Organist Myra Caldwell – 80 years making music.

Myra Caldwell, the most senior of the group, has been playing the organ in the Te Aroha area and throughout New Zealand for more than 80 years. At the age of 96, Myra still plays regularly at St David’s services.

As a child growing up in Te Aroha, Myra attended Eastport Road Methodist Church every Sunday. At an early age, she was biking three miles (4.8 kilometres) from her family home to the church hall in time for Sunday School and, subsequently, Bible Class on a Tuesday evening. It was the start of a lifelong affiliation with the Methodist Church and commitment to service.

Along with church, music had always played a big part in her family life. Her father, Thomas Qualtrough, was a bass singer and was in a Church male quartet for some years. Her mother, Evelyn - the daughter of Rev Samuel Henderson - played the organ as her father moved from one Circuit to another. Myra began learning the piano in Te Aroha from Winifred Shannon. She subsequently went to London Street Methodist Church in Hamilton to learn to play the pipe organ under the guidance of Henry Cook. By the age of 15, Myra had conquered the challenges inherent in learning to master a keyboard, a pedal board and a musical manual, and she was playing the organ at Eastport Road Church for Sunday School. Some 60 years later, in 2006, Myra played the organ at the last service held in that church.

Myra has lost count of the number of worship services, funerals, weddings and other events she has provided music for over the past 80 years, but some performances and venues stand out.

“A special memory I have is of playing the organ in the Caldwell Church in Rolleston, Loughborough, England – home of my husband’s relations - and the organ in the Colby Church on the Isle of Man – my father’s birthplace. What a thrill that gave me. That was purely for my pleasure and satisfaction.”

Beyond playing the organ, Myra has sung alto in numerous choirs and groups. She has performed with Malvina Major on four occasions as part of a four-part harmony group called The David Qualtrough Singers, started by her brother David.

Myra continues to play the organ at Te Aroha parish services on a roster that she shares with Tom Luxton and organist/harpist Diane Bellamy. Te Aroha Co-operating Parish Office Secretary/Parish Coordinator Robyn Brown says the parish is blessed to have Myra in their midst, and she is cherished and admired by the congregation and her huge family. “Myra lives by herself in her own home, drives quite long distances and is well loved and supported by her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren as well as her Church family. “