The Tarsus Chamber Collective

The Tarsus Chamber Collective, Ensemble-in-Residence, is a collection of Australia’s finest next-generation chamber instrumentalists. The ensemble is committed to the growth of musical culture within Australia, and for St Paul’s College to be a centre of musical excellence within Sydney.

Through the residency the ensemble trains and educates musical students at the College as well as expose and inspire students who may have little musical background or education. The ensemble will present varied and exciting programmes that seek to engage with audiences from all musical backgrounds.

The collective consists of nine core members (string quartet, clarinet, oboe, flute, trumpet and piano) with the Director of Music serving as the Collective’s Artistic Director. The group is committed to staying and investing in the musical culture of Sydney, and are excited to see this blended model of education and public performances develop at St Paul’s College with a core and stable group of musicians.

The ensemble will present three featured concert programmes in 2022, with the goal of further expansion of programming in future years. These concerts will be performed in the McMillan Building Refectory.

Members of the collective will participate in the regular Tuesday service of Evensong in support of the College Organist and Composer-in-Residence Mr David Drury, Organ Scholar Miss Stacey Yang and Chapel Choir directed by Mr Jack Stephens which has grown to 26 choristers and four lay clerks.

The Chapel Choir

Each Tuesday during semester the service of Evensong occurs in the beautiful College Chapel. Supporting these services is the choir, organ and other instruments. today the choir boasts 26 choristers including four lay clerks.

Director: Mr Jack Stephens (see below)

Organist and Composer-in-Residence: Mr David Drury (see below).

Organ Scholar: Miss Stacey Yang

College Organist

Mr David Drury is one of Australia’s pre-eminent musicians. David handed over the role of the College’s Director of Music to Jack at the end of 2021 after serving continuously since 1992. David performs on the Australian and international stage and his career highlights include winning the 1987 Improvisation Competition at the St Alban’s International Organ Festival in the UK, recitals in Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s and Westminster cathedrals in London, King’s College, Cambridge and Notre Dame de Paris and La Madeleine in Paris.

For David’s artist biography CLICK HERE

Director of Music

Mr Jack Stephens was appointed to lead the musical traditions of the College at the end of 2021. Flllowing in Davids footsteps Jack has big plans for music at the College. “It is a honour and privilege to step into this role, and to build on the exceptional legacy that David has created over the past 30 years at the College.”

Jack is completing a Doctorate in Musical Arts at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music (part of the University of Sydney) and has been a resident of St Pau’s College Graduate House since 2020.

For Jack’s artist biography CLICK HERE