Dear members and friends of the New Zealand Organ Association,
Along with everyone else, the Covid-19 pandemic has affected the activities of our Association, both nationally and regionally, but fortunately due to today’s communication technology the ‘behind the scenes’ work is able to continue.
Sadly, the Organ Music Festival, which was to have been held in Christchurch at Queen’s Birthday weekend, has had to be cancelled. Since planning for the 2021 Festival in Wellington is well underway, consideration is now being given to the Festival being held in Christchurch in 2022.
NZOA’s AGM, normally held at the Festival, will have to be rescheduled to a time when Covid-19 restrictions have been lifted. However, nomination papers for those Officers of the NZOA due for election are available for download from this website. Updates on the AGM will be posted on this website and advised to members via email.
The Covid-19 Level 4 restrictions have meant that we are unable at this time to provide members with a hard-copy version of NZ Organ News. An on-line version is available on this website and a printed version of it will be included with the next issue, restrictions permitting.
At this difficult time, our thoughts are with the entire cultural community, including organists, music directors, choirs, and related organisations, whose livelihoods, activities and even survival will be severely threatened during this crisis.
More positively, during this hiatus in the normal hurly-burly of life, let us take this opportunity to reflect on what we really value, plan for the future as best we can and look forward to when we can all get together again.
In the meantime, I hope that you can all stay well and safe.
Warner Haldane, President of the New Zealand Organ Association
