Biography
Jillian Bray was known primarily as a writer of hymn tunes. Of about fifty published hymns, most are set to texts by Shirley Murray, who is among the foremost writers in her field. Jillian also set to music texts by Brian Wren, Joy Dine, Rusty Edwards, Joy Cowley and others. In 1998 Jillian was nominated to the editorial board of the New Zealand Hymnbook Trust on which she served as a music editor for eighteen years. Alleluia Aotearoa (1993), Carol our Christmas (1996), and Faith Forever Singing (2000) published by NZHBT during this time, contain most of Jillian's output. Hope Publishing Company (USA) have published more recent hymns on line.
As a private piano teacher Jillian wrote a number of pieces for pupils. Seventeen of these pieces (available from SOUNZ) appear in the St. Cecilia Examination syllabus, grades 3–8.
Jillian directed several community choirs and sung in others. This led her to write choral works on commission. Professor Peter Godfrey requested she write choral settings of some hymns for his Kapiti choirs; performed on the Coast and recorded for the television series Praise Be. Other choral works include: Anno Domine written in 2001 for Porirua City Choir and performed at St. Andrews on the Terrace and Te Papa, Centennial Anthem (2002) for the Khandallah Presbyterian Choir on the occasion of that church's centenary, and Jubilee (2006).
From time to time Jillian responded to requests to write music for friends and family: a piano trio, a duet for flute and bass clarinet, solo songs, pieces for organ, occasional piano pieces; works to mark a friend's passing, weddings, farewells...
Jillian Bray passed away in 2018.