Maurice Faulknor

Maurice Faulknor was born in Wellington in 1930 within the sound of the bells of St. Peter's Anglican Church on 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 on Willis St.

A change of track occurred as a teenager when an active interest in the highland bagpipe took hold. 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. Faulknor appears on a recording of Highland Pipe Band music released in the 1977, though playing organ rather than bagpipes.

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 choral works. Compositions for the organ have received prizes in the N.Z. Organists' Association competitions over the years.

Maurice Faulknor passed away in 2019.