Church Music by Australian State

New South Wales

Church music in New South Wales is very varied, since Sydney is possibly the most multicultural Church population in the world. Yet while the ethnic music and language of each community is treasured and maintained, there is still room for sharing Church music at ecumenical liturgies and social celebrations. In Sydney all faiths make a point of inviting visitors to participate in special events and religious festivals. The various Church denominations have followed this example in their Church music, by forming ecumenical associations, and holding ecumenical Church music events to increase understanding and solidarity between the different Church music traditions An example of this was Thomas Wilson's recent workshop on the Roman Catholic Music of the Offices, attended by representatives of all Church denominations, held at St Mary's Cathedral in Sydney.

Catholic Church music by New South Wales composers  has been published and promoted by Willow Publishing and St Pauls Publications. The NSW branch of the Royal School of Church Music has developed a popular ecumenical training scheme for Church choristers, Voice for Life. The NSW branch of the Australian Pastoral Musicians Network is offering training courses for Catholic Cantors through the Wollongong Catholic Diocese.

Victoria

Melbourne and Ballarat, among other Victorian centres, are well known in Church music circles as communities who value and maintain traditional Church music. The National Catholic Liturgical Commission, chaired by Fr Peter Williams, is based in Melbourne, as are several prominent Catholic composers sponsored by the Catholic Church.

Queensland

The Australian Capital Territory

Tasmania

The Northern Territory

South Australia

Western Australia

The Royal School of Church Music is one of the many active Church music organisations in Western Australia. Gospel and band Church music is popular in Perth, but it has not ousted the large following of traditional Church music, which is centred mainly in Church schools, Cathedrals and Basilicas such as the St Patrick's Catholic Basilica at Fremantle. The RSCM organise Church music camps for young choristers of all denominations, as well as workshops for adults. In January 2011 I, with my sister Anne, who is also an active Church musician, attended the ecumenical RSCM Summer School for Church musicians, held at St George's College / St Thomas More College at the University of Western Australia. An energetic week of workshops and choral practice with organist and music director Joseph Nolan, and festal liturgies at Perth's St Mary's Catholic Cathedral, the Anglican St George's Cathedral, and Wesley Uniting Church, was rounded off with a calming visit to New Norcia's Benedictine Abbey Church, town and Monastery. I'm now looking forward to the upcoming 2013 RSCM Summer School at Christchurch, New Zealand, where we'll be singing in an innovative Cardboard Cathedral specially built to withstand earthquakes!