Organist and conductor James O’Donnell is no stranger to Australian audiences. Last year, he gave recitals in Adelaide and Sydney, inaugurating the new organ at St James’ Church, King Street. In 2007, he toured with the Choir of Westminster Abbey, where he was Organist and Master of Choristers for 23 years, directing the music for royal, state and national occasions such as the state funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

A Knight Commander of the Order of St Gregory – an honour conferred by Pope John Paul II – he is now Professor in the Practice of Organ and Sacred Music at the Yale School of Music and the Yale Institute of Sacred Music.

James O’Donnell. Photo © Picture Partnership/Westminster Abbey

In July, he will begin his latest Australian tour with an organ recital at Adelaide’s Pilgrim Uniting Church, where he will also conduct its choir. He will then join the Queensland Symphony Orchestra for Saint-Saëns’ Organ Symphony and Joseph Jongen’s Symphonie concertante for Organ and Orchestra, which he describes as “the whole caboodle with wind and brass”, before making his organ debut at the Sydney...