FLYING is the 8th album of mine to be released in my "10 albums in 10 years" project.

The music for FLYING was inspired by a poem written by the Tasmanian poet Di Adams. 

The poem is about discovering you can fly - and so all of the pieces were written with the ideas of flight in mind.

To fit in even more with the theme I composed all the music up in the air at 35,000 ft, away from any instruments, while flying back and forth to work each week. 

This is the first time I've composed for, and recorded with, a chamber ensemble - so expect something very different from this recording. It's a coming together of composed orchestral sounds from the ensemble, and me improvising, weaving melodies in and out of the music.

It was wonderful to play my compositions with these amazing musicians from the Sirius Chamber Ensemble. These guys were something else, they played everything I put in front of them with great beauty and feeling. They were so giving. They were even open to improvising in small groups on one of the tunes. I think that was a first for them.

The Sirius Chamber Ensemble includes:

Ian Sykes  -  clarinet

Melissa Coleman  -  flute

Alex Fontaine  -  oboe

Alison Evans  -  bassoon

Gareth Lewis  -  trombone

Vanessa Tammetta  -  violin

Luke Spicer  -  viola

Steve Meyer  -  cello

Claire Race  -  piano

I'm so excited about the release of this album, it's beautiful and pretty unique.

I really hope you like it.

Thank you for your support...  

I was overjoyed to receive a grant from Arts Tasmania to record this album. The wonderful people who work for this funding body strive to empower artists to create art - and to them I am very grateful xox

Arts Tasmania paid for the entire recording process including:

3 days of performing fees for all of the musicians.

3 days of recording in the Coote Theatre with Ross Ahern.

2 days of mixing at the Chapel of Sound with Ross Ahern.

1 day of mastering at the Chapel of Sound with Paul Bryant.

So the $1500 I am asking for will enable me to release the album to you guys

and here's how I'll be spending the funds... 

$500 - to pay for the original line drawing artwork "Please turn me into a bird" by Jill Patrick. This drawing will become the image that will accompany the MP3s and appear on all promo material.

$500 - to pay Heather Bradbury to design the artwork flyer - including Jill Patrick's drawing and Di Adam's poem FLYING.

$250 - to pay for the printing of the artwork flyers.

$250 - to pay for admin fees including online album hosting and distribution and postage etc...