Organist makes his way from Notre Dame, Paris to St Luke’s, Torquay

Last month’s devastating fire that engulfed Notre Dame and destroyed its iconic spire fortunately left untouched the cathedral’s 8,000-pipe organ.

No one was more relieved than local Surf Coast organist Tom Healey who has himself conducted and played in Notre Dame.

Now Tom, a member and tutor at U3A Surf Coast, will be bringing some of that excitement to a performance at St Luke’s Anglican Church, Torquay at 2pm on Tuesday June 11.

Tom’s annual organ recitals for U3A Surf Coast have been growing in popularity and this performance will include works by Albinoni, JS Bach, Vivaldi, Mozart, Handel and lesser known, but more recent composers such as Nadia Boulanger and Louis Vierne who was born blind with a cataract condition and actually died of a heart attack at the organ of Notre Dame during a public concert in June 1937.

Tom directs the Vox Angelica Geelong Chamber Choir and is also Organist and Choir Director at St Paul’s Anglican Church, Geelong.

He is on the board of the Australian Youth Classical Music Competition and has directed, played and sung with choir tours in the UK and Europe, including, Paris.

Tom and his wife Helen are also members of the Surf Coast U3A art group, which will also be exhibiting as part of the Surf Coast Arts Trail in August.

The performance is open not only to U3A Surf Coast members but anyone interested is welcome to attend with a gold coin donation going to Give Where You Live.

U3A Surf Coast currently runs around 20 courses and activities each school term and more information is available at u3asurfcoast.org.au or phone 0435 374 139.