st-century Australian organists 21st-century Australian male musicians People educated at Brisbane Grammar School