Community
4 July, 2025
A touch of the Proms
THE 2025 Warrnambool Organ Festival is bringing a touch of the famous BBC Proms concert series to Warrnambool this August with a concert based on the Last Night of the Proms.
Traditionally the Last Night of the Proms concert wraps up the BBC’s summer season of classical music concerts in an event that celebrates popular British classics including Jerusalem, Land of Hope and Glory, and the Old 100th Psalm Tune.
The Warrnambool version will feature these pieces, along with a selection of orchestral works and organ solos, and an arrangement of a song that celebrates our very city.
As in previous years, organisers of the Warrnambool Organ Festival are putting together a community choir to tackle these works under the guidance of musical director Patrick Burns.
“This will be a huge amount of fun,” Mr Burns said.
“The choristers are guaranteed to enjoy the process of rehearsing the program before presenting it as a part of this year’s Organ Festival.”
The Community Choir is a non-auditioned choir.
Everyone is welcome and participants will be guided through the process over a series of four rehearsals before the concert on Saturday, August 9.
The Warrnambool Symphony Orchestra will feature as special guest for this year’s concert.
“I can’t wait to hear the orchestra and community choir come together for this event – it’s going to be a very special evening celebrating the local talent of Warrnambool and surrounding districts,” Mr Burns said.
The first choir rehearsal is due to be held on Sunday, July 13.
Anyone interested in joining the choir can do so by getting in touch with the Warrnambool Organ Festival through its social pages.
The 2025 Warrnambool Organ Festival will be held over the weekend of August 8-10 and will feature three concerts.
Friday night will be a jazz night at the Mozart Hall with Melbourne Hammond organ combo, The Artie Styles Quartet, supported by local band Gem and the Pearls.
Saturday night will be the Last Night of the Proms at St Joseph’s Church, and Sunday afternoon will feature organist Anthony Halliday in recital (also at St Joseph’s Church).