Wednesday lunchtime at St James’ – soprano and organ.

Susannah Lawergren and Alistair Nelson perform a short lunchtime recital of Handel, Debussy, Massenet, Rachmaninoff, Stenhammar and Dvorak.

Alistair Nelson has been Acting Organist at St. James’ Church since September 2011 where he is enjoying accompanying the splendid Choir of St James, indulging his love of organ improvisation, appreciating the fine liturgy at St. James and making music with the newly formed St. James Singers.

Alistair Nelson obtained his Master of Music Degree at Yale University. and has spent the last  four years in New York where he was Associate Organist and Choirmaster at the Cathedral of the Incarnation, Garden City. He also sang in vocal ensembles Khorikos and Upper West Sound, and served on the staff of the Montreal Boys’ Choir course.

Alistair was born in London and grew up in Sydney. He began his organ studies at Trinity Grammar School with Heather Moen, and was Organ Scholar for Peter McMillan at St. Anne’s Strathfield and St. Paul’s Burwood. He graduated with a Bachelor of Music (Honours First Class) at the University of Sydney, studying with Robert Ampt. He was also a member of choirs such as Vox and Polyphony.

Before moving to the  United States, Alistair Nelson  was  Assistant Organist at Christ Church St. Laurence. In July 2005 he won the First Prize (the John Brown Award) in the Sydney Organ Competition, and he also made a Young Performers recording for the ABC, which. along with his Yale degree recital, was broadcast on the Rising Stars program of ABC Classic FM. He plans to make another recording in the near future, featuring a transcription of Vaughan Williams Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis.