Perth’s star organist becomes a ‘knight’ in the Order of Arts and Letters.

Joseph Nolan, organist and Master of the Choristers at Perth’s St George’s Cathedral, has described himself as “incredulous” on being awarded France’s prestigious medal of Chevalier (Knight) in the Order of Arts and Letters. The honour comes courtesy of the French Minister of Culture and Communication and is in recognition of his services to French Music.

“I received a letter from the French Ambassador in Canberra,” the British-born musician told Limelight. “I had absolutely no idea. One always wonders at the back of the mind whether one might be noticed, but it certainly was a big surprise.”

A pupil of the late, great Marie-Claire Alain, Nolan has been an Australian citizen since 2012 after moving to Western Australia eight years ago. But his love affair with French organ music began almost as soon as he had learned to play piano at the age of four. “I went to visit somebody at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester when I was 15,” Nolan explains. “I heard someone play the organ there and it was just like,...