Bernard Kirkpatrick B.Mus(Syd), B.Ec(Syd), A.mus.A
Music Director

Bernard Kirkpatrick is a well known Sydney organist and choral director. He received his early music training in Tasmania from the Sisters of Mercy, and subsequently the Marist Fathers.   In 1984 he moved to Sydney and commenced organ studies with Sydney City Organist, Robert Ampt, later studying organ improvisation with M. Naji Hakim (then Organist Titulaire de Basilique Sacre Coeur in Paris.  Whilst studying for the Bachelor of Music degree at The University of Sydney,  he was University Organ Scholar, and Director of Chapel Music at St. John's College. 

Bernard has held the post of Organist and Choirmaster at St. Patrick's Church Hill, and from 1988 - 1999 was the Assistant Organist at St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney, where he also established the St. Mary's Singers, and directed the Cathedral choir on occasion.  Since 1995 he has been Director of Music at St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Paddington in Sydney, where he is responsible for the parish music program consisting of a large SATB Choir, cantors and musicians. 

His interest in liturgical music includes developing ways of incorporating traditional sacred music styles e.g. chant & choral polyphony with the contemporary needs of liturgical practice through a synthesis of form, musical language and instrumentation.  

He has composed numerous liturgical works including 2 festival Mass settings,  Music for Holy Week and the Easter Season,  musical arrangements of the Prayer of St. Francis, and the Prayer of St. Ignatius, hymns and psalms. A number of his liturgical compositions have been accepted for publication by the U.S liturgical music publisher, Cantica NOVA. 

Bernard has also led workshops for the Royal School of Church Music (Australia) and the Australian Catholic University, and is a member of the Music Advisory Committee of the Archdiocese of Sydney.   In 2004 he was appointed a Music Consultant to the National Liturgical Commission of the Australia Catholic Bishops' Conference and is Executive Secretary for a new liturgical music resource being prepared by the ACBC.  In October 2005, Bernard was the Event Music Director for the Eucharistic Procession in Sydney which involved 15,000 - 20,000 participants.

Bernard commenced as Director of Music at the Seminary of the Good Shepherd in 2006.