Katherine Dienes-Williams (nee Dienes) – Inducted 2014
Friday, 31 October 2014
Student at Marsden: 1981 (Form 1/Year 7 – Form 7 /Year 13)
Katherine Dienes-Williams receives this award in recognition of her international career as an organist, composer and Master of Choristers at Guildford Cathedral.

An organ scholarship at Wellington Cathedral started Katherine on her career. A scholarship to Winchester Cathedral followed in 1992. She has since established a reputation, as an organist, composer and choir master. She had been the organist at several English Cathedrals before taking on her current position at Guildford Cathedral. Katherine was the first female to be elected to the Cathedral Organists’ Association and upon her appointment to Guildford Cathedral the first woman to hold such a position in an Anglican Cathedral.

She gives recitals all over the world and is often called upon as a guest tutor for the Royal College of Organists (of which she is a fellow) and the Royal School of Church Music. She returns to New Zealand regularly to give concerts, and her compositions are played throughout the country.

Energy, determination, resourcefulness and a willingness to give to society have brought Katherine success in her chosen field.