ORGANIST CHOSEN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 22, 27 January 1937, Page 3

ORGANIST CHOSEN.

MR. MAUGHAN BARNETT.

CHRISTCHURCH CATHEDRAL.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

CHRISTCHURCH, Tuesday.

The former city organist at Auckland, Mr. J. Maughan Barnett, has been appointed. organist at Christchurch Cathedral in succession to Dr. J. C. Bradshaw. who recently resigned. Mr. Barnett will take up his appointment early in April.

Born in Warwickshire, Mr. Barnett studied piano playing and composition under (lustav Ernest and organ playing under Fre.neis Spinney. He was appointed organist and choirmaster at the Church of King Charles the Martyr. Tunbridge Welt, in 1882, and in 1889 lie took up a similar position at St. Mary Magdalen's, St. Leonard-on-Sea. 111-health induced him to leave England for Tasmania, where he obtained an appointment as organist to the Hobart

Cathedral, and for three years he filled a prominent position in the musical life of the city, acting for some time a-s conductor to the Musical Union.

When he came to Xew Zealand in 1893 lie became organist and choir-nuir-ter of the Napier Cathedral, and two years later he was appointed to a similar position at St. John's, the leading Presbyterian Church of Wellington. Linkrtaking choral work on a scale previously unknown to the capital city, he founded what became the Royal Wellington Choral Society and conducted a nioi-t successful musical festival. Following the erection of the Wellington Town Hall organ, he became the city's first ollicial organist, until he was appointed to a similar post in A ticklati ' in 191:2.

Mr Harnett's recitals, together with his constant cntliu.siasm for the development of musical culture in Auckland, eartud him a wide reputation, and there was general regret when lie retired, in March. 1932. In addition to hi* work .is city organist, he was for a time conductor to the Auckland Choral Society, ami later established the Municipal Choir. For some years after his arrival in Auckland he was organist and choirmaster at St. Mark's Church, Hcniuera.