Healey to delight audience with sweet sounds

Geelong local Tom Healey has been playing the organ since he was in his teens. Photos: NATHAN RIVALLAND

GEELONG organist Tom Healey will put on a masterclass performance at the St Pauls Anglican Church this month.

The well-known local musician will be playing a recital titled To Call My True Love to Dance on September 14.

The performance will feature a range of music by several well-known composers including Florence Price, Michael Hannan, Naji Hakim, Cesar Frank and more.

There will be sets of dance variations including tango and burlesque, which Healey said “you don’t usually expect to hear on an organ in a church.”

Healey said he was very excited to unveil this material to audiences in his hometown.

“It’s going to a really great concert with it being possibly not a really typical organ program.

Tom Healey has performed all over Geelong, Melbourne and overseas.

“We’ve got some great pieces…. It’s a varied program… I think people who wouldn’t usually go to an organ performance will be surprised by the accessibility of the music.”

Healey was brought up in Sydney and Melbourne and has studied the organ since Year 9.

He came to Geelong in 1981 and became the director of music at Geelong Grammar.

As time went on, he moved into singing, conducted a few choirs in Geelong and performed in Melbourne and overseas.

He also founded and directs the Vox Angelica choir in Geelong.

“It’s hard to retire from music, you just keep doing and doing it,” he said.

“It [the organ] is just one of the world’s great gadgets… it makes a great loud sound and has an amazing variety of colours.

“It’s got the ability to be a one-person orchestra, and I just love that.”

To Call My True Love to Dance will begin at 5pm.

Tickets are $20 at the door (card or cash).