Bernard F.
Kirkpatrick

ernard Kirkpatrick is a well known Sydney organist and choral director, with 30 years experience in liturgical music. He received his early training in Tasmania from the Sisters of Mercy, and subsequently the Marist Fathers. In 1984 he began organ studies with Sydney City Organist, Robert Ampt, and later studied organ improvisation with M. Naji Hakim (then Organist Titulaire de Basilique Sacre Coeur) in Paris. While studying for the Bachelor of Music degree at The Univeristy of Sydney, he was University Organ Scholar and Director of Chapel Music at Saint John's College.

Mr. Kirkpatrick has held the post of Organist/Choirmaster at Saint Patrick's Church Hill, and from 1988-1999 was the Assistant Organist at Saint Mary's Cathedral, Sydney, where he also established the Saint Mary Singers, and directed the Cathedral Choir on occasion. Since 1996 he has been Director of Music at Saint Francis of Assisi Parish, Paddington (Sydney), where he is responsible for the parish music program consisting of a large SATB choir, cantors and musicians.

His interest in liturgical music includes developing ways of incorporating traditional sacred music styles (e.g. chant and choral polyphony) with the contemporary needs of liturgical practice through a synthesis of form, musical language and instrumentation.

Mr. Kirkpatrick has composed numerous liturgical works and led workshops for the Royal School of Church Music (Australia) and the Australian Catholic University.

He is a member of the Music Advisory Committee of the Archdiocese of Sydney and in 2004 he was appointed a Music Advisor to the National Liturgical Commission of the Australian Catholic Bishops' Conference.

CanticaNOVA Publications is pleased to offer several of Bernard Kirkpatrick's works in our catalog:

• Ecce sacerdos / Lauda anima CNP Catalog #4080
• Veni Sancte Spiritus CNP Catalog #3103