Sad Piano album now released
During COVID, I was inspired to write music that was intimate, that made an effort to connect to the listener in a tangible way. Music that was not clever, but which truly came from the heart. These become a set…
100% Australian made podcast
Julie Simonds has been around Australian Music for many, many years. I first met her Julie she was working for the ABC, who (at the time) was running the state orchestras (Sydney SO, Melbourne SO, Tasmanian SO etc.) For many…
Composing Women program at the Sydney Conservatorium
Perhaps a decade ago, as part of my role as Chair of Composition at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, I organised a regular seminar for all the composition students. One week, I walked into the teaching space and noted there…
How much? A guide for commissioners and composers
How much? A guide for commissioners and composers I am often asked how much a commissioner should expect to pay a composer for a new piece of music. For example, a recent email: “Dear Matthew, I was wondering if you…
Why is no-one vomiting in timpani any more?
The last two Tuesdays I have been mentoring composers as part of the Ku-Ring-Gai Philharmonic Orchestra’s Australian music program. This is an excellent opportunity for emerging Australian composers to hear their orchestral pieces workshopped by a community orchestra. It’s a long-standing commitment…