Original Creative Work: Performance and Composition

In addition to historical research and performance practice, the School has a strong track record in contemporary creative work.

In 2007, members of staff collaborated with performers and composers in the United Kingdom to develop an exchange of concerts entitled Crossing Continents, that included the performance of works by the School's distinguished composers Emeritus Professor Roger Smalley and James Ledger. The works performed were Smalley’s Trio for horn, violin and piano along with Ledger’s Swamp Music. Associate Professor Paul Wright also performed Neal Farwell’s exciting work for violin and electronics, Chaconnes.

Over many years, Assistant Professor Graeme Gilling has performed piano, celeste and harpsichord for the West Australian Symphony Orchestra, often being a consultant to composers in residence about approaches to composing for the various keyboard instruments.

The School has a strong team of composers on staff, all contributing significantly to the international scene. Emeritus Professor Roger Smalley’s compositions are performed and broadcast worldwide. Commissions have included the BBC, ABC, West German Radio, Festival of Perth, London Sinfonietta, Australian Chamber Orchestra, Australian String Quartet, Grainger Quartet, Fires of London, Flederman, Nova Ensemble, Seymour Group and Australia Ensemble. His works and performances feature on over 20 commercially released CDs, amongst them ABC Classics, Tall Poppies and Melba Recordings. He relocated from Perth to Sydney in 2007 and is also an Honorary Research Associate at The University of Sydney.

Head of Composition, Assistant Professor Chris Tonkin, focuses on interactive works for live performers and computer. His scores and recordings are held at the Australian Music Centre in Sydney. He has received grants from the Australia Council, the Australasian Performing Rights Association and the Ian Potter Foundation as well as commissions and performances from the Nouvel Ensemble Moderne (Canada, 2002), Fondation Royaumont (France, 2003), IRCAM (France, 2005), Ensemble Offspring (Sydney, 2005, 2008), the Seoul International Computer Music Festival (South Korea, 2006), the Australasian Computer Music Association (Sydney, 2008), and the Percussive Arts Festival (Texas, USA, 2008).

James Ledger has been a part-time lecturer in composition since 2005. He has also taught composition at the Australian Youth Orchestra's 2009 National Music Camp. In 2008, Ledger was awarded a Churchill Fellowship to travel to Europe to research contemporary compositional practice with a particular focus on new classical music in Estonia. He has produced many commissions in Australia and overseas, and most recently he has been composer-in-residence with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra.