Shirley Gale, Principal Organist

Shirley Gale AUA

Principal Organist, St Peter's Cathedral

Education: Annesley College (formerly Methodist Ladies College), graduate of Adelaide University with scholarships and prizes. Studied organ under Dr. J.V.Peters and piano under George Pearce and Lance Dossor.

Appointments: Accompaniste and organist for the Adelaide Harmony Choir under Lewis Dawe, Head of music, Pembroke Junior School and organist/pianist for the Pembroke Girls Choir touring Japan, Europe and U.K. (4 tours), Chairperson for RSCM S.A.Branch for 9 years, Assistant Organist at St. Peters Cathedral from 1984 -99, Principal Organist from 1999.

Favourite Composers: Bach Vierne, Howells.

Favourite Services: Darke in F, Ireland in C, Jackson in G, Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis in G—Stanford.

Favourite organ pieces: Prelude and Fugue on ST. Anne by Bach, Toccata in B minor by Gigout and a few others!

Hobbies: Gardening cooking, reading (fiction and historical novels) dog Honey and cat Sox.

Happily married to Allen (medical specialist) with 3 children, and 4 grand-children.

Particular Ambition: To see the complete restoration of the cathedral organ (Hill Norman and Beard), a significant organ in Australia.