Dean

The Very Reverend Neil Hicks was inducted to the Parish of Wangaratta and Dean of Holy Trinity Cathedral on 31 August 2024. He also serves as Vicar of the Parish of West Wangaratta and the Warbies. Prior to coming to Wangaratta Neil served at Yarrawonga (2017-2022), having joined the Diocese from St Paul’s Geelong, where he served as Vicar for twelve years and as Archdeacon of Geelong for eight years. Born in Kyabram and raised in Tongala, Neil felt a call to ministry in his early twenties and pursued his theological studies at St Barnabas Theological College, Belair, South Autralia. Now being ordained over thirty hears, Neil started his ministry as Curate in the parishes of Maryborough, then Mildura. He served as Rector of the Parish of Robinvale/Manangatang, all in the Bendigo Diocese. He then served at the Parish of Point Lonsdale (Melbourne), followed by an appointment as Dean of Sale in Gippsland before returning to the Diocese of Melbourne to take up the position as Vicar of Balwyn North for four years before moving to St Paul’s Geelong. During his time in Melbourne, Neil served on Archbishop-in-Council as well as Provincial Council. Minutes of the last Provincial Council attended by Neil referred to Archbishop Freier expressing his great appreciation for Neil’s invaluable contribution to the Diocese of Melbourne and Provincial Council. One of Neil’s great passions is music, mostly classical, pipe organ, brass and Abba. Good liturgy is deeply important to Neil and he enjoys devising services for the Church’s various celebrations.

Director of Music

Dr Kieran Crichton was born in Shepparton and grew up in Violet Town and Benalla before relocating with his family to Melbourne in the early-1990s. Holy Trinity is the first cathedral he visited as a young person. His appointment here in Wangaratta in 2021 marks a return to home ground.

Kieran studied music at the University of Melbourne and Australian Catholic University. His degree studies included organ performance and research into the history of music education. He then pursued further studies in theology at Trinity College Theological School. His wider scholarly work has seen publication of book chapters and articles in musicology and theology journals. Kieran’s particular interest in liturgy is reflected in his leadership of the Victoria chapter of the Australian Academy of Liturgy.

Kieran has played organ concerts in a range of venues in Australia, ranging from the Melbourne Town Hall to St Andrew’s Cathedral, Sydney. During his studies he won the Herbert Davis Prize at the Booroondara Eisteddfod, and was runner-up in the Sydney Organ Competition. He has been broadcast on radio, being featured on 3MBS FM.

Kieran has been part of the musical life of a number of Melbourne churches including St Peter’s, Eastern Hill, Christ Church, Brunswick, and All Saints, Preston. He worked for several years as a conductor-tutor with the Australian Youth Choir, along with working as an accompanist and occasional conductor with a range community music groups. He enjoys the energy that comes from building up a sense of community in choirs. He is always looking for ways to help singers feel they are being nurtured and given space to grow.

When not seated at a keyboard Kieran enjoys walking, cycling, good coffee, reading, and gardening.