DR. PAUL JESSEN
Personal Information
I am a native of Wellington, New Zealand
where I began my first studies in piano, completed my licentiate diplomas on
piano and organ, and my Bachelor of Music at Victoria
University, before embarking on a
career teaching piano and organ privately while giving concerts and organizing
exams for the Australia and New Zealand Cultural Arts society. In those days I
was very busy teaching electronic organ as well and got involved in local
electronic organ clubs. I even started one in the Waikanae
Music Society, which I hear is doing very well.
In my early days I also became interested in
photography and model railways. I no longer develop my own photos, relying on
the expertise of a friend for that, and my efforts are less artistic than they
used to be! I no longer have a model railroad and my interest is now limited to
a computer programme!
I left New Zealand
in 1987 for a European study tour and was fortunate enough to be accepted in
the Norddeutsche Orgelakademie
with Professor Harald Vogel, a world authority on early performance practice and
north German organ repertoire. I spent a wonderful two years in Europe,
playing and hearing exciting organs.
I then went to Montréal, Québec, Canada in 1989 to study the organ at McGill
University with Professor John Grew.
I was so enamoured of Montréal that I decided to stay
there for my doctoral studies with Professor Réjean Poirier at Université de Montréal.
Since finishing my formal studies in 1996 I
teach privately, give concerts, organize concerts, direct choirs, and sing in
choirs. While in Montreal I performed organ and piano concerts with pianist, Dr
Dana Nigrim.
I was an active member of the Kiwis in Montreal group. I have a very deep and varied spirituality which appreciates
all religions and beliefs from Anglicanism to Zen. However, I guess that the
life of a musician becomes engulfed in music. Most of my time is spent in my
different musical pursuits and psychology, my other passion. From 1991 to 1999
I was Music Director at Summerlea United Church,
Lachine, where I had a small choir of 10 voices. From 1997 to
2000 I founded and directed the New Exodus Singers, an evensong choir of 40 voices. From 1989 to 1999 I sang with the
Cathedral Singers at Christ
Church Cathedral, Montréal, a choir that sings a weekly choral evensong broadcast on
Radio Ville Marie every Sunday at 4 p.m.
I was Honorary Assistant Director of Music at Trinity Anglican (Memorial)
Church and was on the Anniversary Committee as organ consultant. I have
organized and performed several concerts at Trinity. I also played for the Spiritual Science
Fellowship services and still play
for the International
Institute of Integral Human Sciences'
conferences every May.
In 1999 I accepted the invitation to be Music
Director at St Matthew's United Church in Toronto. I play a three manual electro-pneumatic Woodstock organ and direct a 10 voice semi-professional choir
during services every week. We perform a wide variety of music, from Gregorian
chant to jazz arrangements. It is a very busy, time consuming post where I have
organised many successful concerts and arts
festivals.
In 2005 I accepted the position of Director
of Music for the English choir at St Clare's Catholic church,
Toronto. I play for the Sunday noon mass and have been improving the choir's performance
since being there. It is a very beautiful Italian style church, with a small
two manual organ with delicately stenciled (painted) pipes. It is of an unknown
builder.
Life in Canada's biggest city is interesting, although not as
charming as in Montréal. There is a wide variety of entertainment and different
interest groups which I take part in. Being further south we have a much less
cold winter, which is a blessing.
And when I am not playing or praying . . . I
am attending any one of the myriad cinemas in Toronto!
Here I offer you a few links that have interested me, especially for my fellow
organists.
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This page last updated September
12th, 2006. The
picture is of New Zealand scenery.