Music Director
Dr John Linker
www.johnlinker.com
Dr John Linker is Director of Music at Christ Church Transitional Cathedral (appointed 2014). Singing six choral services per week during term time, Christ Church Cathedral Choir is unique in New Zealand with its own choir school and maintains a standard of educational excellence on par with its British counterparts.
John has been Music Director of Christchurch City Choir, Canterbury’s premiere symphonic choral ensemble, since 2016. The City Choir, committed to the highest artistic excellence delivering innovative and imaginative programming, performs four major concerts per year, often with Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and with internationally acclaimed soloists, as well as smaller community events.
Born and raised in Illinois, USA, John was a chorister in his family’s church and was playing the organ for services from age 11. He holds music degrees from Northern Illinois University (Bachelor of Music), Chicago Musical College at Roosevelt University (Master of Music), and University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (Doctor of Musical Arts), and is active in and has held leadership positions in numerous musical organisations.
Prior to coming to New Zealand, John held positions in suburban Chicago and Kentucky. He has performed throughout the US, the UK, Europe, and New Zealand. In addition to teaching, John is passionate about chamber music and collaborative music making, and regularly performs with Christchurch Symphony Orchestra. His greatest joy is any adventure with his wife Molly and their daughter Lila.
www.johnlinker.com
Dr John Linker is Director of Music at Christ Church Transitional Cathedral (appointed 2014). Singing six choral services per week during term time, Christ Church Cathedral Choir is unique in New Zealand with its own choir school and maintains a standard of educational excellence on par with its British counterparts.
John has been Music Director of Christchurch City Choir, Canterbury’s premiere symphonic choral ensemble, since 2016. The City Choir, committed to the highest artistic excellence delivering innovative and imaginative programming, performs four major concerts per year, often with Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and with internationally acclaimed soloists, as well as smaller community events.
Born and raised in Illinois, USA, John was a chorister in his family’s church and was playing the organ for services from age 11. He holds music degrees from Northern Illinois University (Bachelor of Music), Chicago Musical College at Roosevelt University (Master of Music), and University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (Doctor of Musical Arts), and is active in and has held leadership positions in numerous musical organisations.
Prior to coming to New Zealand, John held positions in suburban Chicago and Kentucky. He has performed throughout the US, the UK, Europe, and New Zealand. In addition to teaching, John is passionate about chamber music and collaborative music making, and regularly performs with Christchurch Symphony Orchestra. His greatest joy is any adventure with his wife Molly and their daughter Lila.
Assistant Director of Music
Jeremy Woodside
Jeremy was born in Christchurch, New Zealand, and his musical life began as a chorister at ChristChurch Cathedral; he was later Assistant Organist. He has held organ scholarships at Wells Cathedral and Westminster Abbey and has directed and accompanied many choral societies and choirs.
In 2011, Jeremy directed the Cathedral Choir for the National Memorial Service in Hagley Park following the February earthquakes, in the presence of HRH Prince William. He also gave a number of solo recitals throughout Europe to raise money for the cathedral’s appeal and has released three solo CDs on the ChristChurch Cathedral organ.
Jeremy graduated as a Bachelor of Music (First Class Honours) from the University of Canterbury, and while there was awarded the Lilburn Prize for composition and Madrigal Prize for Excellence in Vocal Music. Later he completed a Masters in Organ Performance at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. In August 2013, he gave the inaugural recital at the Transitional Cathedral in Christchurch.
His organ tutors have included Daniel Moult, Thomas Trotter and David Briggs, and Jeremy gained his Fellowship in Organ Performance from Trinity College, London in 2009, and holds an Associate Diploma from the Royal College of Organists. As a recitalist/accompanist, he has performed in many major UK cathedrals, St George’s Chapel Windsor, Malvern Priory, St Andrew’s Cathedral Sydney, Notre-Dame in Paris, as part of the International Organ Summer Festival in Rome, Esplanade Singapore as part of Tapestry: a festival of sacred music, and the Musikverein in Vienna.
From September 2015 – March 2018 Jeremy was Head of Keyboard and Organist at Repton School.
Jeremy regularly performs with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, both as a soloist, choir accompanist, and orchestral player. He is an active composer with various pieces being published by the RSCM, SOUNZ and Crescendo Music Publications in Melbourne, Australia, is the current Assistant Music Director for the Christchurch City Choir and a repetiteur for Toi Toi Opera.
Jeremy was born in Christchurch, New Zealand, and his musical life began as a chorister at ChristChurch Cathedral; he was later Assistant Organist. He has held organ scholarships at Wells Cathedral and Westminster Abbey and has directed and accompanied many choral societies and choirs.
In 2011, Jeremy directed the Cathedral Choir for the National Memorial Service in Hagley Park following the February earthquakes, in the presence of HRH Prince William. He also gave a number of solo recitals throughout Europe to raise money for the cathedral’s appeal and has released three solo CDs on the ChristChurch Cathedral organ.
Jeremy graduated as a Bachelor of Music (First Class Honours) from the University of Canterbury, and while there was awarded the Lilburn Prize for composition and Madrigal Prize for Excellence in Vocal Music. Later he completed a Masters in Organ Performance at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. In August 2013, he gave the inaugural recital at the Transitional Cathedral in Christchurch.
His organ tutors have included Daniel Moult, Thomas Trotter and David Briggs, and Jeremy gained his Fellowship in Organ Performance from Trinity College, London in 2009, and holds an Associate Diploma from the Royal College of Organists. As a recitalist/accompanist, he has performed in many major UK cathedrals, St George’s Chapel Windsor, Malvern Priory, St Andrew’s Cathedral Sydney, Notre-Dame in Paris, as part of the International Organ Summer Festival in Rome, Esplanade Singapore as part of Tapestry: a festival of sacred music, and the Musikverein in Vienna.
From September 2015 – March 2018 Jeremy was Head of Keyboard and Organist at Repton School.
Jeremy regularly performs with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, both as a soloist, choir accompanist, and orchestral player. He is an active composer with various pieces being published by the RSCM, SOUNZ and Crescendo Music Publications in Melbourne, Australia, is the current Assistant Music Director for the Christchurch City Choir and a repetiteur for Toi Toi Opera.
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Christchurch City Choir Board
Chair: Joanna Dodgshun Treasurer: Jocelyne Hill Mark Ogilvie, Richard Milne, Margaret Hawke, Claire Arnold and Heather Young |
Choir Administrator: Charlotte Ensor Accounts Administrator: Murray Baty Librarian: Julie McGeorge Choir Registrar: Jennifer Sutherland New Members and Recruitment Liaison: Heather Young |
