Australia’s most celebrated concert organist, Thomas Heywood, is pulling out all the stops — literally — for a huge celebration of the country’s rich pipe organ history.
This June, Heywood will perform a free concert at Melbourne Town Hall, marking 200 years since the first public organ performance in Australia.
If the words “pipe organ” make you think dusty hymns and creaky old churches, think again. This is a full-blown concert on the largest and most expensive musical instrument in the southern hemisphere — the massive Melbourne Town Hall Grand Organ. And in the hands of Heywood, it’s set to be anything but boring.
Concert Organ Spectacular
- When: Sunday 29 June at 2pm
- Where: Melbourne Town Hall
- Who: Thomas Heywood
- Tickets: Free admission, but bookings essential
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Back in 1825, Australia’s very first pipe organ made its debut in Hobart. Fast forward two centuries, and there are now over 2000 pipe organs scattered across the country — in everything from churches to schools, town halls to theatres. They’re cultural treasures, collectively worth over a billion dollars, and many are truly irreplaceable.
Heywood, known globally as a trailblazer in the organ world, has a repertoire of more than 5000 works and a reputation as one of the most technically brilliant players of our time. He’s performed around the world, but still has a special connection to Melbourne’s iconic instrument.
“I’ve enjoyed a life-long love affair with the Melbourne Town Hall Grand Organ since I first performed on it when I was 16 years old,” says Heywood.
For this one-off show, expect a crowd-pleasing program packed with classical favourites by Strauss, Tchaikovsky, Bizet, Chopin, Rossini and more. It’ll also feature Heywood’s own brand-new transcriptions of epic works from Brahms, Smetana and others — designed to make the Grand Organ truly sing.
Whether you’re a classical music fan or just curious to hear one of the world’s biggest and most complex instruments up close, this is your chance. It’s free to attend, but bookings are essential — and with a gig this big, spots won’t last long.
