St Michael’s is a unique church in the heart of the city. Unique for its relevant, contemporary preaching that embraces and inner wellbeing as its core message.
Sunday services include a mix of traditional and modern presentations interspersed with inspirational music performed by world-class musicians.
St Michael’s affirms and encourages the best expression of humanity, not only through the Sunday service but though our wellbeing programs and our commitment to counselling and psychotherapy. We believe faith, spirituality and a meaning to life are vital ingredients for our health and wellbeing and that there is a need to get hold of a more authentic religious understanding.
Sunday services commence at 10am.
Free Entry
Guest Artist: Alexandra Ioan (Soprano)
Music between the readings: Morgen! – Richard Strauss (1864-1949)
Music during the offering: ‘Ave Maria’ – J.S. Bach (1685-1750) & Charles Gounod (1818-1893)
The Postlude: March on a theme by Handel – Alexandre Guilmant (1837-1911)
Artist Bio:
Alexandra Ioan is an opera singer residing in Melbourne, Australia.
Originally from Romania, Alexandra studied piano from an early age alongside choir, music theory and music history. After arriving in New Zealand in 2002, she turned to voice as her instrument. After finishing studies at the University of Auckland (Conjoint degree in Music and Commerce), Alexandra received a Masters of Music from the University of Melbourne, in December 2013. She is currently studying towards a PhD in Music Performance with a focus on Romanian folk inspired art songs. Alexandra has sung as a soloist and chorus member with Victorian Opera, Opera Australia, New Zealand Opera and Gertrude Opera. She has also presented art song recitals for the Lieder Society of Victoria and the University of Melbourne Lunchtime Series. Recently Alexandra won the 2016 Liederfest competition, was chosen as a semi-finalist in the 2016 Mietta Song Competition and won the 2015 Boroondara and Warrnambool Aria Competitions in Victoria. She has also won the New Zealand Becroft, Napier and Christchurch Aria competitions.
Alexandra was a 2009/2010 Dame Malvina Major Emerging Artist with the New Zealand Opera. During her internship she performed the role of Barbarina in the opera The Marriage of Figaro by Mozart. One reviewer describes her performance ”Barbarina was charmingly played by Alexandra Ioan, who has an exceptional voice – a young singer to watch.” In 2015 Alexandra was a Young Artist with Gertrude Opera, where she received the Alice Amy McDonald Scholarship and performed main roles in their inaugural Nagambie Lakes Opera Festival. Other operatic highlights include performing with Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra in the New Zealand Aria finals and sharing the stage with one of the world’s most famous sopranos, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, at the Nelson Sealord Opera in the Park.