About Me
Current Objective
To complete my DCA (Doctor of Creative Arts) in orchestral composition leveraging my extensive experience as a musician, composer, academic, and music tutor to contribute to the field and advance my knowledge and skills. I began this is January 2024.
Experience
Self Employed Musician/Composer/Music Tutor (since 1992)
- Demonstrated proficiency in song writing, performing, and sync licensing music with various rock bands, including Cumulo Nimbus, The Ragdolls, and The Chagalls. Notably, these included appearances on TV and radio both in Australia and overseas.
- Composed music for and performed as a bass player with various jazz ensembles, such as the UNSW Jazz Group featuring Daniel Pliner on keyboards and Tim Firth on drums, The Sydney Law Review Band and The Pyramidic Jazz Trio – both featuring Alon Ilsar on drums.
- Composed music for film trailers and short films (professionally), and feature films (as part of my masters studies).
- Provided private music instruction to students across various age groups in multiple disciplines including singing, guitars, basses, keyboards, song writing, and composition in multiple styles.
- Performed on both Renaissance lute and guitar and sang with MADS (The Sydney University Madrigal Society).
Education
- Doctor of Creative Arts, Western Sydney University, NSW, 2004 (currently in progress).
- Master of Music, Australian Institute of Music, Sydney, NSW, 2022.
- Specialised in film music composition with Dr. Phillip Johnston, electronic film music composition with Dr. Mark Oliveiro, and orchestral composition with Dr. Philip Eames and Anton Koch.
- Bachelor of Music – University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2000.
- Emphasis on bass studies with Ron Philpott and Craig Scott at Sydney Conservatorium of Music, jazz group studies with Alistair Spence and Sandy Evans, and classical composition studies with Gordon Kerry and Anna Pimakhova. Additional coursework included orchestration and Early Music with Dr. Christine Logan and North Indian Classical music with Dr. John Napier.
- Certificate Part 2 – The Australian Institute of Guitar, Sydney, NSW, 1991.
- Focused on classical guitar and Latin American music with Ricardo Andino.
Career Highlights
- Edited the English translation of the Hungarian of the Hungarian composer, Dubrovay Lászlo, 2021 treatise on contemporary musical composition entitled Changes in the Musical Information System – The Progression in the System of Partials (Overtones) [Hungarian Academy of Arts Research/Institute of Art Theory and Methodology].
- Short film, Little Lies for which I wrote the score, being short listed in several international short film competitions. This involved working with sound designer John Hresc (Sydney Sound Brewery).
- Songs featured in the SBS TV comedy series Pizza.
- Performances with my band Cumulo Nimbus at historic Sydney venues, including the Harbourside Brasserie and Real Ale Café.
Skills
- Proficient in musical composition, songwriting, and performing.
- Comprehensive knowledge of various musical instruments, including basses, guitars, keyboards, and singing.
- Extensive experience in teaching music across multiple disciplines and styles.
- Strong understanding of film music composition and orchestration.