Michael Creswell Dooley
I studied classical composition and piano at Sydney Conservatorium of Music in 1979-1980, including studying with leading Australian composer Ross Edwards. I received an advanced diploma in Music Performance from Canberra Institute of Technology in 2014, which included a high distinction in composition. I also have an Amus in classical piano.
I have had several decades of experience as a humanitarian volunteer and musician in South East Asia and the Middle East. I am currently a professional composer, pianist, and piano and composition teacher.
I have produced 3 Cds of original jazz music, one of them entitled “High Time” with a jazz ensemble and 2 with the jazz duo “In2Deep” with leading Canberra vocalist Rachel Thorne. A 3rd In2Deep album is currently in the works.
In 2016 I produced a double CD set of original classical piano music entitled “Anachronisms” featuring 6 leading Canberra pianists. In July 2017 concert pianist Andrew Rumsey performed the Toccatta ‘Le Tourbillon” from “Anachronisms” at a concert at Carnegie Hall in the U.S.
Andrew also premiered a new work for solo piano called “Australian Landscape Sketches” in a special concert at the Australian Embassy in Washington D.C. in September 2017 with the Australian Ambassador to the United States in attendance..
Also in 2017 leading Australian soprano Louise Page premiered my song cycle “Divine Nature” at her yearly Artsong recital.
In December 2017, Irish Soprano Carmel Conway premiered a newly commissioned song cycle based on the poems of Keats, entitled “Truth and Beauty” at a private concert in Canberra. This song cycle will be given a public premiere in 2020 by Canberra Soprano Sarah Louise Owens, accompanied by Phillipa Candy.
In May 2018 the elite Melbourne based trio Ensemble Liaison gave the world premiere of a new work entitled “Epiphany” for clarinet, piano and cello, at the Melbourne Recital Centre. They have recently recorded this work, which is scheduled for release in late 2019.
Also recently completed is a commission from the Canberra Wind Symphony entitled “Winds of Hope”. which received its world premiere in Canberra on November 10th 2018.
A new CD of original music called “Wings of the Morning” for piano and strings, performed by myself and a string quartet comprised of members of the Canberra Symphony orchestra was released at a concert in Canberra on November 18th 2018.
A newly commissioned work for 2 violins called “The Heavens Declare” was premiered at the Canberra International Music festival in May 2019 by members of the leading French quartet Quator voce.
My first piano concerto was premiered in Canberra by the National Capital Orchestra, with concert pianist Andrew Rumsey in June 2019, to critical acclaim. This work has been nominated for the 2020 APRA Art music awards in the large ensemble category.
A new classical choral work for choir, ensemble and 4 soloists entitled ‘Perpetua” was premiered at a concert in November 2019 by the Llewellyn choir under the direction of Rowan Harvey Martin, with soprano Emma Griffiths in the title role. This work has also been nominated for the 2020 APRA Art music awards in the vocal work category.
.A new choral work entitled “Unto the King”, featuring 12 songs in a gospel music style was premiered by the “Rhythm Syndicate” choir in a concert in December 2019. Several of these songs have already been performed at various venues including the High Court of Australia. This work has also been released on CD.
I compose scores for animated films. Major commissions have included the “Torchlighters” series, the film “Joseph”, 2 feature films based on the book of Acts, “The Messengers” and “To every nation”, and most recently “The Pilgrims Progress” which was released worldwide in 2019. For this film I received the Australian Guild of Screen composers Screen music award for “Best music for Children’s Television”.
As a professional jazz pianist I have performed at numerous venues in Canberra and festivals, such as Merimbula Jazz Festival.
As a solo pianist, I have performed at National Library of Australia, Great hall of Parliament House, The National Museum, The High Court of Australia, Royal Australian Mint and the National Portrait Gallery, Hyatt Hotel, AIS arena, Old Parliament House and numerous other venues.
In 2019 I received “Citynews” award for Canberra Artist of the year for my work in musical composition.
Mike Dooley Music 