John Stiller
After years of study and performing overseas John Stiller was employed by the newly formed Organ Historical Trust of Australia as Research Officer and in 1986 he was appointed as director of music at St Petri Lutheran Church Nuriootpa. He has given many recitals and performed for the Barossa Music Festival in 1990 and 1994.
John Stiller was born in the small mid-north South Australian town of Blyth in 1945, the son of a Lutheran Pastor. He began his musical life studying the piano as a child and was quickly 'taken' by the organ after an instrument was installed at his fathers church at Loxton.
After the family transferred to Murray Bridge he studied the organ under the late James Govenlock (the then director of music at St Francis Xavier Cathedral in Adelaide). On completion of a Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Adelaide he became a secondary school teacher serving briefly at Moonta High School.
He returned to study and completed an Honours Degree in Music, majoring in organ performance. In 1975 he travelled to Hannover in Germany, spending two years studying organ and church music with organist Ulrich Bremsteller.
Upon his return to Australia he was employed by the newly formed Organ Historical Trust of Australia as Research Officer. From 1978 to 1985 John travelled throughout Australia and New Zealand documenting over 300 historic organs. In 1986 he was appointed as director of music at St Petri Lutheran Church Nuriootpa. He has given many recitals and performed for the Barossa Music Festival in 1990 and 1994.
John Stiller is featured on the following titles
Historic Organs of the Barossa Valley, Volume 2
Volume 2 in this series of stunning performances by Christopher Dearnley and John Stiller on seven more of the historic church organs of the Barossa Valley.
Performer: Organ
Composer
Historic Organs of the Barossa Valley, Volume 1
Stunning performances by Christopher Dearnley and John Stiller on six of the historic church organs of the Barossa Valley. Includes a 16 page booklet giving a history of the organs in the Barossa area, their builders and the music.
