Ian Wakeley

Carmelita Wakeley

Campbell Hargraves

Campbell is an Organ Builder from a long line of Organists and Organ Builders stretching back four generations. His work with organs began in 1984, when he commenced his apprenticeship with South Island Organ Company. Over his 14 year career with SIOC, his work took him all over New Zealand, to work on such instruments as the Wellington & Dunedin Town Hall organs, and to Australia, to work on the organs of St Mary’s Star of the Sea, West Melbourne and St Patrick’s Basilica, Freemantle. Since 1978, Campbell has also performed on and off stage with the Timaru Munipical Brass Band, Maroondah Brass, the South Canterbury Drama League, and Williamstown Light Opera Company. Campbell joined the staff at Wakeley Pipe Organs in 2000 to continue his work in Australia, and has been instrumental in all of WPO’s work, including much of the historic restoration, tuning and tonal finishing, and construction of the Morgan Fisher Organ. He now holds over 25 years experience in the field.

Keith Denmeade

Keith is an Electrical Engineer and Choral Musician, who has been with Wakeley Pipe Organs since their inception in 1999.  He has an extensive background in Electronics and Information Systems, holding a Diploma of Electrical Engineering from Swinburne University, where he was also on the staff (1980-1996) as their Computer Systems Officer.  Previous to this he was a Technical Officer at the Commonwealth Serum Laboratory (1974-1980). Keith has an extensive background in choral music, stretching back to 1960, where he has been a chorister at Holy Trinity Surrey Hills (1960-1966), Choir Director at St Francis’ Mooroolbark (1980-2003), and is currently back at Holy Trinity Surrey Hills, singing tenor under the directorship of Hugh Fullarton. He has also studied the violin under Darren Hain and Joanne Wallwork, and is the Uncle of Dota Williams, master violin maker. Keith also transposes and produces orchestral scores for the Dandenong Ranges Orchestra. Keith’s musical experience and expertise and skill in electronics and computer systems has led him into a fundamental area of support in Solid State Logic™ and electro pneumatic systems for Wakeley Pipe Organs. Other areas of support that he provides are in action repairs and restoration, tuning assistance, and general construction on site.

Justin McDonnell

Justin is an organist and choral musician who holds a B. Theol from the University of Melbourne, where his area of speciality is Systematic Theology & Classical Languages. His studies have taken him throughout Europe, the Americas and the Middle East, and he brings a deep understanding and appreciation of cultural and artistic history from around the globe to the field of organ building. He is currently undertaking organ studies with Jennifer Chou, and is the organist and senior chorister at St Aloysius’ Caulfield. Justin has worked on organs in New South Wales, Scotland, Tasmania, Western Australia and Victoria, and joined the team at Wakeley Pipe Organs in 2008.  He holds a passion for the techniques and history of organ building and woodwork, and combines this with his musical expertise and educational background, creating a unique and imaginative approach to historic restoration of important instruments.

Ben Briggs

Ben joined the staff at Wakeley Pipe Organs in 2006, and at present has a particular interest in tuning, re-leathering bellows, general restoration and electrical components. In addition to his organ work, he also runs Pitch Perfect - his piano tuning and restoration business, a member of the Victorian Guild of Piano Technicians since 2005. Ben is an accomplished pianist born into a third generation musical family. Master classes with international pianists such as Roger Woodward have refined his expression through music. During his studies towards a B.Mus at Monash Conservatorium in 2000 he studied under Max Cooke and Darryl Coote.

Kate Buttery

Kate is a performing artist who has been involved in Organ Building since 1990.  She has worked with organs in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney, and studied organ performance with Christopher Wrench at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music. Kate is an accomplished and sought after choral singer, having sung in some of Australia's leading choral ensembles, including Vox Nova and Canticum in Brisbane, The Choir of Christ Church St Laurence in Sydney, and the Choir of Trinity College, Christ Church Sth Yarra, and The Palestrina Project in Melbourne.  Kate's performance work is now based in the theatre in Melbourne.  She is a performer and the webmaster at Eagle's Nest Theatre in Brunswick, and performs regularly in independent theatre in Melbourne.  You can find out more information about Kate at her website.

Karina McDonnell