Mr Colin Spiers

Biography

Over a thirty year period working in the university sector, my principal research has involved the creation of original musical works and the performance and recording of new contemporary musical repertoire. Between 1988 and 1990 I was the foundation pianist of the contemporary ensemble Perihelion, which commissioned and performed many new works by Australian composers during this period. Since joining the academic staff of Newcastle University in 1990, I have continued to compose, but since I have a large teaching studio involving one-to-one as well as class teaching and postgraduate supervision, my ability to continue my creative work is often intermittent. Despite this constraint, I have managed to write at least one work per year (sometimes more), and have recently completed a commission from the University to compose a large work celebrating the 150th anniversary in 2009 of local government in Newcastle. This work was premiered in Newcastle town hall on Nov. 1, 2009 with an orchestra of seventy-six performers, four vocal soloists and a choir drawn from members of the Conservatorium, university and chamber choirs. Present projects include arrangements for violin, piano and other instruments of well-known hymns for projected CD release in 2011/12.

Qualifications

• Graduate Diploma in Music, Queensland Conservatorium of Music, 1979
• Bachelor of Arts (Music), Queensland Conservatorium of Music

Research

Research keywords

• Music composition and analysis
• Music performance

Research expertise

1. Musical performance relating to contemporary performance practice and styles.

2. Original musical composition.

3. Currently enrolled in PhD programme.

Fields of Research

Awards

Other

Administrative

Administrative expertise

Head of composition division.

Teaching

Teaching keywords

• Music composition and piano teaching

Teaching expertise

1. Tertiary level piano teching

2. Tertiary level composition teaching

3. Postgraduate supervision