I am first and foremost a liturgical musician. I strive to serve the liturgy and bring the People of God closer to him through my ministry. I believe music should be a handmaiden of the Liturgy. Music should fit the Liturgy like a glove - seamlessly and unobtrusively adorning it in an earthly beauty that provides the assembly with a compelling aural analogy of the Beatific Vision - of heaven come down to earth. In my nine years of full time music ministry in the United States I have discovered an effective balance point of the participatio actuosa in music, where the assembly is engaged in full active and vigorous participation, but the choir and organ also have a unique part to play in articulating beauty and creating the experience of heaven coming down to earth. This I believe provides the actual conciliar intent.

As the Bishop's representative and as parish Liturgist the Pastor and his vision for how and what music fits the Liturgy is the guiding inspiration for music implementation in any parish. There are many stakeholders involved - The Universal Church, The Music Ministers, the assembly at large, all with potentially differing viewpoints, aspirations and expectations. How these viewpoints and differing aspirations can be welded together to support the Pastor's vision is one of the essential tasks of any successful Liturgical Music Director.

I cherish working with volunteers - the backbone of a vibrant parish life and ministry. I understand the appropriate level of challenge and development that you can place on volunteers is not the same as either a professional or student choir - but it is challenge and development none the less!

I have been in the United States 20 years. As a school music teacher on a series of visas, I was unaware that I was legally able to engage professionally in liturgical ministry in this country until nine years ago. Before I left Australia, I had been continually involved in Church Ministry since I was 9 years old.