The Auckland Organ Association Inc. (AOA) is the largest Organist's regional association in New Zealand at the present time. It covers a substantial geographical area and its membership represents the regional diversity that reflects the Auckland region itself.
The Association has a strong management team which aims to provide monthly or bi-monthly events or notice of organ related events. These include public recitals (concession rates for members to AOA events), master classes, workshops, lectures on organ building, church music and associated topics, visits to pipe and digital organs of local interest, as well as pipe organs of historical significance. The membership also enjoys the fellowship of social functions. Student membership and involvement is also a hall mark of the AOA.
The Association has key relationships with other organisations such as the Auckland Town Hall Organ Trust, with whom the AOA jointly put on the Auckland Organ Discovery Day in 2011, and the AOA was the first organisation to contribute to the fundraising campaign for the organ restoration project (completed 2010). The AOA maintains close links with the RSCM, Auckland branch of the Royal School of Church Music NZ; ANZCO, the newly formed Australian and New Zealand College of Organists, and with the churches who open their doors and organ consoles to our community.
By affiliation of the AOA to the NZ Organ Association (NZAO) all AOA members are members of NZAO. All members receive the journal "ORGAN News" several times a year published by NZAO, as part of their membership entitlement. A subscription to the popular English publication "Organists Review" can be obtained from the website http://www.allegro.co.uk/organists-review.html.
For more details about members ship see below and menu item Membership.
Until March 2015 the association was formerly known as the Auckland Organists’ Association. The name was changed to reflect the emphasis on the musical instrument and its enthusiasts, rather than apparently focussing solely on those who played it.
Contacting the Auckland Organ Association
To contact the Auckland Organists' Association you are welcome to send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Phone- Secretary: (09) 444 0580
Post - Secretary: PO Box 302 844, Auckland 0751
How to join
Go to the Membership page.
Download the Membership Application Form and send with first year's subscription to the Treasurer.
Further information
Membership Application Form (PDF, 2 pages A4)
Rules of the Assocation (2013) (PDF, 4 pages A4)
Bylaws of the Assocation (2013) (PDF, 4 pages A4)
NZAO Privacy Policy
(Note: As the AOA is an Association Member of the NZ Organ Association, membership of AOA includes full membership benefits of NZAO and thus personal contact details will be shared with NZAO)
AOA Executive 2014
President: Stephen Hamilton
Vice-president: Timothy Noon
Secretary: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Membership Officer: Stephen Vincent
Newsletter Editor: Timothy Noon
Committee: Michael Bell, Barrie Collett, Graham Davison, Janet Buhmann-Gibbs
The AOA is a Registered Charity with the Charities Commission, Reg # CC 31213
There are over 100 pipe organs installed in the greater Auckland region, including many in homes, halls and schools as well as churches. Here are some views of the more notable ones. But not all.
Use the links for more about each.
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Town Hall Auckland (photo taken in 2007.current organ by Klais 2010, behind 1911 case) The Organ's Facebook Page Other pages: Maori Stops, Nearly Finished, Opening Debut |
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Holy Trinity Cathedral (1968-2014, a new organ is coming in 2017) |
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Pitt St Methodist (Croft&Son 1911-) |
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Epsom Methodist |
Ponsonby Baptist (John Avery, 1779) |
Maclaurin Chapel, University of Auckland
The DANCE ORGAN - An Educational Pipe Organ for Young "Dancers"
The Dance organ is a small pipe organ that is made to be played entirely with the feet, rather than with the hands and feet as with a standard pipe organ. It is not just a regular pipe organ with the manual keyboards removed.
The foot organ's keyboard is a large-scale replica of a piano or organ keyboard with giant white and black keys. The instrument can be played by a single person picking out a tune with one or two feet, but the keyboard is large enough to accommodate up to 3 or 4 people playing a multipart composition.
The keyboard is 3.3 meters long and has a span of 3 octaves, comprising 22 white keys and 15 black keys. The lowest note is 2 octaves below middle C.
There are two sets of pipes - a wooden rank of stopped pipes sounding at 8ft pitch, and a metal principal rank at 4ft pitch. Played separately these two ranks have quite distinct tonal qualities. Played together they give a very full, bright organ tone.
The foot organ was used during the Organ Festival Open Day in the Auckland Town Hall in June 2011. This was a fun occasion where members of the public had a hands - or rather feet - on experience. Other outings to Whakatane and Auckland venues have been very successful fun events.
The novelty of this instrument played with the feet attracts the interest of children and teenagers as well as adults nimble of foot eager to give it a go. Music for this organ has been written suitable for playing by up to 3 people at once.
Built of permanent materials, this instrument is available on loan for use in future events. It will therefore enhance the educational opportunities in leaning about the pipe organ. The organ is stored in several cartons held Auckland.
Contact:
Auckland: AOA Secretary - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
