Rhythmscape Composer Team

20 Years Of New Percussion Music

John Acaro - Rhythmscape Composer TeamJohn Arcaro
(photo credit James Penlidis)

John Arcaro has been a member of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra since 1990. He has also been a guest timpanist/percussionist with Orchestra Ensemble Kanazawa Japan, Malaysian Philharmonic, Sydney Symphony, West Australian and Tasmanian Symphony Orchestras. He has worked as a chamber musician and soloist with ensembles such as the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Melbourne Chamber Orchestra, Synergy Percussion, Speak Percussion, Astra, Aphids, The Pokrovsky Ensemble Russia and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. Performance highlights have included a critically acclaimed performance of Stockhausen’s Kontakte with pianist Michael Kieran Harvey in 1996.

John has recorded numerous film scores and performed with a wide range of popular artists, including Frank Sinatra, Olivia Newton-John, KISS and Sting. John studied in New York and Philadelphia with leading orchestral percussionists and graduated from the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA) with high distinction. He is currently a member of staff at the University of Melbourne.


Anders Åstrand - Rhythmscape Composer TeamAnders Åstrand

As a mallet specialist, Anders Astrand regularly performs and gives clinics throughout the United States, Latin America, Australia, and Europe. With his percussion ensemble, Global Percussion Network he has toured extensively in Sweden, Europe, the United States and South Korea. Åstrand focuses on melodic and rhythmic improvisation, an essential feature also in his compositions.

Åstrand has been commissioned to compose for brass quintets, saxophone quartet, choirs, and big band. A more spectacular side of his output are compositions featuring ice instruments to be performed by percussion ensemble. One of the concerts also featured fighter aircraft as instruments, tractors, and a work for an entire building is being inaugurated.

Åstrand has also composed music for multimedia performances including dance, video projections, ice instruments, and fire sculptures. Åstrand regularly collaborates with Swedish as well as international musicians. He is a sought after percussion clinician and has led several choir projects both in Europe and in the United States. Åstrand has also performed several times at PASIC (Percussive Arts Society International Convention). Since 2008, Anders Åstrand has been an International Education Orchestral Consultant for Zildjian. Anders Åstrand plays Yamaha instruments, Zildjian cymbals, Innovative Percussion mallets, Evans drumheads and Latin Percussion.
Jeremy Barnett  - Percussion Music | Rhythmscape Publishing

Jeremy Barnett

Jeremy Barnett’s musical world crosses all genres from classical to pop, contemporary music to cabaret and musical theatre, electro-acoustic solo projects to dance, and everything in between. A specialist on the marimba, Jeremy is the first Australian percussionist to complete a Masters in Marimba Performance at The Boston Conservatory (studying with world-renowned marimbist, Nancy Zeltsman) and he also holds a DMA in Contemporary Improvisation from the New England Conservatory of Music. Currently based in London, Jeremy is in demand as a freelance percussionist, improviser, composer and arranger. As an educator he has presented clinics at PASIC, the Zeltsman Marimba Festival and the Boston Conservatory, and he is currently working with the Victoria College of Music to redesign their graded percussion syllabus.

In Australia, Jeremy was a member of bands including PROP, CODA, Petulant Frenzy (Australia’s only Frank Zappa tribute band) and the Daryl Pratt Sextet. he also performed with the Sydney Symphony, Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra and Synergy Percussion. He can be heard on releases by The Dissociatives, CODA, Tooth and Jenny Morris and on the soundtrack to films including ‘The Black Balloon’, ’Australia', 'Happy Feet' and ‘Daybreakers’.

Anthony Brahe - Percussion Music | Rhythmscape Publishing

Anthony Brahe

Anthony Brahe is a freelance drummer and percussionist based in Sydney. He works across many genres from classical to rock performing with bands and orchestras in both live performances and recording engagements.

Anthony is a well-respected Wind and Brass Band musician. He is a long-time member of the New South Wales Police Band where he holds the position of Assistant Director of Music. Anthony is also one of the main arrangers and composers for the various ensembles within the band.

Anthony has composed solos for the New South Wales Band Association's National Competition and continues to write and arrange for percussion, wind and brass and various other ensembles.

Dr. Mary Broughton

Dr. Mary Broughton is active in the field of music as a performer, researcher, and teacher. As a performing musician, Mary is the Principal Timpanist with the Canberra Symphony Orchestra and performs as a percussionist on a freelance basis. Mary has performed as Principal Percussionist with the Australian Chamber Orchestra and has also performed as percussionist with the then Queensland Symphony and Queensland Philharmonic orchestras. Aside from orchestral concerts, Mary has performed solo marimba and chamber music throughout Australia and internationally. Her love of marimba playing led to attaining first prize in the open marimba section of the Australian Percussion Eisteddfod (2002). Following this she undertook a PhD studying the role of solo marimba player's bodily movements and gesture in communicative musical performance. Mary regularly presents her research in perception and production of music performance at international conferences.

During her teaching career spanning 15 years, Mary has directed the Pre-tertiary Percussion Program at the School of Music, Australian National University conducting the Pre-tertiary Percussion Ensemble to an award-winning performance. She has also taught the very young through Early Childhood Music classes at the Queensland Conservatorium, Griffith University through to adults in professional development courses for Education Queensland. Currently, Mary maintains a connection to the younger generation passing on her musical skills and love of percussion through teaching and ensemble direction at the School of Music, Australian National University.


Brett Carvolth - Rhythmscape Composer TeamBrett Carvolth

Brett Carvolth graduated from the Queensland Conservatorium in 1990 with a Bachelor of Music Degree. He has performed and toured with many orchestras and ensembles throughout Australia, Japan, Philippines and the United Kingdom. 

As a percussion educator he works regularly at various music camps throughout Queensland and the Northern Territory. Brett currently teaches Percussion and Timpani at two secondary colleges in Brisbane, Central Queensland University Conservatorium of Music (Mackay) and the University of Southern Queensland (Toowoomba).

Matt Chilmaid - Rhythmscape Composer TeamMatt Chilmaid

Matt Chilmaid is a professional musician much in demand as both a performer and educator. As an educator Matt has worked with numerous schools within the Sydney metropolitan area. He was the Leading Teacher of percussion at SCECGS Redlands for six years and a regional consultant in percussion for the NSW Department of Education. Matt received his Bachelor of Music from the Sydney Conservatorium, University of Sydney in 1995 and a Licentiate Diploma from the Trinity College of London in 1996. As a composer, Matt's work has been heard on several recordings and have been utilized within two publications distributed by Redback Press. 

In 2001 Matt joined the Australian Army Band Sydney, working as a percussionist in all areas of the band and is currently studying to be a Band Director at the Defence Force School of Music. As well as his playing, writing and conducting duties he has been active as Production Assistant on several Army CD projects.

Ian Cleworth
(photo credit Karen Steains)

Ian Cleworth has been Artistic Director of Taikoz since its inception in 1997. In 2005 he became full-time with the group after having spent 20 years as Principal Percussionist with the Sydney Symphony and 16 years with the percussion group Synergy.

Ian has composed several works Taikoz, including music for major productions with John Bell and the Bell Shakespeare Company, and choreographers Meryl Tankard and Anandavalli. As a wadaiko performer Ian has toured nationally and internationally, collaborating with many esteemed artists and musicians. And as a teacher of taiko Ian is deeply involved in the Taikoz Taiko School.

With the Sydney Symphony Ian played under such conducting greats as Vladimir Ashkenazy, Lorin Maazel, Charles Dutoit, Mariss Jansons and Edo de Waart, and has performed in some of the world’s finest concert halls including Carnegie Hall, Boston Symphony Hall, Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw and London’s Royal Albert Hall. As a soloist with the Sydney Symphony, Ian premiered and recorded Ross Edwards’ Yarrageh: Nocturne for Percussion and Orchestra and with his Synergy colleagues, Toru Takemitsu’s From Me Flows What You Call Time.

During his years with Synergy, Ian was involved with the presentation of the latest works for percussion, including numerous premieres of Australian and international composers. With Synergy he toured Australia, the UK, France, Hungary, Sweden, Taiwan, Japan, Poland, Germany and Singapore and worked with some of the world’s finest musicians, including Fritz Hauser, Trilok Gurtu, Mike Nock, Hossam Ramzy, Omar Faruk Tekbilek, Kazue Sawai, Palle Mikkelborg and Dave Samuels.

In 2007 Ian received the APRA-AMC Classical Music Award for Long-term Contribution for the Advancement of Australian Music, and in 2016, the Japanese Foreign Minister’s Commendation for his contribution towards promoting friendship and goodwill between Australia and Japan.


Rob Cossom - Rhythmscape Composer TeamRob Cossom

Originally from Tasmania, Robert Cossom studied percussion and drum kit with Tom O'Kelly and Eric Johnstone. He attended the Tasmanian Conservatorium, where he was awarded distinctions in composition and performance. Robert has performed with the Queensland, West Australian & Tasmanian Symphony Orchestras and is currently a member of the Melbourne Symphony (MSO). He has appeared as soloist with the Tasmanian and Melbourne Symphony Orchestras and has given solo recitals in Melbourne, Sydney, Hobart and Canberra. He maintains a considerable commitment to education; he has tutored at several National Music Camps, presented schools' concerts for the MSO and is currently Co-ordinator of Percussion at Melbourne University.  

In 2004 he established the MSO Snare Drum Award for tertiary students. During 2007 and 2008 he was composer-in-residence at Border Music Camp, Albury. Robert's compositions are regularly heard in Australia and overseas, including recent performances at the Banff Centre in Canada. His works appear in AMEB, VCE and national tertiary education syllabi. He is a member of the board of the Cybec Foundation. A proud alumnus of the Derwent Scottish Pipe Band, Robert has addressed the Japan Percussion Society on the art of cimbalom playing. His dog is named Riva.


Travis Easton - Rhythmscape Composer TeamTravis Easton

Travis Easton is a graduate of The Victorian College of the Arts with a Bachelor of Music (performance) and a graduate of Monash University with a graduate Diploma of Education (secondary, music). He teaches in five different Melbourne schools and is the author of the top selling Musical Drumming series of drum tuition texts. He has toured internationally with Sons of Korah, recorded on over 30 CDs and performed extensively around Melbourne.


Alan Emslie - Rhythmscape Composer TeamAlan Emslie

Alan Emslie has been described by his fellow musicians as a force of energy in the world of music today. Born in Scotland in 1969, the son of a BBC producer & a piano teacher, Rush were his first musical influence followed closely by Bach and Shostakovich.

He has been a freelance musician for over 25 years with over 30 European orchestras and ensembles (mainly as a timpanist) and has have toured extensively worldwide performing at the famous Carnegie Hall New York, numerous concert halls across the USA, Canada, Japan, China, Scandinavia, the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées Paris and in his favourite concert hall, the Usher Hall in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Alan's recordings are "too many to remember", including sessions at Air Studios, Maida Vale and Abbey Road in London. Highlights include Bach's B Minor Mass (Arcangelo, The Dunedin Consort & Freiburg Barockorchester), Handel's Messiah (Le Concert d'Astree, The Dunedin Consort & The Norwegian Wind Ensemble), Salieri Arias (Cecilia Bartoli OAE), Handel's Music for the Royal Fireworks (The English Concert), Bach's Magnificat's (The Dunedin Consort & Arcangelo) and some interesting forthcoming releases including Bach's Christmas Oratorio with The Dunedin Consort (Oct 2016) and the "timpani featured" Barsanti Concerti Grossi with Ensemble Marsyas (2017).

The rest of Alan's biography can be found here

David Franzke

J. David Franzke is a composer and sound designer living and working in Melbourne. His work spans film, theatre, visual art installations as well as the production of numerous albums, both as solo works and in collaboration with other composers and sound artists. He has worked with many of Australia’s preeminent theatre directors, visual artists and composers. David has been working and collaborating with Berlin-based composer Bernd Friedmann since 1996 on various album projects to which he contributes compositions, soundscapes and atmospheric textures.

David George - Rhythmscape Composer TeamDavid George

Originally from Melbourne, David George studied Drum kit, Percussion and Music Education at the Victorian College of the Arts and Melbourne University under the tutelage of Timothy Hook, Guy Du Blet, and Robert Cossom.

David is a sought after session player and touring musician, having worked on a number of national and international tours covering genres ranging from opera and classical, to musical theatre and tribute shows.

Specialising in percussion writing, David has written a number of works for soloists and percussion ensemble as well as first editions for a number of musical theatre shows. In 2015 David composed "Choose Your Own Adventure" for the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra’s Snare Drum Award, and in 2016 composed "Awesomity for solo drum kit and "Interrobang!"for solo drum kit as part of the Australian Percussion Eisteddfod.

As Head of Percussion at St Kevin’s College, David oversees students from Primary to VCE in all aspects of orchestral percussion and drum kit, and the school’s four percussion ensembles regularly perform at a number of concerts throughout the year. In 2016 David toured through China with the Australian International Opera Company, and been an orchestral member of The Australian Premiere of "Heathers The Musical", "Aveune Q" and drum/ percussion deputising musician Melbourne season of "Matilda The Musical", and will be touring with the musical "Ladies in Black".

Stuart Greenbaum

With a catalogue of over 190 works written for the concert stage, Stuart Greenbaum’s music is heard regularly in Australia and abroad. Nelson, a 3–act opera with libretto by Ross Baglin, was presented in London in 2005 and premiered in full at the 2007 Castlemaine State Festival. Their second opera, The Parrot Factory, received a 5-show season in 2010 staged by Victorian Opera at The Malthouse. Major choral works include The Foundling, commissioned by Cantori New York in 1997 and From the Beginning commissioned for the sesquicentenary of the Royal Melbourne Philharmonic in 2003.

Greenbaum’s orchestral output includes works for the SSO, MSO, AYO and recently City Lights a Mile Up, commissioned by the Tasmanian Symphony orchestra. Major chamber works have been written for The Australia Ensemble, Southern Cross Soloists, Ensemble Liaison and the Grigoryan Brothers.

He was a Featured Composer at the 2006 Aurora Festival, resident composer at the 2009 Port Fairy Spring Music Festival and Composer in Focus at the 2009 Bangalow Music Festival. In 2009 he was Australia's representative for the Trans-Tasman Composer Exchange, working in Auckland with NZTrio on a new piano trio, The Year Without a Summer, which toured nationally for Chamber Music New Zealand, in Sydney for the ISCM World New Music Days (2010) and internationally at the City of London Festival (2011). He is Featured Composer with the Flinders Quartet in 2016.

Prizes include the Dorian Le Galliene Composition Award, the Heinz Harant Prize, and the Albert H. Maggs Composition Award. 90 Minutes Circling the Earth won Orchestral Work of the Year at the 2008 Classical Music Awards.

Having studied composition with Broadstock and Conyngham at the University of Melbourne, Greenbaum now holds a position in the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music as Professor and Head of Composition.

Tanja Hafenstein
(photo credit Geoff Norris)

Tanja Hafenstein graduated from the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University in 1996. In 2002 she completed intensive courses in Latin percussion in Cuba under master drummers Adel Gonzalez (Afro-Cuban All Stars) and Amadito Valdez (Buena Vista Social Club). Tanja has toured extensively nationally and internationally. She has been featured in leading percussion catalogues and magazines. Career highlights include playing with multi-Aria award winner Alex Lloyd, Vassy, Aria nominated world music group Tulipan, The Queensland Orchestra and as a tutor, performer, composer and arranger with the Queensland Ballet. Tanja has enjoyed guest appearances with The John Butler Trio and TV show Hot Source as well as numerous other performances on Rove, Channel V, The Aria Awards, Cold Live at the Chapel and musicals Lion King and Fame. Currently she enjoys performing with the Francis Wolves.


Matthew Hindson - Rhythmscape Composer TeamMatthew Hindson
(photo credit Bex Photography)

Matthew Hindson AM (b. 1968, Wollongong) is one of the most-performed and most-commissioned composers in the world, and the leading Australian composer of his generation. As well as being performed by every Australian orchestra, the London Philharmonic, the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Royal Philharmonic among many others, Matthew’s music has been set by dance companies such as the Birmingham Royal Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, National Ballet of Japan and the Sydney Dance Company.

Matthew is the Acting Head of School and Acting Associate Dean, Learning and Teaching at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. From 2004-2010 he was the artistic director of the Aurora Festival which is dedicated to the work of living composers. In 2006 Matthew was made a member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his contributions to music education and composition. From 2009-2013 Matthew was the Chair of the Music Board of the Australia Council for the Arts, and from 2013-2015, a board member of the same organisation.

Gordon Hughes - Rhythmscape Composer TeamGordon Hughes
(photo credit Chris Osborne)

Gordon Hughes is a graduate of the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University, having completed his studies in 1996. Prior to successfully graduating, Gordon received numerous awards in addition to becoming the first person in Australia to receive a Licentiate degree in percussion performance from Trinity College, London. After completing his undergraduate studies, Gordon was then nominated for Young Australian of the Year for career achievement in 1999.

Alongside an active performing and conducting schedule that has seen him perform in all major Australian concert halls, Gordon is the founder and managing director of Rhythmscape Publishing Australia. The business model for Rhythmscape Publishing was selected as one of the prize winners for Operation Livewire, a national business concept development competition sponsored by Shell Australia and Rotary International.

After successfully launching Rhythmscape Publishing at Journees de la Percussion 2002, Conservatoire Superieur de Paris, the business has become the leading percussion publisher in the Asia Pacific region and a highly respected brand in all major international markets. Rhythmscape sponsors a number of major events each year, working to encourage youth participation in the arts, including the Australian Percussion Eisteddfod and the Big Percussion Day Out. In 2005 Gordon conceived and completed the REVOLUTIONS CD project; to date the single largest percussion recording venture ever undertaken in Australia. The REVOLUTIONS CD project received a nomination for the Australian Music Prize 2005 and was followed up in 2011 with the SHIFT CD-DVD project.

Presently, Gordon is a very active educator and is in demand as a conductor, lecturer and adjudicator. His teaching schedule sees him directing leading music education programs at secondary level and he works at tertiary level as a member of the Queensland Conservatorium sessional staff. Gordon is also a member of the APRA award-winning team of the Sunwater and Stanwell Winter Music School team.

As a composer, Gordon’s works have been performed throughout Australia, the UK and the USA to critical acclaim. Alongside being awarded numerous commissions, his success as a composer was recognised with acceptance as the youngest individual to be elected as an associate composer to the Australian Music Centre. In 2006, Gordon was appointed to the Australia Council's Register of Peers and has accepted an advisory position with the Australian Business Arts Foundation's adviceBank initiative. With more than a decade's business experience now behind him, Gordon has recently completed a Masters degree in business administration specialising in sustainable enterprise with the Griffith Business School . In 2013, Gordon was honoured to be selected as part of the Young Global Leaders Class of 2013.

Jeff Jarrott - Rhythmscape Composer TeamJeff Jarrott

Jeff Jarrott is a freelance percussionist, composer and educator. He enjoys performing as a classical percussionist and drum kit player locally and internationally.

Currently, Jeff is the Director of Percussion at Brisbane State High School and the Gap State High School in addition to being an MRC Curriculum Project Officer for the Brisbane metropolitan region. In his teaching role, Jeff enjoys directing primary and secondary concert bands, orchestras, percussion ensembles and jazz ensembles. These ensembles have experienced success at a variety of music festivals, including state finalists at Fanfare, Platinum Award recipients at Musicfest and four-time winners at the Australian Percussion Eisteddfod in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.

Kerryn Joyce - Rhythmscape Composer TeamKerryn Joyce

Kerryn Joyce is currently a member of Australian drumming sensation, Taikoz and is regularly seen on stage as a taiko player, dancer, singer and shinobue player and percussionist.

Kerryn is also a partner in the dynamic Percussion Duo Karak Percussion.  She performs regularly for Musica Viva and has recorded for the ABC.  The duo has had several commissions including a concerto for percussion and symphony orchestra which was later developed into a concerto for Karak Percussion and Brisbane-based ensemble, Topology.

She also performs as a freelance percussionist with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra and Sydney Philharmonia.

On the education front, Kerryn is currently also the education co-ordinator for the Taikoz school establishing events and opportunities for school students and emerging artists to work with members of Taikoz and she runs her own private percussion studio.

For over 20 years she has been involved in teaching collectively percussion and Japanese drumming, dance and song.  She has taught at the Queensland Conservatorium for the Young Conservatorium program the Queensland University of Technology and the University of Queensland Education and Music Therapy Departments.  She has been invited to be artist in residence with Karak Percussion with the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

Kerryn graduated with a Bachelor of Music from the University of Queensland, a Postgraduate Diploma from the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University and continues to extend her studies in Japan.

Watch snippets of Kerryn's performance on YouTube  

Andrea Keller - Rhythmscape Composer Team
Andrea Keller

Dedicated to the performance and creation of contemporary jazz and improvised music, pianist and composer Andrea Keller is described as having “one of Australia’s most consistently interesting musical minds” (Doug Spencer 2007).

Leading and devising projects such as; The Andrea Keller Quintet/Quartet, The Bartok Project, Three Lanes, From Ether, The Company of Pianos, The Komeda Project, and most recently Transients; Keller has released numerous albums, including; six by the AKQ, two for solo piano, two by Keller/Murphy/Browne, as well as albums with Three Lanes, The Bartok project, The Hush Collection, The Bennetts Lane Big Band, Tim Wilson, and others.

The diversity of Keller’s approach has placed her on stage with artists and ensembles such as; Eddie Perfect, Genevieve Lacey, the Song Company, the Black Arm Band, the Australian Art Orchestra, Flinders Quartet, Allan Browne, the Original Bennetts Lane Big Band, and more.

With a list of commissions that includes; Marshall McGuire, Zephyr Quartet, Genevieve Lacey, ‘Poetica’ ABC Radio National, Claire Edwardes, Seraphim Trio, Ten Part Invention, the Royal Children’s Hospital, Mike Nock, the Letter String Quartet, and the Australian Art Orchestra, Keller’s work as composer traverses styles, and ranges from solo to big band settings, including cross-cultural collaborations, cross-genre collaborations, and the use of electronics.

May Lyon - Rhythmscape Composer Team
May Lyon

May Lyon is a composer and music educator based in Melbourne. Lyon's music explores a range of themes, from deep human emotions to mathematical concepts, as well as the lighter side of life. Stylistically eclectic, Lyon's compositions move from dramatic and intense, to quirky. Emotion, precision, duality and rhythm are all strong recurring elements.

Lyon completed her Bachelor of Music & Master of Music at The University of Melbourne under the guidance of Katy Abbott, Stuart Greenbaum, and Elliott Gyger. In 2020 Lyon's chamber opera Pieces of Margery will be premiered by More Than Opera, featuring contralto Liane Keegan in the title role and directing, and Alan Cook as musical director. In 2017 Lyon was a participant in the Cybec 21st Century Australian Composers Program, writing Ignition under the mentorship of Brenton Broadstock OA. Following this, Lyon was commissioned by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra to compose for the 2019 Snare Drum Award, resulting in Phosphorus for snare drum and cymbal.

Lyon has received several commissions from local chamber ensembles, including Syzygy Ensemble, Forest Collective, Ensemble Goldentree, and Icon Trio. Lyon’s music has been featured on ABC Classic’s New Waves in 2017, several times on 3MBS, including Live at the Convent, and several times on the Making Waves podcast, including an hour length interview with Matthew Lorenzon for Making Conversations in 2017.

Kevin Man

Kevin Man began his musical training on the piano at the age of nine. He has since completed tertiary studies in percussion graduating from the Sydney Conservatorium with a Bachelor of Music (Honours) and is currently undertaking a Master of Music degree majoring in shakuhachi (Japanese bamboo flute).

Kevin was a member of The Queensland Orchestra from 1999-2003 and has held various teaching positions including Acting Head of Percussion at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music (2005), the Queensland Conservatorium (2003), and the Queensland University of Technology (2002-03). Kevin is a member of the Australian Japanese drumming group Taikoz and is a founding member of the percussion duo karak percussion.


Benjamin McDonald

Ben McDonald is an emerging Australian composer/performer based in Melbourne. He has received commissions for short films, live contemporary dance, stage ensembles ranging from solo to full orchestra, and numerous installation works.

He does not align himself with any particular musical genre preferring to roam across and sometimes unite or overlay disparate styles. Central to this methodology is a belief that all genres have their own inherent beauty. He is comfortable exclusively exploring the foundations of any particular style, however his eclectic listening habits inform an intuitive approach that seeks to manifest fresh musical solutions. He is currently working on several collaborative projects and is researching the application of specialist music software in live performance.

Ben has been engaging in the organisation of sound from a very young age however only turned to composition seriously after a chance encounter with a ‘new-music friendly’ Choir elevated his passion. At the time he was studying piano performance at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music under Anna Goldsworthy. He later transferred and completed a bachelor degree in Music Performance (Composition) at the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA) where he was the recipient of the Spivakovsky scholarship for composition. He has studied with some of Australia’s most respected composers including Mark Pollard, Brenton Broadstock, Stuart Greenbaum, Julian Yu, Johanna Selleck and Kate Neal.

Mark Pollard, Head of Composition at the VCA has described him as . . .
“. . . one of the most intelligent and creative composers I have had the pleasure of working with . . . providing highly creative and well-constructed solutions to whatever artistic task he is given”.

His notated works have received radio airplay on ABC Classic FM and 3MBS and live performances in venues around Melbourne including BMW Edge, the Iwaki Auditorium and the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art. Most recently his new orchestral work was work-shopped by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.

Alastair McKean

Alastair McKean comes from Wangaratta. He was educated at Wangaratta High School and subsequently attended the University of Sydney, where he gained a BMus (Hons) in composition, studying under Peter Sculthorpe, Ross Edwards, and Anne Boyd. He worked at the Australian Youth Orchestra from 1997 until 2000, when he was appointed Orchestra Librarian for the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.

As well as his work in the Library, he was the employee-elected member of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO) Board from 2009 to 2015, and has tutored student composers in notation and orchestration for the Cybec 21st Century Australian Composers Program and for Melbourne University postgraduate workshops.

Alastair has written program notes and given talks for, among others, the MSO, the Australian Chamber Orchestra, the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, ABC Classics, and ABC Classic FM. He taught the music journalism course, Words About Music, at the Australian Youth Orchestra’s National Music Camp from 2014 to 2016.

Since 1997 Alastair has been Director of Border Music Camp, Albury. He initiated the Camp’s composer-in-residence program, which in 2005 won the Australian Music Centre Award for the leading contribution to Australian music in a regional area. He was made a Life Member at the fortieth Camp in 2014.

A proud viola owner, Alastair has sung in choirs for many years. Highlights of his on-stage career include narrating Peter and the Wolf for the MSO, page-turning for Thomas Adès in the music of Conlon Nancarrow, and playing cannon in the MSO’s performances of Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture.

His interests outside music include literature, politics, history, and aeroplanes.

Pete E. Neville - Rhythmscape Composer TeamPete E. Neville

Pete Neville is a graduate of the University of New South Wales, the Sydney Conservatorium and the Australian Film Television and Radio School. As a drummer/percussionist he has toured nationally and internationally with numerous award winning musical acts, including Brisbane’s The Resin Dogs, You Am I, The Whitlams, international artists Donovan Frankenreiter and Jack Johnson, and performed at national events and festivals including: Sydney Swans home games, the Big Day Out, and Manly Jazz Festivals.

Pete is the Artistic Director of the Sydney Stick’s, Dynasty Drumline and as an educator he has worked with myriad students for many years on drum kit, tuned and non-tuned percussion and Drumline. Pete composes for Australian theatre, live performance, film and television industries, with past commissions from NIDA, ABC Radio, SBS TV, Sydney Theatre Company, Sport For Jove and the Australian Percussion Eisteddfod. He is also a music team transcriber with onlinedrummer.com.

Andrian Pertout

In 2007, Andrián Pertout completed a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree at the University of Melbourne on Tweddle Trust, APA and MRS scholarships, studying composition under the guidance of Brenton Broadstock. Composition awards include the Boston Metro Opera ‘Mainstage Award’ (USA), Jean Bogan Prize, ‘John Cage Centennial’ Wolf Museum of Music and Art Composition Prize (USA), Friends & Enemies of New Music Composition Prize (USA), Dorian Le Gallienne Composition Prize, Betty Amsden Award, Louisville Orchestra Prize (USA), Veridian Symphony Orchestra Prize (USA), APRA Award for Orchestral Composition, and Oare String Orchestra Judges’ and Audience Prize (UK). He is currently the Australian Delegate of the ACL (Asian Composers’ League), and was Honorary Fellow at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, University of Melbourne (2007-2015), as well as President of the Melbourne Composers’ League (2009-2013). As well as being a freelance composer, he additionally works as composition lecturer, teacher, supervisor and examiner at the University of Melbourne and Australian Institute of Music at Bachelor, Masters and PhD levels.

Andrián’s music has been performed in over forty countries by orchestras, ensembles and performers that include the Melbourne and Tasmanian Symphony Orchestras, Orchestra Victoria, The Louisville Orchestra (USA), Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra (Israel), Orquestra Petrobrás Sinfônica (Brazil), Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de México (Mexico), Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra (Vietnam), Orquestra Cia Bachiana Brasileira (Brazil), Orquesta Sinfónica de Puerto Rico (Puerto Rico), The Foundation Orchestra (USA), Orquesta Sinfónica de Chile and Concepción (Chile), Orquesta de Cámara de Chile and Valdivia (Chile), Logos Foundation Robot Orchestra (Belgium), University of Hong Kong Gamelan Orchestra (China), La Chapelle Musicale de Tournai (Belgium), Oare String Orchestra (UK), Noah Getz (USA), Phyllis Chen (USA), Michael Kieran Harvey (Australia), Ónix Ensamble (Mexico), Ensamble Contemporáneo (Chile), Ensemble MD7 (Slovenia), Quinteto CEAMC (Argentina), Sonemus Ensemble (Bosnia-Herzegovina), Ensemble TIMF (Korea), Omni Ensemble (USA), and the Ensemble für Neue Musik Zürich (Switzerland).

He has received numerous commissions, including a Concertino-Doppio for alto saxophone, harp and string orchestra commissioned by the American Harp Society, Inc. New York, NY (USA), the ‘Compulsory Chilean Work to be Performed by all Competitors’ of the 2011 Concurso Internacional de Ejecución Musical ‘Dr. Luis Sigall’ (Chile), a new solo work for Paris-based pianist María Paz Santibañez (France), and a work for robot orchestra incorporating thirty-seven automats for the Logos Foundation Robot Orchestra (Belgium), as well as other works commissioned by the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, Victoria Chorale, Art of Sound Orchestra, Orquesta de Cámara de Valdivia (Chile), saxophonist Noah Getz (USA), toy pianist Phyllis Chen (USA), and Ensemble MD7 (Slovenia). Julian Burnside AO QC has additionally commissioned several works for performance by the University of Hong Kong Gamelan Orchestra, Australian pianist Michael Kieran Harvey, American ‘low flutes’ specialist Peter Sheridan and Melbourne ensemble Plexus.

Daryl Pratt - Rhythmscape Composer TeamDaryl Pratt
(photo credit Tom Westly)

Percussionist/composer/conductor Daryl Pratt has a background in contemporary classical music and jazz. Recent creative projects include compositions, performances and recordings with MATCH Percussion (formed with his wife Alison Pratt in 2001), The Daryl Pratt Sextet (founded in 2009) and the Pratt McMahon Hirst & Gander quarte t (2015). MATCH has toured in Australia and the USA and released the CD "Water Settings" on Tall Poppies in 2005. Pratt has solo, chamber and orchestral recordings on ABC, Lovely, Naxos, CRI, Rufus Records, EFA, VoxAustralis, Fleur de Son Classics, Move Records and Tall Poppies. His compositions for percussion are featured on Tall Poppies "Pratt’s Alchemy".

Daryl was a member of The Australia Art Orchestra (1994-2001), AtmaSphere (1991-2003) and The Chad Wackerman Group (1997-2006). He founded the jazz quartet Sonic Fiction in 1993 with recordings on Tall Poppies and NAXOS. He has performed with the San Diego Symphony , Sydney Symphony and Australia Opera and Ballet Orchestra , Synergy , The Australia Ensemble and The Australia Chamber Orchestra . In addition to his role as Chair of Percussion, Daryl directs and conducts The Modern Music Ensemble at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music . Born and raised in Sacramento California, Daryl has lived in Australia since 1985.

David Pye - Rhythmscape Composer TeamDavid Pye

David Pye is one of Western Australia's most experienced musicians, working in Perth as a composer, percussionist and conductor since 1981. In 1983 he founded the Nova Ensemble and over twenty years has developed the group into Western Australia's leading contemporary music ensemble, commissioning, writing, performing and recording the music of our local composers.

In 1989 David turned to composition, and his music has been widely recognised for its accessibility and popularity with audiences of all ages. A keen interest in the music of South India and Western Java permeates his compositional style. Recent developments include the use of pre-recorded environmental sounds in instrumental works and the use of free improvisation as both textural and structural elements in his compositions.

His full-length music-theatre work, The Drummers of Gilgamesh, was awarded the Australian Music Centre/Australian Performing Rights Association Award for Instrumental Work of the Year for 2002.


David Quinn - Rhythmscape Composer TeamDavid Quinn

David Quinn has extensive experience as a freelance and session percussionist and drum-kit player. He has performed with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra and a number of other Brisbane based ensembles. David is also the director of the successful business, Queensland Percussion Products, that specialises in building and repairing percussion instruments. He currently works in the world of audio recording (at Ghostgum Audio) and venue management (at Cannon Hill Anglican College) as well as percussion education.

As part of his role of a percussion and drum kit educator, David has written a number of works for primary and secondary school performance. David also has much experience in arranging and transcribing a diverse range of classical works for percussion ensemble that covers contemporary works to exciting arrangements of Mozart symphonies.

Lorrie Webb

 Lorrie Webb (1944-2011) had an extensive performance career working with groups in many genres from jazz and rock through to brass band and classical seeing him perform extensively throughout Australia. As a leading educator and composer, Lorrie had more than twenty years experience and saw many students go on to tertiary music studies and become industry leaders in various specialisations. His compositions for percussion are now a popular staple in the ensemble repertoire and are performed by a multitude of ensembles both as concert and contest pieces.