St Michael's Uniting Church

Art Competition - Winner Announced
2015-09-27 12:00 - 13:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | St Michael’s Hall, 120 Collins St, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
The winner of the first St Michael’s Day Art Competition will be announced in the gallery after the Sunday Service.
The winner will recive $1000 and a 2016 solo exhibition in the St Michael’s Gallery.

Gilbert and Sullivan Performance
2015-10-04 13:00 - 14:00 | St Michael’s Uniting Church, 120 Collins Street, Melbourne, Australia
Whether you are a Gilbert & Sullivan devotee, a casual fan, or you are not even sure you know who they are; this uplifting concert of musical theatre will have you humming along in your seat.
Join us for an afternoon of wit, parody and song with a selection of your favourite songs performed by the infamous Savoy Opera Company Inc.
Featuring songs from The Mikado, Pirates of Penzance, The Yeomen on the Guard, Gondoliers and many more…

Tickets: $10pp

St Michael's Week Art Competition - Exhibition Opening
2016-09-18 11:00 - 12:00 | St Michael’s Gallery, Level 1, St Michael's Administration Building, Melbourne, 3000
Moments in the St Michael’s Gallery
Join us for the opening celebrations of the St Michael’s Week Art Competition.
Artists from around Australia were invited to enter this competition with artworks that respond to the theme of this year’s St Michael’s Week, Compassion.
The winner will receive $1000 and a 2017 solo exhibition at the St Michael’s Gallery, 120 Collins Street, Melbourne.
We are delighted to have the following artist exhibit:

Leila Ashtiani
Barbara Bateman
Julieanne Beckham
Gillian Carpenter
Pauline Dewar
Michelle Endersby
Wendy Hickin
Catherine Leung
Janice McCarthy
Ellen Michel
Claire Miller
Ingrid Wilson and
Ann Wilson

Opening Celebration: Sun 18 Sep after the Sunday Service.

St Michael’s Week Recital: Two
2016-09-20 13:00 - 14:00 | St Michael’s Uniting Church, 120 Collins Street, Melbourne, Australia
Peter Sheridan And Rhys Boak
Peter Sheridan is a truly amazing musician. Not only is he a supreme virtuoso on the modern concert flute, he is a specialist in the world of low flutes — the largest of which is an incredible 64 feet long.
He is accompanied by the St Michael’s Manager of Music, Rhys Boak on the St Michael’s pipe organ.

St Michael’s Week Recital: Three
2016-09-21 13:00 - 14:00 | St Michael’s Uniting Church, 120 Collins Street, Melbourne, Australia
Brass and Organ Spectacular

Experinace the beauty of St Michael’s in this unique and intimate concert experience featuring the St Michael’s Brass Ensemble.
Full program will be posted closer to the event.

St Michael’s Week Recital: Four
2016-09-22 13:00 - 14:00 | St Michael’s Uniting Church, 120 Collins Street, Melbourne, Australia
150th Birthday of the St Michael’s Organ
For a century and a half, the St Michael’s 1866 Hill & Son pipe organ has been the centrepiece of the music program at St Michael’s.
Having been heard in thousands of recitals, weddings and services, this instrument is not only significant to St Michael’s, but also to the City of Melbourne.
St Michael’s organist, Rhys Boak knows this instrument like nobody else, and will present a stunning program of organ masterworks and transcriptions.

This is a free event no bookings required

St Michael’s Week Recital: Five
2016-09-23 13:00 - 14:00 | St Michael’s Uniting Church, 120 Collins Street, Melbourne, Australia
Daniel Carison and Geoffrey Urquhart
Daniel Carison is a 22 year-old bass-baritone born and raised in Melbourne.
He is the 2015 recipient of the Opera Society Vocal Scholarship and the Beleura-Tallis Opera Scholarship, through ame Nellie Melba Opera Trust.
He will present a program of art song accompanied by pianist Geoffrey Urquhart.

This is a free event

St Michael's Day Service
2016-09-25 10:00 - 11:30 | St Michael’s Uniting Church, 120 Collins Street, Melbourne, Australia
This year we are celebrating Compassion during St Michael’s Week. One of greatest enhancers of inner wellbeing comes from the development of compassion. The etymology of Compassion is Latin, meaning co-suffering. More involved than empathy, compassion commonly gives rise to an active desire to alleviate another’s suffering.
Compassion motivates people to go out of their way to help soften physical, spiritual, or emotional hurts and pains of another. The old expression The Golden Rule embodies the principle of Compassion: Do to others what you would have them do to you. During St Michael’s Week we ask everyone to consider two or three ways they can bring compassion to the world.

MUSIC
The St Michael’s Brass Ensemble led by Bruno Siketa
The St Michael’s Singers
The Academy of St Michael
The Choir of The Scots’ Church Melbourne directed by Doulgas Lawrence OAM
Joe Chindamo – Piano (and arranger)
David Paterson – Piano
Guest Conductor – Evgeny Chebykin
Musical Director, Arranger and Organist – Rhys Boak
Processional Music: Zadok the Priest HWV 258 – G.F. Handel (1685-1709)
Music between the readings: Etude Op.10 No. 3 – Frédéric François Chopin (1810-1849)
Music during the offering: Lara’s Theme – Maurice Jarre (1924-2009) arr. J. Chindamo
The Postlude: March Pontificale – C. M. Widor (1844-1937) Arr. Rhys Boak

Patsy Worledge Fabric Art Exhibition Opening
2017-09-17 11:30 - 13:00
Patsy Worledge chooses to live in the light surrounded by bright colours; her exuberance and enthusiasm knows no bounds. She thinks and creates with colour; celebrating life in her art and leaving interpretation to others.
Patsy finds pure joy in breathing new life into discarded fabrics. Honouring the fabric designer’s original motif and skill Patsy incorporates a stunning variety of different fabrics into her colourful tapestries; finding a place for even the tiniest fragment of cloth to be included into her textile storyboards.
Hours of scouring the op-shops of Melbourne and gratefully accepting all contributions of fabrics from friends and family Patsy has created her crafty tapestries. Members of the St Michael’s community may be able to look closely at Patsy beautiful work and see fragments of the fabric they donated to her creative cause.
We all wonder, don’t we, why we couldn’t quite put those odd bits into the rubbish. No doubt it wasn’t the end of its tactile journey. The spirit of so many has contributed to this exhibition of story.

St Michael's Art Competition - Opening
2017-09-17 11:30 - 13:00
Celebrate the opening of the 2017 St Michael’s Art Competition exhibition as artists from around Australia showcase artwork that respond to the theme of this year’s St Michael’s Week, Nurture.
The theme of this years art compeition connects with the good work of the Mirabel Foundation who nurture and support children who have been orphaned or abandoned due to parental drug use.
Artist will include: Alfie J Franklin, Wendy Hickin, Alister Karl, Leo Kengst, Rosa Leonardi, Stephen Ngaa, Jackson Raine, Ólafur Thnarsson and Paul Voth

Bruce Pascoe - Dark Emu
2017-09-17 12:00 - 13:30 | Waratah Room, 120 Collins St, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
We are delighted that Bruce Pasco will be visiting St Michael’s to talk about his award-winning book Dark Emu. Bruce will be giving a 1-hour presentation with Q&A in the Waratah Room at 12pm.
Bruce Pascoe puts forward a compelling argument for a reconsideration of the hunter-gatherer label for pre-colonial Aboriginal Australians. The evidence insists that Aboriginal people right across the continent were using domesticated plants, sowing, harvesting, irrigating and storing-behaviours inconsistent with the hunter-gather tag. Dark Emu was short listed for 2014 Victorian Premier’s Indigenous Writer’s Award and the 2014 Queensland and Western Australia Literary awards.
‘If we look at the evidence presented to us by the explorers and explain to our children that Aboriginal people did build houses, did build dams, did sow, irrigate and till the land, did alter the course of rivers, did sew their clothes, and did construct a system of pan-continental government that generated peace and prosperity, then it is likely we will admire and love our land all the more.’ – Bruce Pascoe

Breadtime Stories
2017-09-20 12:00 - 13:30 | St Michael’s Uniting Church, 120 Collins Street, Melbourne, Australia
with Award winning writer and actor Jim Howes
Stories form a major part of who we are, whether it be stories of strangers, famous people or those from our own lives. They could be called the ‘growing panes’ of our lives – windows into the laughs and pangs of growing up. The stories told today will draw from Jim Howes’ own rich experiences along with a sprinkle of the imagined.

Storytellers are always holding on to or inventing stories that have some sort of ‘hook’ into the artist’s life or world view. Jim Howes had his first story published back in Ireland when he was a ten years old. Since then, he has published around 200 books for children and adults, performed live and in a number of films and TV series. Story is central to everything he does – he’s been telling or writing them for decades and written speeches for two premieres and government ministers. He will be telling several stories across the emotional spectrum at this event, even if there’s only an audience of one.
This is a FREE EVENT
No bookings required
All are welcome to attend

Healthy Ageing Seminar - September
2017-09-22 11:00 - 13:00 | St Michael’s Hall, 120 Collins St, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
“It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves.” – Edmund Hillary
Join Clinical Psychologist Julijana Chochovski as she explores the keys to motivation. Learn about setting goals and finding rewards in what you do and what you don’t want to do.
Time and Date: 11am, Friday 22 September
Location: St Michael’s Place, Hall, Ground Floor (behind the church)
Tickets: $20pp (includes tea, coffee and sandwiches)
Limited Seating Booking Recommended: Click the link below or call 9654 5120 to reserve your seats

Each month we choose a theme and present an exploration of helpful Psychological tips on that theme. Presented by Clinical Psychologist Julijana Chochovski, of The Cairnmillar Institute, these seminars provide much-needed tools for coping with problems commonly associated with ageing.
The supportive and friendly atmosphere allows participants the opportunity to discuss a variety of concerns that may arise in later years. Hosted by St Michael’s Uniting Church in the heart of the CBD, these secular seminars will help inspire you and your loved ones to enjoy an independent and high quality of life.

“These seminars attract so many older people, and I’m not surprised considering the important topics they discuss, all of which help older people to age well.” – Noeline Brown (Australia’s first Ambassador for Ageing)

St Michael's Day Breakfast
2017-09-24 07:30 - 09:30
Launching the St Michael’s Day festivities, this breakfast is one of the great events in the St Michael’s calendar.
A great “TOGETHER” event with the people of St Michael’s sharing a delicious breakfast, catered by Ann Wilson.
Jane Rowe, founder of the Mirabel Foundation, will be our special guest speaker, discussing how she identified a vulnerable group of children and took action to make a positive difference in their lives.
Seating is limited – tickets are available from the Hall Foyer after service.
St Michael’s Hall
SUN 24 SEP 7.30AM
TICKETS $30
BOOKINGS Hall Foyer after service

Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony
2017-09-24 09:00 - 10:00
Wurundjeri Elder Aunty Di Kerr will deliver a welcome to country and smoking ceremony in the St Michael’s Gardens as we acknowledging the Traditional Owners of the land on which we gather to celebrate St Michael’s Day.
Join us as we pay our respects to their Elders, past and present, and the Elders from other communities who may attend this special service.
All are welcome

A Celebration Lunchtime Concert with Greta Bradman
2019-09-19 13:00 - 14:00 | St Michael’s Uniting Church, 120 Collins Street, Melbourne, Australia
GRETA BRADMAN (Soprano)
RHYS BOAK (Piano & Organ)
Music for soprano from grand opera to sublime lieder.
Leading soprano and ABC presenter Greta Bradman sings some of her favourite works accompanied at the organ & piano by Rhys Boak.
The Program:
1. Ave Maria – Charles Gounod (1818-1893) after J.S. Bach (1685-1750)
2. Songs my mother taught me – Antonín Dvořák (1941-1904)
3. Simple Gifts – Aaron Copland (1900-1990)
4. The nightingale and the rose – Nikolai Rimshy-Korsakov (1844-1908)
5. Repentir – Charles Gounod (1818-1893)
6. Casta diva from Norma – Vincenzo Bellini (1801-1835)
7. O Waly Waly arranged by Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)
8. The Last Rose of Summer – Friedrich von Flotow (1812-1883)
9. Lo! Hear the gentle lark – Henry Bishop (1786-1855)
10. When I have sung my songs – Ernest Charles (1895-1984)
Free Entry | General Admission
Donations are Welcome and will support the Mingary Counselling Service.
About Greta Bradman
Stunning soprano Greta Bradman is one of Australasia’s most celebrated operatic and concert artists. Her 2015 début album for Decca Classics My Hero (c. Richard Bonynge; English Chamber Orchestra) received five-star reviews and topped the classical and classical crossover ARIA charts for several months. Her recent album Home (c. Luke Dollman; Adelaide Symphony Orchestra) was released in 2018 with similar ARIA charts success.
Recent performance highlights include Mimi (La bohème) for Opera Australia, Lisa (La sonnambula) for Victorian Opera and the title roles in Theodora (Canberra) and Rodelinda (Melbourne).
Greta has sung extensively in the United Kingdom, United States, Europe and throughout the Asia Pacific. A regular soloist with all the state symphony orchestras, her collaborators have included Zubin Mehta, Richard Bonynge, Matthias Foremny, Richard Tognetti, Teddy Tahu Rhodes, Benjamin Northey, Rosario La Spina, Aled Jones, Russell Watson and Il Divo.
She has performed for world leaders from the UK, USA, China, India, Monaco and Australia; highlights include singing for Barack Obama, and a 2014 recital in St James’s Palace for the British Royal Family. Winner of the 2013–14 Australian International Opera Award and the APRA/AMCOS Award in 2013, Greta is a Helpmann Award nominee and was Limelight Magazine’s 2010 Newcomer of the Year and their 2015 Australian Artist of the Year.
Greta is an outstanding supporter of Australian composers, and has had works written for her by Peter Sculthorpe, Betty Beath, Ross Edwards, Katy Abbott, Paul Stanhope, Quentin Grant, Calvin Bowman, Tom Henry, Carl Crossin and many others. Greta is also a regular presenter on ABC Classic-FM.
After obtaining her music degree from the Elder Conservatorium of Music, Greta received her Fellowship from the Australian National Academy of Music before completing a Graduate Diploma in Advanced Vocal Studies at the Wales International Academy of Voice – where she studied under Dennis O’Neill CBE and Dame Kiri Te Kanawa.

A Celebration Evening of Jazz with the Joe Chindamo Trio
2019-09-20 19:00 - 20:00 | St Michael’s Uniting Church, 120 Collins Street, Melbourne, Australia
Joe Chindamo (Piano)
Nick Haywood (Bass)
Danny Fischer (Drums)
The Joe Chindamo Jazz Trio explores classic jazz canons from the “Great American Songbook”

Free Entry | General Admission
Donations are Welcome and will support the Mingary Counselling Service.

Joe Chindamo is musical polyglot in the tradition of Bernstein and Previn. He is routinely described as one of the best jazz pianists in the world, though his art transcends jazz, having composed concertos, chamber music and film music. He possesses an uncanny ability to personalise anything which enters his orbit, as is evident in his work with violinist and duo partner Zoe Black.

With twenty three CDs in his wake, many of them topping charts in Japan, countless world tours and a plethora of awards, he can comfortably take his place amongst the best jazz pianists in the world. Joe’s abilities and musical activities transcend jazz, as is demonstrated by his work with violin virtuoso Zoë Black, with whom he has formed a innovative duo and recorded two CDs entitled REIMAGININGS. and DIDO’S LAMENT.
A man with an international reputation, Joe has performed concerts all over the world. Of particular note, the Umbria Jazz Festival, The Tokyo Dome and The Lincoln Centre in New York. He also toured with famed US drummer Billy Cobham for over years.
His formidable pianism has earned him admiration from amongst the classical elite. In 2008 Joe was invited to perform three concerts in italy by the celebrated classical pianist Michele Campanella. (Joe was invited back to perform in Naples by Campanella in 2011). The celebrated piano maker Paolo Fazioli heard Joe at the Umbria Jazz Festival and invited him to play at his auditorium in Venice as a result of an enthusiastic recommendation by the formidable Nikolai Demidenko. In Australia, Joe is routinely invited to perform at all the principal festivals and a host of other venues ranging from house concerts to jazz clubs to the Sydney Opera House ( where, along with James Morrison, was a featured soloist with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra )
Amongst a plethora of awards, Joe has twice won the MO award for Jazz Instrumental performer of the year, two BELL AWARDS for best album and the APRA award for best jazz composition of the year in 2009 for ‘Something Will Come to Light.”
More recently, Joe’s unique gifts as a composer of chamber music have come to the fore. Joe has been commissioned to compose and arrange for chamber ensembles such as ACACIA Quartet, the Freshwater and Seraphim Trios, Sarah Curro, the Flinders Quartet, David Berlin and Wilma Smith. Two of his works for string orchestra were recently performed by Australian Chamber Orchestra 2.

St Michael's Day
2019-09-22 09:30 - 12:00 | St Michael’s Uniting Church, 120 Collins Street, Melbourne, Australia
ST MICHAEL’S DAY
9:30am |
Smoking/Cleansing Ceremony
10:00am |
St Michael’s Day Service:
Forgiveness, Mental Health and Wellbeing with Rev Peter Burnham
With music from:

The Academy of St Michael’s
The St Michael’s Brass Ensemble
The St Michael’s Singers
Joe Chindamo (composer and conductor)
Rhys Boak (Organ)

After Service |
Mingary Pilgrimage (to the sounds of the Celtic Harp)
Wine and Cheese served in St Michael’s Hall

Sunday Gatherings Online
2021-03-28 | Online
“Palm Sunday”
with Rev Dr Margaret Mayman
Music in Church: Jordan Auld (Soprano) & Rhys Boak (Organ)

Music Online: Jordan Auld (Soprano) & Rhys Boak (Organ & Piano)

Book your seat in church (service starts 10am)
Click here to view online (from 10am)
Click here to download order of service

Online Gathering - St Michael's Day
2021-09-26 10:00 - 17:00 | St Michael’s Website
While the church building is closed, our hearts remain open.
And so does our online presence.

Celebrating St Michael’s Day
26 September, from 10am
“Lament, healing and hope”
with Rev Dr Margaret Mayman
Music online: The Susie Ng Trio, The Academy of St Michael, Zoe Black (Violin), Joe Chindamo (Piano) & Rhys Boak (Organ)
View Online Gatheirng here and Read/Download the Order of Service here
Naming the hard stuff, giving thanks for the healing found in kindness and connection, and living into our hope for St Michael’s future and for the well-being of our communities and our world.
Join us online as we hear voices from our community and beautiful music to accompany us as we journey together (even while we are apart).
Sharing the Voices of our Community on St Michael’s Day
Read/Download “Lament, Healing and Hope” St Michael’s Day Booklet here
