A series of lunchtime concerts was launched in April 2013 to encourage city workers and others to come into and enjoy the beautiful surroundings of the Cathedral during the day.
These half hour recitals on Wednesdays at 1pm provide fine music and space for contemplation in the midst of a busy week. Admission is by donation.
Upcoming Lunchtime Concerts
Our lunchtime concert series takes place at 1pm Wednesdays (unless indicated otherwise).
1pm Wednesday 4 March: Josh Hooke (piano)
Originally from country Victoria, Josh completed a PhD in Music Performance in 2023 at The University of Melbourne under professors Ian Holtham and Paul Kildea, and is currently the Kenneth Moore Memorial Music Scholar at Janet Clarke Hall, The University of Melbourne. He will perform Mozart’s Fantasie in C minor, K. 475, Chopin’s Nocturne in F minor, Op. 55, No. 1, and a selection of Chopin’s Études, Op. 10.
1pm Wednesday 11 March: En blanc et noir – Katrina Choi (piano)
Making her Melbourne debut, pianist Katrina Choi will showcase the sweet, joyous tones of Debussy, magnetic charm of Liszt, and soulful depth of Rachmaninov. Program highlights include Debussy’s infamous ‘Clair de lune’ and Rachmaninov’s Prelude in C-sharp minor. Since graduating from the Sydney Conservatorium, Kat has performed recitals across Europe and in the USA. Her love of French and Russian music has earned much acclaim to her budding concert career.
1pm Wednesday 18 March: Ethan Zhang (piano)
Ethan Zhang is a Year 5 student at Wesley College. In 2025, he won second prize in both the Oz Schools Instrumental Championships National Final and the Singapore International Music Competition. This performance marks his recital debut, and he will perform J.S. Bach’s Prelude and Fugue in D minor, Chopin’s Polonaise in A-flat major, Waltz in D-flat major, and Nocturne in E-flat major, and Berkovich’s Variations on a Theme by Paganini and Toccata.
1pm Wednesday 25 March: Qualia Ensemble – Lucas Levin (viola) and Yi-Shing Cheng (piano)
Qualia Ensemble return to St Paul’s with a program pairing minimalism and a grand Romantic sonata. Hilary Tann’s love of her native Welsh landscape comes through clearly in On Ear and Ear, composed in memory of composer and music theorist Milton Babbitt, her teacher and mentor at Princeton. Henri Vieuxtemps’ Viola Sonata explodes lush melodies and intense passion, showing his mastery of the instrument.
1pm Friday 27 March: Lowther Hall Anglican Grammar School
Join us for a special lunchtime concert featuring solo performances by the Lowther Hall VCE Music Class of 2026. Enjoy a variety of works for voice, piano, violin, and trumpet, including music by J.S. Bach, Liszt, Vivaldi, and Bruch. Come and support our talented students as they share pieces from their VCE performance program.
Violinist Rollin Zhao and pianist Chai Jie Low (Duo Calore) have performed in the UK, Europe, USA, and throughout Australia. The duo will present a program featuring ‘The Infinite Heartbeat’ by Australian composer Stuart Greenbaum, inspired by the silence of outer space, and Schumann’s turbulent first violin sonata.
The 2026 Lunchtime Concert Series is fully booked. The 2027 series will be organised in October 2026.
Previous ‘Virtual’ Lunchtime Concerts
During the COVID-19 Lockdown in 2020, the Cathedral broadcasted regular Virtual Lunchtime Concerts in support of local and international artists and musicians. You can watch a selection of the previous Virtual Lunchtime Concerts here on Youtube.