Sydney
27 July 2003

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Centre of it all ...

Two new bishops for Sydney

New bishops at cutting edge of Church

From sailor to bishop

Neocatechumenate priest for Redfern

Pokie tax threatens club aid to Church

Honours to chapel couple

Origin star, author, surf champ lend hand to Youth Off Streets

Four-day visit to Slovakia

Sydney group breaks Holy Land ‘drought’

Pope gives $10m aid

Unusable gifts cost Vinnies $½m a year

Specs to aid St Lucy’s

Finnish choir at St Francis

Editorial: Themes of ministry

Letters: Richness of our faith

Conversation: Jim Grainger, director of Centacare Broken Bay - ‘Following Christ’s ideals’ of caring

Three years on, Gershom pulls out all the stops ...

Father of four ‘honoured’ by L’Arche appointment

Checking to see if Mr Right’s in site

Mary MacKillop focus of digital learning aid

Franciscan’s journey in a new era of pilgrimage

World Youth Day on web

Blessing at the centre of it all

Three years on, Gershom pulls out all the stops ...

By Damir Govorcin

Gershom Dacoco loves a challenge, so when it was suggested he take up the pipe organ he jumped at the opportunity.

That was three years ago, when Gershom, now 15, was a choir boy at St Mary’s Cathedral.

He soon transferred to an organ scholarship and the tutelage of the cathedral organist, Peter Kneeshaw.

Now Gershom, a Year 10 student, has shown his increasing mastery of the pipe organ by winning the junior section of the 2003 Sydney Organ Competition at the Great Hall, University of Sydney.

The competition was tough - adjudicator Heather Moen-Boyd commented on the particularly high standard of the seven young performers - which made Gershom’s victory particularly satisfying.

It was notable, too, because of the short preparation time he had with his hectic scholastic schedule, his duties as Organ Scholar - which include playing parts of the 9am Sunday Mass at the cathedral - and his playing on the beautiful Sydney Town Hall organ for the St Mary’s Cathedral College concert.

“I love playing the pipe organ because it’s a difficult instrument to play which makes it all the more challenging,” says Gershom.

“Before taking up the pipe organ, I had played the piano for nine years which I think helped me with my organ playing.

“I wasn’t nervous playing in front of a crowd, but I was a bit surprised to win considering I was up against other talented pipe organists.

“I must give credit to my teacher Mr Kneeshaw who continues to inspire and encourage me.”

Mr Kneeshaw says Gershom’s technical and artistic skills have flourished since he took up the organ scholarship.

“His repertoire is growing and for a 15-year-old his competition-winning pieces are certainly complex works to learn and interpret musically,” said Mr Kneeshaw.

“Gershom’s expertise will no doubt grow from here as his experience, confidence and hard work enable him to do justice to the instrument that he loves so much.”

The former chorister played works by the French composers de Grigny and Gigout in the competition.