Photo: Freepik
A ping from my mobile phone jolted me awake as I mindlessly went through my end-of-day routine – shutting down my desktop and unplugging everything like a zombie at the office.
It was an email from Prof Alan Bennett, head of Vocal Studies at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, National University of Singapore.
I remembered Prof Bennett from his time in Penang, when he brought his students to perform choral works at St George’s Church. He was a colleague of my organ mentor and dear friend, Dr Marc Rochester.
Dr Marc was the one who introduced me to the joy of playing the pipe organ. Each lesson with him was engaging and inspiring – an experience that went beyond music into life itself.
He would often share his passion for bus driving, including a remarkable journey from London to Kabul – stories that somehow always intertwined with the organ lesson of the day. His tales of being an ABRSM and Trinity College examiner, travelling to distant places, were equally captivating.
I fondly remember taking a bus from Penang to Kuala Lumpur just for lessons with him at Dewan Filharmonik Petronas.
Occasionally, I had the privilege of staying at his home when we had organ programmes at DFP. I was introduced to his wife, Magdelene, and later, I was honoured to witness him become a father with the arrival of their daughter, Prisca.
His collection of organ scores was truly remarkable – filled with rare pieces by lesser-known composers. He would often include these treasures in his concerts, giving audiences a chance to discover something new.
These lessons carried on for several years. As an organist himself, Dr Marc visited Assumption Church, where I played, and supported some of our choir performances before the organ was restored.
Dr Marc was also a respected music critic, known for his candid and insightful reviews. As the programme notes writer at DFP, his contributions added a unique richness to each concert. I always looked forward to reading his notes before the music began – they were never generic but packed with intriguing, lesser-known facts presented in the most engaging way.
Sometimes, I felt his notes were more musical than the orchestra itself. He truly was a brilliant writer.
As time went on, Dr Marc moved between institutions to teach and write. We remained in touch, and he would often drop by Penang when passing through or when invited for organ sessions with my students.
Then came Covid, a time that affected us all – Dr Marc included. He had been teaching at NUS just before the pandemic.
Eventually, he returned to England to be with his family. On May 5, 2022, my mentor passed away. It was a deeply sorrowful moment for me, as I had lost a partner in my passionate, perhaps even mad, pursuit of the pipe organ.
In the email from Prof Bennett, he mentioned that NUS staff were packing up Dr Marc’s belongings and had come across a collection of organ scores.
Magdelene felt that Marc would have wanted me to have them. Prof Bennett asked if I would like to receive the scores.
It was a week before Christmas, and I felt it was the most meaningful gift I could receive – one that came from beyond.
In mid-February, a 20kg box arrived. Inside were the scores, neatly arranged by the university staff.
As I glanced through them, everything around me fell silent. The pencil notes in Dr Marc’s handwriting transported me back to my lesson days. It was as if I could hear the organ once again – quiet, yet loud in memory and emotion.
As the fasting month began for Muslims the next day, I started exploring this belated Christmas gift. It is a collection that will take a lifetime to journey through, and I am ever grateful.
Dr Marc has pulled out all the stops in my heart, playing an everlasting prelude – and an unending postlude – of friendship and mentorship.
