June Nixon to retire from St. Paul’s Cathedral, Melbourne

June Nixon has announced that she will be retiring from the position of organist and director of music at St. Paul’s Cathedral, Melbourne, in February 2013. Dr. Nixon was appointed on Boxing Day 1972, and after 40 years, she says it seems an appropriate time in both her own life and that of the cathedral.

Under her direction the Cathedral Choir of Men and Boys has sung a minimum of six services a week, including services on Sunday and the office of Evensong during the week. This has totaled more than 11,000 services over the 40 years, has extended over one-third of the life of the cathedral, one-third of the life of the Cathedral Choir, and considerably more than half of her own life.

She intends to spend more time in composing, in addition to examining, teaching and adjudicating.