Composer

Biography

Maurice Faulknor was born in Wellington in1930 within the sound of the bells of St. Peter’s Anglican Church in Willis St. Educated at St. Marks Church School and Wellington College. He developed a love of music as a boy through piano lessons and singing as a choirboy at St. Peter’s Anglican Church in Willis St. A change of tack occurred as a teenager when an active interest in the highland bagpipe took place. Many years later, organ lessons with Maxwell Fernie started and also a return to the piano with study under Sister Henry of Sacred Heart College, Lower Hutt. He became the accompanist for the Wainuiomata Choir under John Knox and also played in musical productions mounted by Wainuiomata’s Little Theatre. Choir singing resumed with the St. James’ Church choir under Ivan Hills and Janet Gibbs and on retiring to the Kapiti Coast singing in the Kapiti Chorale under Peter Godfrey and also Peter’s St. Michael’s Church choir in Waikanae. Under these influences musical composition began, mainly in choral works. Compositions for the organ have received prizes in the N.Z. Organists’ Association competitions over the years.