Dr June Nixon
One of Australia’s best known organists.
About
One of Australia’s best known organists, choir trainers and composers, June Nixon initially obtained Diploma of Music (Piano) and Bachelor of Music (Organ) from Melbourne University.
Post graduate Scholarships enabled further study in London where she gained F.R.C.O. and became the first woman to receive the John Brooke prize for the Choir Training Diploma.
In 1968 she was the winner of the Australian National Organ Competition.
She was appointed Organist and Director of Music at St. Paul’s Cathedral, Melbourne in 1973 and only relinquished this after 40 years on 3 February 2013 and has been made Organist Emerita. She is on the teaching staff of Melbourne University Faculty of Music.
She has given numerous recitals at the Cathedral and at the Melbourne Town Hall, and given other recitals in London, the most recent at Westminster Abbey.
Her influence outside the Anglican Church was recognized in 1995 by the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne awarding her the Percy Jones Award for “outstanding dedication and service given to music for worship”.
Canterbury Doctorate
In a colourful ceremony at Lambeth Palace on the 30th. June 1999, June Nixon was awarded the full Degree of Doctor of Music D.Mus.(Cantuar) by the Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey.
This was in recognition of her contribution to church music in Australia as Cathedral Organist, Director of Music, teacher, composer and organ recitalist for over 25 years.
The Archbishop’s right to grant degrees is derived from an Act of Parliament of 1533 which empowered the Archbishop to grant dispensations previously granted by the Pope.
June is only the second Australian and the first woman in the world to be granted this Doctorate.
June with Harry Bramma, sometime Director of The Royal School of Church Music
With Bishop James Grant , sometime Dean of St. Paul’s Cathedral Melbourne
With composer Ronald Watson