Cliff Bingham

Cliff Bingham began classical organ studies in 1962 with Roland Stenton and Frank Taylor at St Matthews Anglican Church, Manly. In 1964, in his final school year, he was the organ soloist at the Festival of School Instrumental Music in the Sydney Town Hall, the first of many occasions on which he would be featured at that magnificent organ. Cliff joined the NSW Division of the Theatre Organ Society of Australia in 1962 and was soon featured at society meetings at the Sydney State and Capital Theatre Wurlitzer organs. Since then he has played numerous concerts in all Australian states and New Zealand on both pipe and electronic organs. He has been a featured artist at many Theatre Organ Society Conventions and was privileged to present a concert on the magnificent new Walker organ in the Adelaide Town Hall as part of the 1993 Convention. In December 1981, Cliff was appointed organise for the annual ‘Christmas at the Opera House’ presentation and held this position until the final production in 1997. He has presented numerous concerts at the Opera House Grand Organ as part of the ‘Bennelong’ and ‘Family Proms’ concert series and for the 100th presentation of the television show ‘Good News Week’. He was also one of the first organists to record this organ (with orchestra) on the critically-acclaimed album of music from the film ‘Breaker Morant’. In September 2004, he was one of seven organists featured at the Silver Anniversary Concert celebrating 25 years of the Opera House Grand Organ. Following the restoration of the magnificent ‘Christie’ theatre organ at Epping Baptist Church, Cliff was the featured organist at the opening concert in 1985 and has played many concerts on it since then. Cliff is equally at home playing both classical and theatre organs. A feature of his programs is the inclusion of several items of a popular- classical nature including some orchestral transcriptions. In 2003, Cliff joined the Sydney organ firm of Peter Jewkes as the world’s “oldest organ-builder’s apprentice” and has been actively involved in the rebuilding and restoration of several significant organs. Cliff was Organist and Director of Music at St Alban’s Anglican Church, Lindfield, Sydney. Cliff has brought his outstanding theatre organ skills to the Festival since 2009.