George Vern Barnett

George Vern Barnett (31 January 1891 – 15 April 1946) was an Australian organist, choir master and accompanist. He was an important figure in the musical and cultural life of Sydney for many years in the early twentieth century.

Barnett, usually known as Vern, was born in Carlton, a suburb of Melbourne. He was the son of George Vern Barnett, a dental surgeon, and his wife Margaret Sophia (née Woodward). The Barnetts lived in England and India before moving to Sydney in 1897.

Barnett studied music under Edward Sykes and Edward Goll and became prominent on the Sydney musical scene as 'the boy wonder pianist'. Due to poor health he was rejected for service in World War I, but expressed his patriotism by writing a popular song entitled 'War 1914'. He was choir master and organist at Sydney churches including Petersham Congregational Church (1913–1919), St Andrew's Summer Hill (1919–1922), and St Peter's Neutral Bay (1922–1932) and gave performances on the Sydney Town Hall Grand Organ from the age of eighteen.

As an organist, Barnett was held in the highest regard. His expertise was such that he was often asked to advise on and test new and rebuilt organs throughout New South Wales. He was organist and choirmaster at the new St Stephen's Presbyterian Church, Macquarie Street, Sydney, following its reconstruction in 1932. It was considered that he had one of the best libraries of organ music in Australia, which after his death was donated to the Organ Music Society of Sydney.

Barnett was also celebrated as an accompanist. He worked with many great overseas and local artists including Andrew Black, Henri Verbrugghen, Florence Austral, Elsa Stralia and Dame Nellie Melba. Melba was so impressed that she wanted him to go back to England as her permanent accompanist, but he preferred to stay in Australia. Newspaper reviewers frequently made special note of his contribution to performances with comments such as 'a great deal of the success of the performance was due to the fine work of G. Vern Barnett at the piano' and 'Mr G. Vern Barnett likewise did his part of the work with consummate taste and feeling, and gave the requisite help to the melodies without any attempt to secure undue prominence for himself, although his accomplishments in this capacity are undeniable'.

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