Guild of Church Musicians honours Michael Deasey

Antonia Deasey watches as Michael receives a Diocesan Commendation from Bishop Ian Palmer.

Precentor, Organist and Director of Music at All Saints’ Cathedral for the last ten years, Michael Deasey, was awarded a Fellowship of the International Guild of Church Musicians at his farewell during the monthly Evensong service in the Cathedral on Sunday afternoon, November 29.

Bishop of Bathurst Ian Palmer invited the Australian Sub-Warden of the Guild and Vice President of the International Council of the Guild, Bishop Richard Hurford OAM, representing the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Council and the Academic Board of the Guild, to officially present the honorary award in recognition of Fr Michael Deasey’s distinguished contribution to church music in Australia and beyond, as a musician, educator and priest.

The Bishop’s Registrar, Karen Trafford, read the citation:

The Reverend Michael Keith Deasey, OAM, has had a lifelong career in church music and music education.

He is a graduate of the Universities of NSW and Melbourne;and of Trinity College London, the Royal Academy of Music, the Royal College of Organists, the Royal College of Music and the Royal School of Church Music.

He has held significant appointments as Director of Music at Selsdon Parish Church, Surrey in the UK;St Peter’s Brockville, Ontario, Canada; and St. Andrew’s Cathedral, Sydney-this latter appointment was held by him for 25 years for which his remarkable ministry was recognised by an award in the Order of Australia.

Following completion of his Bachelor of Divinity Degree and in response to the call of Our Lord and His Church, he was ordained and appointed Precentor and Director of Music at All Saints Cathedral Bathurst where he has served for the past ten years.

He has for decades conducted choral workshops, festival services, and master classes and gained an admirable reputation as an organist, and as a choral and orchestral conductor.

Down the years he has taken choirs on tours around Australia, and to 20 Cathedrals in England, to the USA, to New Zealand and to Iceland.

His Christian faith has informed and nourished his life and ministry first as a lay person and then as a priest, and through this he has touched the lives of many people.He has motivated, taught and inspired a multitude of singers and players across church and community life.

As a vital member of the Guild of Church Musicians in Australia, he has served on the National Council as a Regional representative, and played a major role in the Guild’s annual Festivals in Sydney.

Accordingly, in recognition of his outstanding life of service to the ministry of music in the Church, the Guild Council in London has resolved to award The Reverend Michael Deasey its highest academic distinction – the Fellowship of the GuildHONORIS CAUSA.

With the Mandate of the Patron, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Australian Sub-Warden of the Guild of Church Musicians, and the Vice-President of the International Guild, Bishop Richard Hurford then conferred the award.

Bishop Ian Palmer also honoured the outgoing Precentor with the award of a Diocesan Commendation.

“This is very, very seldom given, and I’d like to award it to you because you’ve not only been the musician at this Cathedral, but also you have served the whole Diocese of Bathurst,” Bishop Ian said.

“You have given to our Diocese a ministry of word, sacrament and music that has enriched and inspired our community … and you have left with us an example of what it means to follow our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in love, joy, faith and humility.”

The congregation endorsed the award by giving the recipient a standing ovation.

Michael Deasey will be on long service leave until the end of January.

He will go into semi-retirement, livingin the Blue Mountains, but has accepted a part-time ministry as an assistant in the Sydney parish of Burwood.