Music Department Staff

Daniel Justin Director of Music

Daniel Justin began working as Director of Music at St Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney, in October 2023.

Daniel has played live on British television, and on BBC Radios 2, 3, and 4. Recitals have taken him to Leeds Town Hall, Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral, The Colston Hall in Bristol, The Queens’ College Cambridge, Norwich Cathedral, and Westminster Cathedral. His playing can be heard on CDs from Wakefield and Leeds Cathedrals, more recently as an accompanist on the Brilliant Classics release of the complete choral works of Maurice Duruflé, a CD of the Choral music of Arvo Pärt, and a CD of Catholic Hymns. His debut solo CD of the Complete Original Organ Works of Sir Edward Elgar was released at the beginning of August 2015. Daniel is also active as a composer, past commissions include a complete Evensong setting for the University of Notre Dame, Indiana USA. His compositions are published by Morningstar Publications, a branch of EC Schirmer.

Simon Niemiński Assistant Director of Music

Simon Niemiński has been the Assistant Director of Music at St Mary‘s Cathedral, Sydney, since 2018.

In concert and over the airwaves, Simon Niemiński’s work has taken him from BBC Radio’s The Organist Entertains to Choral Evensong, and Pipedreams in the USA, and beyond. He has performed and recorded some of the most challenging items of organ repertoire, notably Max Reger’s Symphonic Fantasia & Fugue ‘The Inferno’ and Giles Swayne’s monumental Stations of the Cross, of which Gramophone magazine wrote “Swayne’s visionary writing is imbued with a level of powerful dramatic imagery that requires a highly resourceful organ and a particularly inspiring player to bring it off to its full effect. It gets both here … For his part, Simon Niemiński champions this vast score with a compelling intensity that captures the visionary scope of Swayne’s writing magnificently.”

His recordings have helped to revive the music of unjustly neglected composers; for example Eugène Reuchsel’s Promenades en Provence recorded in St Louis, Missouri (“This is a splendid release… There is a lot of poetry here.” – The American Record Guide; “Simon Niemiński’s playing is utterly convincing and at one stroke establishes him as a recording artist of the first rank.” – Organists’ Review.)

Simon’s performances have included recitals at York Minster and Durham Cathedral, Notre Dame in Paris, a Royal Cana­dian College of Organists annual convention, twice at the International Organ Festival in Japan, and Sydney, Adelaide and Brisbane town halls. He has also performed with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, the Northern Sinfonia, the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and accompanied the BBC Singers.

During the pandemic lockdowns, Simon transcribed the whole of Rachmaninoff’s 2^nd Symphony for organ which, so far, he has performed in Sydney, Adelaide, Fremantle and Brisbane..

Born in London, Simon studied at the Royal College of Music, at Cambridge University and as Organ Scholar of York Minster. He is currently Assistant Director of Music at St Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney. Before this he held posts in Scotland, at both of Edinburgh’s St Mary’s Cathedrals: Master of the Music at the Episcopal Cathedral and subsequently Organist at the Metropolitan Cathedral, and Director of Music at The Robin Chapel of The Thistle Foundation in Edinburgh.

Simon’s latest solo album (his thirteenth) has just been released: Hill Uncorked: An Organist’s Journey in the Barossa, recorded on the 1877 Hill & Son grand organ in the Barossa Regional Gallery, Tanunda. 

www.niemin.ski

Patrick Newman Assistant Organist

Patrick began working at St Mary’s Cathedral in May 2025.

A musician from an early age, Patrick began playing piano at the age of four and violin at five, fostering a lifelong passion for music and its integral role in supporting the liturgy in the Catholic Church. At the beginning of 2012, he started learning the organ under the tutelage of Bernard Kirkpatrick at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Parramatta, eventually becoming an Organ Scholar and then Assistant Organist in 2022. Patrickhas also completed an Associate Diploma (AMusA) in Organ and an Associate Diploma (AMusA) in Piano. More recently in 2023, he was awarded a Licentiate Diploma in Organ Performance (LMusA) with Distinction.

In addition to his musical pursuits, Patrick currently works in the finance sector. He holds a Bachelor of Actuarial Studies and a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of New South Wales. Patrick continues to develop his organ-playing and musicianship, aiming to deepen the connection between sacred music and the spiritual life of the Catholic Church in Sydney.

Eleanor has been Music Department Administrator at St Mary’s Cathedral since 2022. To contact Eleanor with enquiries for the music department, please email music@stmary’scathedral.org.au

The Music Administrator plays a key role in supporting the musical life of St Mary’s Cathedral, overseeing the day-to-day administration of the Music Department and facilitating smooth communication between musicians, Cathedral staff, and the wider community.

Working closely with the Director of Music, this role ensures the efficient coordination of services, rehearsals, concerts, and special events. The Music Administrator also manages bookings for professional singers, maintains compliance with child protection policies, assists with budgeting and payroll processes, and produces key publications such as weekly music lists and service booklets.

As the primary point of contact for the Cathedral’s music program, the Music Administrator liaises with chorister families, Cathedral College staff, event organisers, and external stakeholders. The role also supports chorister recruitment, manages communications across digital and print platforms, and helps uphold the Cathedral’s longstanding tradition of musical excellence.

Jane Niemińska Chorister Wellbeing Lead

Jane is responsible for the wellbeing of the Choristers, and is the direct liaison between Chorister families and the Cathedral Music Department.

Jane Nieminska has been the Chorister Chaperone at St Mary’s Cathedral since 2018, overseeing the care and wellbeing of the choristers and scholars across their busy schedule of rehearsals, services, concerts, and tours. She works closely with music staff and parents to ensure the children are supported both practically and emotionally in their musical and personal development, with a strong focus on getting to know each child as an individual and placing their needs at the centre of everything the choir does.

With a degree in music and extensive educational experience ranging from kindergarten to university teaching, Jane served as a school principal in the UK before relocating to Australia in 2018. Drawing on her deep commitment to child wellbeing and education, she has developed transition programs for new choristers, providing tailored support to children and their families as they join the choir. With a strong focus on safeguarding and clear communication, she helps families navigate the demands of chorister life and ensures every child feels safe, secure, and confident. She approaches all choir activities with the choristers’ perspective in mind, working to create a positive, nurturing environment where children can thrive both musically and personally.

Jane is the founder of the Chorister Chaperone Network, which she is actively developing into an international resource for cathedrals, collegiate, and chapel choirs. She is also a member of the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs’ Chamber Singers, continuing her lifelong passion for choral music.

Anna Sandström Chorister Vocal Tutor and Director of the Cathedral Training Choir

Anna teaches singing to our Choristers in their weekly singing lessons, and oversees the development and direction of the Training Choir.

Anna Sandström holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of Newcastle. She performs regularly as a soloist with the Newcastle University choir, Christ Church Cathedral Newcastle and the Gosford Philharmonia in works from Rutter’s Requiem to Mozart’s C minor Mass. Anna has been featured with Australian groups including The Song Company, Australian Chamber Orchestra, Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, Choir of St James King St, St Mary’s Cathedral, Cantillation, Pinchgut Opera, Salut! Baroque and Australian Baroque Brass. Living in London from 2008-2012, Anna was a member of the Choir of Royal Hospital Chelsea and enjoyed a busy freelance solo and choral career including regular BBC broadcasts, solo appearances in festivals including Henley, Poole Lighthouse & Petworth, and concerts in major venues throughout the UK and Europe including Cadogan Hall and Westminster Abbey. As a featured artist with the Armonico Consort she performed lead roles in works including Carissmi’s Jephte, Buxtehude’s Membra Jesu Nostri and Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas alongside Emma Kirkby. Other UK highlights include Messiah, Bach’s Christmas Oratorio & Cantata 51 with Crispian Steele Perkins at Dartington Hall, and a BBC broadcast of Janacek’s Diary of one who disappeared. Since returning to Australia in September 2012, Anna has performed in the Brandenburg production of Monteverdi’s L’Orfeo, and Rameau’s Castor et Pollux with Pinchgut Opera, and was featured soloist for the 2014 Australian Brandenburg Orchestra’s Noel Noel series. In 2013 she sang the role of Galatea in Handel’s Acis and Galatea with the choir of St James King St, and was soprano soloist for the Monteverdi Vespers of 1610 and Saint Saens’ Oratorio de Noel at St Mary’s Cathedral. Anna also regularly tours Melbourne, Sydney and Newcastle performing with Camerata Antica, a group she founded in 2010 with her husband, cornettist, Matthew Manchester.

Richard Butler Chorister Vocal Tutor and Director of the Cathedral Scholars

Richard is a Lay Clerk in the Cathedral Choir, and directs the Cathedral Scholars.

A 2013 Gramophone award-winning artist as principal soloist for the Gabrieli Consort ( A New Venetian Coronation, 1595 ), English tenor Richard Butler lives in Sydney.

Richard made his debut with WASO, MSO and ASO in 2014 singing Handel’s Messiah. Richard was also soloist for the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra’s 25th anniversary series and Monteverdi’s Orfeo, performed in the Canberra International Festival singing various Bach cantatas and Handel’s Israel in Egypt and was evangelist and aria soloist in Bach’s St John Passion at St James’, Sydney with the Australian Haydn Ensemble. At UWA, Richard was the tenor soloist in Britten’s War Requiem. He also sang the role of Pilate in Pärt’s Passio for Carl Crossin and the Adelaide Chamber Singers as well as for Song Company in Sydney and was Evangelist in Bach’s St Matthew Passion at Elder Hall, Adelaide.

Recently Richard sang Messiah for Trinity College, Melbourne at MRC, Handel’s Judas Maccabaeus and Monteverdi Vespers at St George’s Cathedral, Perth, St John Passion for WASO, St Matthew Passion for TSO and Britten St Nicolas for Brett Weymark and Sydney Chamber Choir. Richard also performed with the Gabrieli Consort at the Met in New York.