Dr Allan Beavis OAM Organist and Chairman of BAMF
Before retiring in 2001, Dr Allan Beavis OAM had been Headmaster of St Andrews Cathedral Choir School in Sydney, and Master of New College at the University of NSW. He is currently Principal Organist and the Director of the classical music program at St. Judes Church, as well as the Public Officer of St Jude’s Music Association Inc. and Co-Founder and Chairman of the Bowral Autumn Music Festival.
The Bowral Autumn Music Festival will celebrate its 16th anniversary next year and St Jude's Church organist, Allan Beavis, has been involved since the very beginning.
Images © Hamish Ta-Me Photography
"In 1977 I went to the Three Choirs Festival in Hereford in the UK which is the oldest classical music festival in the world celebrating 300 years this year I attended a few other festivals while I was there and they all seemed to be attached to a church somehow," said Allan. "So when it was suggested in 2007 by renowned clarinettist Murray Khouri, we should have a chamber music festival at St Jude's, the (then) rector and I agreed and the Bowral Autumn Music Festival was launched. Murray Khouri was our first Artistic Director curating four concerts over the weekend in that first year. In 2009 Yvette Goodchild became our Musical Director and the festival grew to six concerts. In 2015 Myee Clohessy took over the artistic reigns and for 2022 the Bowral Autumn Music Festival has flourished to include two Education Days and eight splendid concerts over four days.
In 2022 the magnificent organ in St Jude's Church will be played by Simon Nieminski, James Flores and Dr. Allan Beavis OAM. James Flores will perform for 15 minutes before Concerts #1, #3 and #4. We highly recommend you arrive early to relax in your seats and enjoy the glorious sounds of this wonderful instrument.