From the time the the Christchurch Town Hall was opened in 1972, there was always a plan to install an organ. Significant bequests from companies, funding groups, and personal donors saw the Town Hall Organ Trust formed, and after around 20 years of work, spearheaded by Martin & Jenny Setchell, the organ building firm Rieger Orgelbau from Austria was engaged to build it. The Organ was opened with much much fanfare and celebration in May 1997 and was regularly featured in solo recitals, or with other musical ensembles such as orchestras and choirs. In late 2010, the Town Hall Organ Trust had commissioned Rieger to upgrade and extend the organ by around an extra 30% by adding additional pipework; this work had begun with the new pipes shipped in from Austria. The team of builders was on site completing the final few hours of installation when a devastating earthquake hit in February 2011.
The Town Hall was significantly structurally damaged. The Organ sustained some minor physical damage when some pipes dislodged themselves, but, mercifully, the instrument survived relatively unscathed. For most of the eight or so years before the building was reopened, the organ sat in a specially constructed wooden case to protect it from building works going on.
The grand reopening in March 2019 by Organ Curator Martin Setchell was the first time anyone got to experience the new enlarged and rebuilt instrument. This internationally renowned organ will continue to sound proudly in the Town Hall for generations to come! More details can be found at www.nzorgan.com
Nicholas Sutcliffe performed an improvisational piece to demonstrate the organ's range of sound, as well as Fanfare by Jacques-Nicolas Lemmens (1823 - 1881).
Nicholas Sutcliffe was raised in Auckland and studied harpsichord, conducting, and organ at the University of Auckland. While at university, Nicholas won first prize at the NZ Organ Performance Competition, and has been a featured organist with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra workshopping and premiering a commissioned organ concerto. He is presently a Trustee of the Christchurch Town Hall Organ.
He was Organ Scholar of Holy Trinity Cathedral and also worked at both Dilworth School and St Cuthbert's College as organist.
Nicholas has lived in Christchurch since 2012 and is Organist & Co-Director of Choirs at Christ's College and Associate Director of Music at St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral. He has also previously served as Assistant Organist and Acting Director of Music of Christchurch Cathedral, as well as Acting Director of Music at Holy Trinity Cathedral, Auckland. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at
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