Farewell concert for conductor

Press, 14 September 1976, Page 22

Farewell concert for conductor

A farewell concert for the Christchurch organist and conductor, William Hawkey, has been arranged by the Christchurch Civic Music Council in the Christchurch Cathedral on Sunday night. Mr Hawkey, as conductor of the Christchurch Harmonic Society, has been a member of the music council for many years. He is about to leave to become principal lecturer in the performing and expressive arts at Torrens College of Advanced Education in Adelaide. Associated artists in the recital will be Janette Riley, who will sing soprano ’ solos by J. S. Bach and Gabriel Faure. and the University Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Dobbs Franks. It will be heard with Mr Hawkey in Handel’s Organ Concerto No. 2 in B flat. Solo organ works to be played by Mr Hawkev are Bach's Toccata and Fugue tn D, Cesar Franck’s Chorales Nos 1 and 2. and Olivier Messiaen's *'Le Banquet Celeste. 41

Members of the audience will be invited to join the music council in an informal supper at the State Trinity Centre after the recital. Mr Hawkey is known in Christchurch as a teacher, lecturer, organist, composer, conductor, and administrator, and has made a significant contribution to the city’s musical activities. He is also frequently heard as an accompanist on the Radio New Zealand YC network. As musical director of the Christchurch Harmonic Society since 1960, he has conducted the choir in its visits to the United Kingdom and the United States in 1965, and to Australia in 1967 and 1974. In 1969 and 1974 he was invited by the Australian Broadcasting Commission to conduct the Adelaide Singers. in concert and in broadcasts. In 1967 he was named “Outstanding Young Man of the Year” by the New Zealand Jayc.ees, and in 1974 he was •warded the M.B.E. for eervicee to muiic.