Val Estrella was born in Sydney in 2004 and commenced lessons in piano at an age of 5. Upon starting high school at St Mary’s Cathedral College, he was introduced to the organ and commenced lessons with Cathedral Organist Emeritus Peter Kneeshaw. Val moved to Adelaide in 2018 and studied under Mark Joyner while a student at Marryatville High School. During this time, he was also appointed organ scholar at Payneham Road Uniting Church – a position he held until 2022. Now aged 20, Val continues his studies in organ, and, since early 2023, has been organ scholar at Pilgrim Church, under Director of Music Peter Kelsall. In late 2024, Val undertook a tour of various historical organs throughout Europe (including the Cavaillé-Coll of Saint Sulpice in Paris, and the Silbermann of Freiberger Dom), and was accompanied by Sydney organist David Drury, and Adelaide organists Peter Kelsall, Christopher Bridge and Gregory Crawford. Val is currently a third-year physics student at The University of Adelaide, is working towards his LMusA in Classical Organ, and has a particular interest in 20^th-century repertoire, as well as the French school of organ improvisation.

Programme

Prelude and Fugue in A major (BWV 536)

J.S. BACH (1685-1750)                          

Les Enfants de Dieu (extract – La Nativite du Seigneur, 1937)

O. MESSIAEN (1908-1992)                  

Cathédrales (Pièces de Fantaisie, Suite No. 4, Op. 55)

L. VIERNE (1862-1937)

Chorale Prelude ‘O mensch bewein dein Sünde groß’ (Orgelbuchlein) BWV 622

J.S. BACH (1685-1750)                                            

Prelude et Fugue en si majeur (Op. 7 No. 1)

M. DUPRÉ (1887-1971)