Piano Trio - 1st movt 
This Piano Trio, which is in 4 movements for violin, cello & piano, was first drafted in 2005.

Typically Romantic in nature, the movements vary in mood from passionate, to a lyrical plaintiveness, the sombre nature of a soulless state as might be depicted during war, to a feeling of ultimate release and elevation. As much as possible, and by way of melodies alone, I have tried to implement the idea of equality between the instruments, not only within the context of a trio, but that each instrument can hold their own independently of the others as a solo expression.

The performers are Goetz Richter AM (violin), Minah Choe (cello) and Jeanell Carrigan AM (piano) 

Recorded in February 2018 at Verbrugghen Hall at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music for the Wirripang CD release "Spellbound." 

The piano was the Fazioli concert grand tuned and maintained by David Kinney.

Piano Trio - Ist movt - violin, cello and piano

Piano Trio - 2nd movt 

This Piano Trio, which is in 4 movements for violin, cello & piano, was first drafted in 2005.

Typically Romantic in nature, the movements vary in mood from passionate, to a lyrical plaintiveness, the sombre nature of a soulless state as might be depicted during war, to a feeling of ultimate release and elevation. As much as possible, and by way of melodies alone, I have tried to implement the idea of equality between the instruments, not only within the context of a trio, but that each instrument can hold their own independently of the others as a solo expression.

The performers are Goetz Richter AM (violin), Minah Choe (cello) and Jeanell Carrigan AM (piano) 

Recorded in February 2018 at Verbrugghen Hall at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music for the Wirripang CD release "Spellbound." 

The piano was the Fazioli concert grand tuned and maintained by David Kinney.

Piano Trio: 2nd movt (violin, cello, piano)

Piano Trio - 3rd movt 

This Piano Trio, which is in 4 movements for violin, cello & piano, was first drafted in 2005. 

As a sharp contrast to the other three movements comprising this Piano Trio (the 4th movement will be uploaded soon), this movement is stark, deeply brooding, more a feeling of foreboding, over anything so decidedly dark.

Typically Romantic in nature, the movements vary in mood from passionate, to a lyrical plaintiveness, the sombre nature of a soulless state as might be depicted during war, to a feeling of ultimate release and elevation. As much as possible, and by way of melodies alone, I have tried to implement the idea of equality between the instruments, not only within the context of a trio, but that each instrument can hold their own independently of the others as a solo expression.

The performers are Goetz Richter AM (violin), Minah Choe (cello) and Jeanell Carrigan AM (piano) 

Recorded in February 2018 at Verbrugghen Hall at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music for the Wirripang CD release "Spellbound." 

The piano was the Fazioli concert grand tuned and maintained by David Kinney.

Piano Trio 3rd movt. (Violin, cello, paiano)

Piano Trio - 4th movt 

This Piano Trio, which is in 4 movements for violin, cello & piano, was first drafted in 2005.

Typically Romantic in nature, the movements vary in mood from passionate, to a lyrical plaintiveness, the sombre nature of a soulless state as might be depicted during war, to a feeling of ultimate release and elevation. As much as possible, and by way of melodies alone, I have tried to implement the idea of equality between the instruments, not only within the context of a trio, but that each instrument can hold their own independently of the others as a solo expression.

The performers are Goetz Richter AM (violin), Minah Choe (cello) and Jeanell Carrigan AM (piano) 

Recorded in February 2018 at Verbrugghen Hall at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music for the Wirripang CD release "Spellbound." 

The piano was the Fazioli concert grand tuned and maintained by David Kinney.

Piano Trio 4th movt (Violin, Cello, Piano)

A tall ship on its maiden voyage, the occasional swell of a blue green sea as gentle breeze divides a curtain of cloud. ‘The Maiden Voyage’ was written for, and dedicated to cellist Eleanor Lewis and pianist Katarina Kroslakova as a gesture of thanks for performing my piece “… and with the rain, tears” at the Federation of Australian Composer’s Cellomania concert, on 7 August, 2004, which is also happens to be featured on the same CD from which this piece comes.

In this instance, the cellist is Minah Choe with Jeanell Carrigan at the piano.

The second pianist with Jeanell Carrigan in the recording of this work is Hugh Ouyang.

"The Maiden Voyage" was recorded for the Wirripang CD release "The Voice of Love" at the Verbrugghen Hall, Sydney Conservatorium of Music, August/September 2017.

Minah plays a cello by Joseph Hall (1869)
Jeanell and Hugh play the Fazioli piano.
The recording engineer was David Kim Boyle.

The Maiden Voyage (cello and piano)

LEGEND after “The Shadow of Cain”

This seemingly large- scale work was first drafted between March-April of 1978. It takes as its “subject matter” the poem The Shadow of Cain by Edith Sitwell. 

“The Shadow of Cain” is about the fission of the world into warring particles, destroying and self-destructive. It is about the gradual migration of mankind after the Second Fall of Man that took the form of separation of brother and brother, of Cain and Abel, of nation and nation, of the rich and the poor – the spiritual migration of these into the desert of the Cold, towards the final disaster, the first symbol of which fell on Hiroshima.” (Preface to Collected Poems by Edith Sitwell)

The piece is predominantly in minor keys but for the final section in the major. Perhaps this could be heard as a ray of hope, that our greater humanity will reign supreme in troubled times such as these. But for progress to happen of any kind, that would see kindness play its part, the process underway must play itself out for Love as we are meant to realize it to be given the chance to prove Life wrong. 

The pianist is Jeanell Carrigan.
The piano is a Fazioli.
Recording Engineer: David Kim Boyle

Recorded at the Verbrugghen Hall, Sydney Conservatorium of Music August/September 2017

Legend after The Shadow of Cain (piano)

SIMPLICITY ITSELF (from Two Pieces for Cello and Piano) 

The majority of this work was composed without the aid of any instrument, sitting amid the grounds of the Dame Eadith Walker Estate, Concord while my late and beloved mother was receiving dialysis treatment. I knew at the time she had not all that long left to live.

If I am permitted to have a favourite work of my own, this would be one of but a select few pieces I have composed across the forty plus years of my creative life.

The cellist in this performance is Minah Choe, with Jeanell Carrigan at the piano.

Minah Choe was born in Seoul, Korea and began her studies at the age of 8. She graduated with Bachelor of Music with First Class of Honors from the Sydney Conservatorium where she was admitted whilst at high school and received scholarships throughout her studies. She was a full scholarship holder at the Australian National Academy of Music in 2002. In 2004 Minah received master's degree from the Indiana University Jacob’s School of Music under the guidance of Prof. Janos Starker and continued with doctoral degree as his teaching assistant at IU. Currently Minah is pursuing her Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the Sydney Conservatorium while working as a freelance cellist in major orchestras and performing widely in various chamber music concerts and recitals. ​Minah has appeared as a soloist with several orchestras including Sydney Symphony, Christchurch Symphony, Nizhny-Novgrod Philharmonic, Indiana Univeristy Philharmonic, Bloomington Camerata, Sydney Conservatorium Chamber, and Ku-ring-gai Philharmonic, the Beecroft orchestras, and Melbourne String Ensemble. Minah has won numerous awards including “Most Promising Performer” in 4th Adam International Cello Competition, Australian Postgraduate Award, inaugural Janos Starker Scholarship, Dorothy Fraser Scholarship and Australian University of Women Federation Commemorative Fellowship. ﻿Minah is passionate about teaching cello. She was a tutor at AYO Young Symphonists in 2010 and tutor at the Riverina Summer School for Strings in 2013. This year, Minah teaches at the Sydney Conservatorium and the Conservatorium High School and has commenced working as a Music Co-ordinator of the ​Australian Korean Classical Association.﻿Minah plays a cello by Joseph Hel (1869).

Dr Jeanell Carrigan is presently an Associate Professor in Collaborative Piano at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, University of Sydney. She has performed as a soloist, chamber musician and accompanist in Germany, Italy, Austria, Switzerland and throughout Australia, and has recorded for the Bavarian Radio Corporation, the ABC and for regional stations in Australia on many occasions. She holds a Doctor of Creative Arts in the area of Australian post-1970 solo piano repertoire and in May, 2016 released her seventeenth solo compact disc of Australian piano music. She is passionate about promoting Australian Music particularly the piano music of Australian women composers. In a review of the CD A Little Variation, composer Houston Dunleavy said “This recording is one to add to the list of treasures of Australian music that seem to be growing by the year. Surely Jeanell Carrigan belongs in this category as well. Australian music has a great champion in Carrigan’s fine playing and scholarship. She deserves far wide recognition for the quality of her work.” (Music Trust 1/4/15)

Recorded in August/ September 2017 in Verbrugghen Hall at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

The piano was the Fazioli concert grand tuned and maintained by David Kinney.

Recording engineer: David Kim Boyle.

Simplicity Itself (cello and piano)

'Self Portrait' is the fourth piece in a set of seven pieces collectively titled 'I would like to paint as the bird sings' based on paintings by the French impressionist painter, Claude Monet.

"Paint as you see nature yourself. If you don't see nature right with an individual feeling, you will never be a painter, and all the teaching cannot make you one. A painter must work out his own problem in art, as everyone must work out his own problem in life." (Monet)

The pianist is Jeanell Carrigan.

Dr Jeanell Carrigan is presently an Associate Professor in Collaborative Piano at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, University of Sydney. She has performed as a soloist, chamber musician and accompanist in Germany, Italy, Austria, Switzerland and throughout Australia, and has recorded for the Bavarian Radio Corporation, the ABC and for regional stations in Australia on many occasions. She holds a Doctor of Creative Arts in the area of Australian post-1970 solo piano repertoire and in May, 2016 released her seventeenth solo compact disc of Australian piano music. She is passionate about promoting Australian Music particularly the piano music of Australian women composers. In a review of the CD A Little Variation, composer Houston Dunleavy said “This recording is one to add to the list of treasures of Australian music that seem to be growing by the year. Surely Jeanell Carrigan belongs in this category as well. Australian music has a great champion in Carrigan’s fine playing and scholarship. She deserves far wide recognition for the quality of her work.” (Music Trust 1/4/15)

Recorded in August/ September 2017 in Verbrugghen Hall at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

The piano was the Fazioli concert grand tuned and maintained by David Kinney.

Recording engineer: David Kim Boyle.

'Self Portrait' (Piano solo)

'Regatta at Argenteuil' is the sixth piece in a set of seven pieces collectively titled 'I would like to paint as the bird sings' based on paintings by the French impressionist painter, Claude Monet.

"It is through observation and reflection that one finds." (Monet)

The pianist is Jeanell Carrigan.

Dr Jeanell Carrigan is presently an Associate Professor in Collaborative Piano at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, University of Sydney. She has performed as a soloist, chamber musician and accompanist in Germany, Italy, Austria, Switzerland and throughout Australia, and has recorded for the Bavarian Radio Corporation, the ABC and for regional stations in Australia on many occasions. She holds a Doctor of Creative Arts in the area of Australian post-1970 solo piano repertoire and in May, 2016 released her seventeenth solo compact disc of Australian piano music. She is passionate about promoting Australian Music particularly the piano music of Australian women composers. In a review of the CD A Little Variation, composer Houston Dunleavy said “This recording is one to add to the list of treasures of Australian music that seem to be growing by the year. Surely Jeanell Carrigan belongs in this category as well. Australian music has a great champion in Carrigan’s fine playing and scholarship. She deserves far wide recognition for the quality of her work.” (Music Trust 1/4/15)

Recorded in August/ September 2017 in Verbrugghen Hall at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music for the Wirripang CD release "The Voice of Love'.

The piano was the Fazioli concert grand tuned and maintained by David Kinney.

Recording engineer: David Kim Boyle.

Regatta at Argenteuil (piano solo)

'Poppy Fields' is the final piece in a set of seven pieces collectively titled 'I would like to paint as the bird sings' based on paintings by the French Impressionist painter, Claude Monet.

"For me, a landscape does not exist in its own right, since its appearance changes at every moment; but the surrounding atmosphere brings it to life - the light and the air which vary continually. For me, it is only the surrounding atmosphere which gives subjects their true value."

The pianist is Jeanell Carrigan.

Dr Jeanell Carrigan is presently an Associate Professor in Collaborative Piano at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, University of Sydney. She has performed as a soloist, chamber musician and accompanist in Germany, Italy, Austria, Switzerland and throughout Australia, and has recorded for the Bavarian Radio Corporation, the ABC and for regional stations in Australia on many occasions. She holds a Doctor of Creative Arts in the area of Australian post-1970 solo piano repertoire and in May, 2016 released her seventeenth solo compact disc of Australian piano music. She is passionate about promoting Australian Music particularly the piano music of Australian women composers. In a review of the CD A Little Variation, composer Houston Dunleavy said “This recording is one to add to the list of treasures of Australian music that seem to be growing by the year. Surely Jeanell Carrigan belongs in this category as well. Australian music has a great champion in Carrigan’s fine playing and scholarship. She deserves far wide recognition for the quality of her work.” (Music Trust 1/4/15)

Recorded in August/ September 2017 in Verbrugghen Hall at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

The piano was the Fazioli concert grand tuned and maintained by David Kinney.

Recording engineer: David Kim Boyle.

'Poppy Fields' (piano solo)

Dedicated to pianist/composer Thiago Romano Mondini, ‘Reverie’ was inspired by poems from “Chamber Music” by James Joyce, the feeling for the length and turns of the melodic phrases executed by the cello mirroring that of the lines of verse.

The performers are cellist Minah Choe with Jeanell Carrigan at the piano.

Minah Choe was born in Seoul, Korea and began her studies at the age of 8. She graduated with Bachelor of Music with First Class of Honors from the Sydney Conservatorium where she was admitted whilst at high school and received scholarships throughout her studies. She was a full scholarship holder at the Australian National Academy of Music in 2002. In 2004 Minah received master's degree from the Indiana University Jacob’s School of Music under the guidance of Prof. Janos Starker and continued with doctoral degree as his teaching assistant at IU. Currently Minah is pursuing her Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the Sydney Conservatorium while working as a freelance cellist in major orchestras and performing widely in various chamber music concerts and recitals. ​Minah has appeared as a soloist with several orchestras including Sydney Symphony, Christchurch Symphony, Nizhny-Novgrod Philharmonic, Indiana University Philharmonic, Bloomington Camerata, Sydney Conservatorium Chamber, and Ku-ring-gai Philharmonic, the Beecroft orchestras, and Melbourne String Ensemble. Minah has won numerous awards including “Most Promising Performer” in 4th Adam International Cello Competition, Australian Postgraduate Award, inaugural Janos Starker Scholarship, Dorothy Fraser Scholarship and Australian University of Women Federation Commemorative Fellowship. ﻿Minah is passionate about teaching cello. She was a tutor at AYO Young Symphonists in 2010 and tutor at the Riverina Summer School for Strings in 2013. This year, Minah teaches at the Sydney Conservatorium and the Conservatorium High School and has commenced working as a Music Co-ordinator of the ​Australian Korean Classical Association.﻿Minah plays a cello by Joseph Hel (1869).

Dr Jeanell Carrigan is presently an Associate Professor in Collaborative Piano at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, University of Sydney. She has performed as a soloist, chamber musician and accompanist in Germany, Italy, Austria, Switzerland and throughout Australia, and has recorded for the Bavarian Radio Corporation, the ABC and for regional stations in Australia on many occasions. She holds a Doctor of Creative Arts in the area of Australian post-1970 solo piano repertoire and in May, 2016 released her seventeenth solo compact disc of Australian piano music. She is passionate about promoting Australian Music particularly the piano music of Australian women composers. In a review of the CD A Little Variation, composer Houston Dunleavy said “This recording is one to add to the list of treasures of Australian music that seem to be growing by the year. Surely Jeanell Carrigan belongs in this category as well. Australian music has a great champion in Carrigan’s fine playing and scholarship. She deserves far wide recognition for the quality of her work.” (Music Trust 1/4/15)

Recorded in August/ September 2017 in Verbrugghen Hall at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

The piano was the Fazioli concert grand tuned and maintained by David Kinney.

 Recording Engineer: David Kim Boyle.

The painting is by Augustus John.

Reverie (cello and piano)

BARCAROLLE (from Three Romantic Pieces for Cello and Piano) 

A barcarolle is a traditional folk song usually sung by Venetian gondoliers, and characterized by a rhythm reminiscent of the gondolier’s stroke as it gently “reads” the rubato of soft waves, the romantic water-ways of the city of Venice.

Dedicated to Steve Loe.

Minah Choe (cello) Jeanell Carrigan (piano)

Minah Choe was born in Seoul, Korea and began her studies at the age of 8. She graduated with Bachelor of Music with First Class of Honors from the Sydney Conservatorium where she was admitted whilst at high school and received scholarships throughout her studies. She was a full scholarship holder at the Australian National Academy of Music in 2002. In 2004 Minah received master's degree from the Indiana University Jacob’s School of Music under the guidance of Prof. Janos Starker and continued with doctoral degree as his teaching assistant at IU. Currently Minah is pursuing her Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the Sydney Conservatorium while working as a freelance cellist in major orchestras and performing widely in various chamber music concerts and recitals. Minah has appeared as a soloist with several orchestras including Sydney Symphony, Christchurch Symphony, Nizhny-Novgrod Philharmonic, Indiana Univeristy Philharmonic, Bloomington Camerata, Sydney Conservatorium Chamber, and Ku-ring-gai Philharmonic, the Beecroft orchestras, and Melbourne String Ensemble. Minah has won numerous awards including “Most Promising Performer” in 4th Adam International Cello Competition, Australian Postgraduate Award, inaugural Janos Starker Scholarship, Dorothy Fraser Scholarship and Australian University of Women Federation Commemorative Fellowship. Minah is passionate about teaching cello. She was a tutor at AYO Young Symphonists in 2010 and tutor at the Riverina Summer School for Strings in 2013. This year, Minah teaches at the Sydney Conservatorium and the Conservatorium High School and has commenced working as a Music Co-ordinator of the Australian Korean Classical Association.Minah plays a cello by Joseph Hel (1869).

Dr Jeanell Carrigan AM is presently an Associate Professor in Collaborative Piano at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, University of Sydney. She has performed as a soloist, chamber musician and accompanist in Germany, Italy, Austria, Switzerland and throughout Australia, and has recorded for the Bavarian Radio Corporation, the ABC and for regional stations in Australia on many occasions. She holds a Doctor of Creative Arts in the area of Australian post-1970 solo piano repertoire and in May, 2016 released her seventeenth solo compact disc of Australian piano music. She is passionate about promoting Australian Music particularly the piano music of Australian women composers. In a review of the CD A Little Variation, composer Houston Dunleavy said “This recording is one to add to the list of treasures of Australian music that seem to be growing by the year. Surely Jeanell Carrigan belongs in this category as well. Australian music has a great champion in Carrigan’s fine playing and scholarship. She deserves far wide recognition for the quality of her work.” (Music Trust 1/4/15)

Recorded in August/ September 2017 in Verbrugghen Hall at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

The piano was the Fazioli concert grand tuned and maintained by David Kinney.

Recording engineer: David Kim Boyle.

Barcarolle (cello and piano)

Dedicated to acclaimed pianist Lemuel Grave, ‘Waltz Awaiting’ was written as a gesture of thanks for the interest he has shown in my music, and for performing it.

The pianist in this instance is Jeanell Carrigan

Dr Jeanell Carrigan AM is presently an Associate Professor in Collaborative Piano at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, University of Sydney. She has performed as a soloist, chamber musician and accompanist in Germany, Italy, Austria, Switzerland and throughout Australia, and has recorded for the Bavarian Radio Corporation, the ABC and for regional stations in Australia on many occasions. She holds a Doctor of Creative Arts in the area of Australian post-1970 solo piano repertoire and in May, 2016 released her seventeenth solo compact disc of Australian piano music. She is passionate about promoting Australian Music particularly the piano music of Australian women composers. In a review of the CD A Little Variation, composer Houston Dunleavy said “This recording is one to add to the list of treasures of Australian music that seem to be growing by the year. Surely Jeanell Carrigan belongs in this category as well. Australian music has a great champion in Carrigan’s fine playing and scholarship. She deserves far wide recognition for the quality of her work.” (Music Trust 1/4/15)

Recorded in August/ September 2017 in Verbrugghen Hall at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

The piano was the Fazioli concert grand tuned and maintained by David Kinney.

Recording engineer: David Kim Boyle.

Image source: Oleg Kalaytana

Waltz Awaiting (Piano Solo)

Originally written for the Federation of Australian Composer’s Cellomania concert, August 7th, 2004 and played by cellist Eleanor Lewis with Katarina Kroslokova at the piano.

Dedicated to Keenan Reimer-Watts.

The performers in this instance are cellist Minah Choe with Jeanell Carrigan at the piano.


Minah Choe was born in Seoul, Korea and began her studies at the age of 8. She graduated with Bachelor of Music with First Class of Honors from the Sydney Conservatorium where she was admitted whilst at high school and received scholarships throughout her studies. She was a full scholarship holder at the Australian National Academy of Music in 2002. In 2004 Minah received master's degree from the Indiana University Jacob’s School of Music under the guidance of Prof. Janos Starker and continued with doctoral degree as his teaching assistant at IU. Currently Minah is pursuing her Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the Sydney Conservatorium while working as a freelance cellist in major orchestras and performing widely in various chamber music concerts and recitals. ​Minah has appeared as a soloist with several orchestras including Sydney Symphony, Christchurch Symphony, Nizhny-Novgrod Philharmonic, Indiana Univeristy Philharmonic, Bloomington Camerata, Sydney Conservatorium Chamber, and Ku-ring-gai Philharmonic, the Beecroft orchestras, and Melbourne String Ensemble. Minah has won numerous awards including “Most Promising Performer” in 4th Adam International Cello Competition, Australian Postgraduate Award, inaugural Janos Starker Scholarship, Dorothy Fraser Scholarship and Australian University of Women Federation Commemorative Fellowship. ﻿Minah is passionate about teaching cello. She was a tutor at AYO Young Symphonists in 2010 and tutor at the Riverina Summer School for Strings in 2013. This year, Minah teaches at the Sydney Conservatorium and the Conservatorium High School and has commenced working as a Music Co-ordinator of the ​Australian Korean Classical Association.﻿Minah plays a cello by Joseph Hel (1869).


Dr Jeanell Carrigan AM is presently an Associate Professor in Collaborative Piano at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, University of Sydney. She has performed as a soloist, chamber musician and accompanist in Germany, Italy, Austria, Switzerland and throughout Australia, and has recorded for the Bavarian Radio Corporation, the ABC and for regional stations in Australia on many occasions. She holds a Doctor of Creative Arts in the area of Australian post-1970 solo piano repertoire and in May, 2016 released her seventeenth solo compact disc of Australian piano music. She is passionate about promoting Australian Music particularly the piano music of Australian women composers. In a review of the CD A Little Variation, composer Houston Dunleavy said “This recording is one to add to the list of treasures of Australian music that seem to be growing by the year. Surely Jeanell Carrigan belongs in this category as well. Australian music has a great champion in Carrigan’s fine playing and scholarship. She deserves far wide recognition for the quality of her work.” (Music Trust 1/4/15)

Recorded in August/ September 2017 in Verbrugghen Hall at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

The piano was the Fazioli concert grand tuned and maintained by David Kinney.

Recording engineer: David Kim Boyle.

... and with the rain, tears (cello and piano)

Dedicated to the memory of Eva and Nicholas Loe

A “Romance” is a piece of music more prevalent throughout the 18th century, although it has a centuries-long history. It is a simple, lyrical piece not only for voice, but also instruments alone. The Oxford Dictionary of Music states that “generally it implies a personal or tender quality”, hence the simple and hopefully tender nature of this piece.

Cellist Minah Choe with Jeanell Carrigan at the piano.

Minah Choe was born in Seoul, Korea and began her studies at the age of 8. She graduated with Bachelor of Music with First Class of Honors from the Sydney Conservatorium where she was admitted whilst at high school and received scholarships throughout her studies. She was a full scholarship holder at the Australian National Academy of Music in 2002. In 2004 Minah received master's degree from the Indiana University Jacob’s School of Music under the guidance of Prof. Janos Starker and continued with doctoral degree as his teaching assistant at IU. Currently Minah is pursuing her Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the Sydney Conservatorium while working as a freelance cellist in major orchestras and performing widely in various chamber music concerts and recitals. Minah has appeared as a soloist with several orchestras including Sydney Symphony, Christchurch Symphony, Nizhny-Novgrod Philharmonic, Indiana Univeristy Philharmonic, Bloomington Camerata, Sydney Conservatorium Chamber, and Ku-ring-gai Philharmonic, the Beecroft orchestras, and Melbourne String Ensemble. Minah has won numerous awards including “Most Promising Performer” in 4th Adam International Cello Competition, Australian Postgraduate Award, inaugural Janos Starker Scholarship, Dorothy Fraser Scholarship and Australian University of Women Federation Commemorative Fellowship. Minah is passionate about teaching cello. She was a tutor at AYO Young Symphonists in 2010 and tutor at the Riverina Summer School for Strings in 2013. This year, Minah teaches at the Sydney Conservatorium and the Conservatorium High School and has commenced working as a Music Co-ordinator of the Australian Korean Classical Association.Minah plays a cello by Joseph Hel (1869).

Dr Jeanell Carrigan AM is presently an Associate Professor in Collaborative Piano at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, University of Sydney. She has performed as a soloist, chamber musician and accompanist in Germany, Italy, Austria, Switzerland and throughout Australia, and has recorded for the Bavarian Radio Corporation, the ABC and for regional stations in Australia on many occasions. She holds a Doctor of Creative Arts in the area of Australian post-1970 solo piano repertoire and in May, 2016 released her seventeenth solo compact disc of Australian piano music. She is passionate about promoting Australian Music particularly the piano music of Australian women composers. In a review of the CD A Little Variation, composer Houston Dunleavy said “This recording is one to add to the list of treasures of Australian music that seem to be growing by the year. Surely Jeanell Carrigan belongs in this category as well. Australian music has a great champion in Carrigan’s fine playing and scholarship. She deserves far wide recognition for the quality of her work.” (Music Trust 1/4/15)

Recorded in August/ September 2017 in Verbrugghen Hall at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

The piano was the Fazioli concert grand tuned and maintained by David Kinney.

Recording engineer: David Kim Boyle.

Romance (cello and piano)

VOCALISE (cello and piano) Dedicated to the highly gifted musicians and brothers, Oliver and Lennon Aldort, a “vocalise” in musical terms is a composition in which a performer sings solmization, upon one vowel so to develop flexibility and control. Perhaps the most famous “vocalize” is by Rachmaninoff, composed in 1915, and written for high voice. In this instance, believing as I do that the cello is the one instrument so closely aligned to the voice, and as if to personify the instrument as a human voice, I wrote this piece. 

The cellist is Minah Choe with Jeanell Carrigan at the piano. 

Minah Choe was born in Seoul, Korea and began her studies at the age of 8. She graduated with Bachelor of Music with First Class of Honors from the Sydney Conservatorium where she was admitted whilst at high school and received scholarships throughout her studies. She was a full scholarship holder at the Australian National Academy of Music in 2002. In 2004 Minah received master's degree from the Indiana University Jacob’s School of Music under the guidance of Prof. Janos Starker and continued with doctoral degree as his teaching assistant at IU. Currently Minah is pursuing her Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the Sydney Conservatorium while working as a freelance cellist in major orchestras and performing widely in various chamber music concerts and recitals. ​Minah has appeared as a soloist with several orchestras including Sydney Symphony, Christchurch Symphony, Nizhny-Novgrod Philharmonic, Indiana Univeristy Philharmonic, Bloomington Camerata, Sydney Conservatorium Chamber, and Ku-ring-gai Philharmonic, the Beecroft orchestras, and Melbourne String Ensemble. Minah has won numerous awards including “Most Promising Performer” in 4th Adam International Cello Competition, Australian Postgraduate Award, inaugural Janos Starker Scholarship, Dorothy Fraser Scholarship and Australian University of Women Federation Commemorative Fellowship. Minah is passionate about teaching cello. She was a tutor at AYO Young Symphonists in 2010 and tutor at the Riverina Summer School for Strings in 2013. This year, Minah teaches at the Sydney Conservatorium and the Conservatorium High School and has commenced working as a Music Co-ordinator of the ​Australian Korean Classical Association.Minah plays a cello by Joseph Hel (1869). 

Dr Jeanell Carrigan AM is presently an Associate Professor in Collaborative Piano at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, University of Sydney. She has performed as a soloist, chamber musician and accompanist in Germany, Italy, Austria, Switzerland and throughout Australia, and has recorded for the Bavarian Radio Corporation, the ABC and for regional stations in Australia on many occasions. She holds a Doctor of Creative Arts in the area of Australian post-1970 solo piano repertoire and in May, 2016 released her seventeenth solo compact disc of Australian piano music. She is passionate about promoting Australian Music particularly the piano music of Australian women composers. In a review of the CD A Little Variation, composer Houston Dunleavy said “This recording is one to add to the list of treasures of Australian music that seem to be growing by the year. Surely Jeanell Carrigan belongs in this category as well. Australian music has a great champion in Carrigan’s fine playing and scholarship. She deserves far wide recognition for the quality of her work.” (Music Trust 1/4/15) 

Recorded in August/ September 2017 in Verbrugghen Hall at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. 

The piano was the Fazioli concert grand tuned and maintained by David Kinney. 

Recording engineer: David Kim Boyle.

Vocalise (cello and piano)

Hymn to the Aten from Talatat: a suite in three movements for piano

The first of three movements of a suite titled Talatat, based on Egyptian themes. 

Talatats are small blocks of sandstone, from the grandest period of ancient Egypt, and used to construct Akhenaten’s Aten temples and palaces in Karnak and El-‘Amarna. 

Talatat is the Arabic word for three, describing the length of the typical small stone building blocks of such temples, hence there are three movements to this suite.

‘Hymn to the Aten’ is a musical evocation of a hymn-poem, written to the sun-disk deity, Aten.

The pianist is Jeanell Carrigan

Dr Jeanell Carrigan AM is presently an Associate Professor in Collaborative Piano at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, University of Sydney. She has performed as a soloist, chamber musician and accompanist in Germany, Italy, Austria, Switzerland and throughout Australia, and has recorded for the Bavarian Radio Corporation, the ABC and for regional stations in Australia on many occasions. She holds a Doctor of Creative Arts in the area of Australian post-1970 solo piano repertoire and in May, 2016 released her seventeenth solo compact disc of Australian piano music. She is passionate about promoting Australian Music particularly the piano music of Australian women composers. In a review of the CD A Little Variation, composer Houston Dunleavy said “This recording is one to add to the list of treasures of Australian music that seem to be growing by the year. Surely Jeanell Carrigan belongs in this category as well. Australian music has a great champion in Carrigan’s fine playing and scholarship. She deserves far wide recognition for the quality of her work.” (Music Trust 1/4/15)


Recorded in August/ September 2017 in Verbrugghen Hall at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

The piano was the Fazioli concert grand tuned and maintained by David Kinney.

Recording engineer: David Kim Boyle.

Hymn to the Aten from Talatat: a suite in three movements for piano

The performers are:

Goetz Richter AM (violin)
Minah Choe (cello)
Jenall Carrigan AM (piano)

Recorded at the Verbrugghen Hall, Sydney Conservatorium of Music 2019 for the Wirripang CD release 'Spellbound'.

The sound engineer was David Kim-Boyle

Pavane (violin, cello and piano)

La Danse a Bouvigal (violin, cello & piano)

Dedicated to Wendy Reid.

‘Le Danse a Bouvigal’ draws its inspiration from Renoir’s painting of the same name. Surprisingly, it was really my first ever attempt at writing for an ensemble of players. Initially composed around the year 2003, it was not published until 2010. Perhaps the following quote from a letter written by Renoir to an associate in 1911 bears witness to all composers as it does all painters:
“ Granted that our craft is difficult, complicated; I understand the soul-searchings. But all the same, a little simplicity, a little candour, is necessary. I just struggle with my figures until they are a harmonious unity with their landscape background, and I want people to feel that neither the setting nor the figures are dull and lifeless.”

The performers are Goetz Richter AM (violin), Minah Choe (cello) and Jeanell Carrigan AM (piano)

Recorded in February 2018 at Verbrugghen Hall at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

The piano was the Fazioli concert grand tuned and maintained by David Kinney.
Recording Engineer: David Kim Boyle.

Painting: Renoir.

La Danse A Bouvigal (violin, cello and piano)

This Romantic, and dare I suggest it seemingly gothic-inspired
work - the sense of the supernatural and to a certain degree, of suspense - is dedicated to violinist Goetz Richter and his pianist-wife Jeanell Carrigan, as a gesture of thanks for the generous and unwavering interest they have shown in my work. The piece itself was inspired by the poem ‘Spellbound’ by Emily Bronte

The night is darkening round me,

The wild winds coldly blow;

But a tyrant spell has bound me

And I cannot, cannot go.

The giant trees are bending

Their boughs weighed with snow,

And the storm is fast descending,

And yet I cannot go.

Clouds beyond clouds above me,

Wastes beyond wastes below;

But nothing dear can move me;

I will not, cannot go.

The performers are Goetz Richter AM (violin) and Jeanell Carrigan AM (piano) Recorded in February 2018 at Verbrugghen Hall at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music for the Wirripang CD release "Spellbound." 

The piano was the Fazioli concert grand tuned and maintained by David Kinney. Recording Engineer: David Kim Boyle.

Spellbound (violin and piano)

Written at the request of piano John Martin, the title of this work comes from the poem 'Autumn" by William Cullen Bright.

The pianist is John Martin.

Recorded for the Wirripang CD release "Another Look At Autumn"

Image source: Budding Hope Photography

Another Look at Autumn

The Year's Last, Loveliest Smile (Piano)

The last of four scherzos, all of which were composed as a deliberate attempt to either equal or surpass Chopin’s Scherzos. 

‘Scherzo’ in Italian means a ‘joke’, and although the use of the term dates back to the time of Monteverdi, who published works under the title ‘Scherzi Musicali’ or ‘musical jokes’, Chopin’s contribution to the genre, and those of mine are demanding works, all of which embrace the keyboard and its concert-like capabilities to the full. 

The pianist is Jeanell Carrigan. 

Dr Jeanell Carrigan AM is presently an Associate Professor in Collaborative Piano at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, University of Sydney. She has performed as a soloist, chamber musician and accompanist in Germany, Italy, Austria, Switzerland and throughout Australia, and has recorded for the Bavarian Radio Corporation, the ABC and for regional stations in Australia on many occasions. She holds a Doctor of Creative Arts in the area of Australian post-1970 solo piano repertoire and in May, 2016 released her seventeenth solo compact disc of Australian piano music. She is passionate about promoting Australian Music particularly the piano music of Australian women composers. In a review of the CD A Little Variation, composer Houston Dunleavy said “This recording is one to add to the list of treasures of Australian music that seem to be growing by the year. Surely Jeanell Carrigan belongs in this category as well. Australian music has a great champion in Carrigan’s fine playing and scholarship. She deserves far wide recognition for the quality of her work.” (Music Trust 1/4/15) 

Recorded in August 2019 at Verbrugghen Hall at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. 

The piano was the Fazioli concert grand tuned and maintained by David Kinney. 

 Recording Engineer: David Kim Boyle.

Scherzo No. 4 (piano)

Fantasie-Sonata (4 movts cello & piano)

This is the first movement (Allegro moderato) of my 4-movement Fantasie-Sonata for cello and piano. The remaining three movements will be uploaded at a later date.

The Fantasie-Sonata for cello and piano was written in 2008, and is dedicated to my late mother. The work comprises four movements, Allegro moderato, Moderato, Andante maestoso and Allegretto ma non troppo. The second movement - Moderato - is for solo cello. Each movement, although of contrasting moods, share a theme. Where the first movement is forward-moving, and full of passion, the third movement is more march-like, and robust. At the time of writing it, any thought of adhering to strict sonata form was furthest from my mind, favouring more the freedom of expression as the piece seemed to dictate itself to me; hence the title ‘Fantasie-Sonata.’

The performers are Minah Choe (cello) and Jeanell Carrigan (piano)

Recorded in February 2018 at Verbrugghen Hall at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

The piano was the Fazioli concert grand tuned and maintained by David Kinney.

Recording Engineer: David Kim Boyle.

Fantasie Sonata for Cello and Piano: 1st Movement (Allegro Moderato)

Fantasie-Sonata (4 movts cello & piano)

This is the second movement (solo cello) of my 4-movement Fantasie-Sonata for cello and piano.

The Fantasie-Sonata for cello and piano was written in 2008, and is dedicated to my late mother. The work comprises four movements, Allegro moderato, Moderato, Andante maestoso and Allegretto ma non troppo. The second movement - Moderato - is for solo cello. Each movement, although of contrasting moods, share a theme. Where the first movement is forward-moving, and full of passion, the third movement is more march-like, and robust. At the time of writing it, any thought of adhering to strict sonata form was furthest from my mind, favouring more the freedom of expression as the piece seemed to dictate itself to me; hence the title ‘Fantasie-Sonata.’

The performers for the entire sonata are Minah Choe (cello) and Jeanell Carrigan (piano)

Minah Choe was born in Seoul, Korea and began her studies at the age of 8. She graduated with Bachelor of Music with First Class of Honors from the Sydney Conservatorium where she was admitted whilst at high school and received scholarships throughout her studies. She was a full scholarship holder at the Australian National Academy of Music in 2002. In 2004 Minah received master's degree from the Indiana University Jacob’s School of Music under the guidance of Prof. Janos Starker and continued with doctoral degree as his teaching assistant at IU. Currently Minah is pursuing her Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the Sydney Conservatorium while working as a freelance cellist in major orchestras and performing widely in various chamber music concerts and recitals. ​Minah has appeared as a soloist with several orchestras including Sydney Symphony, Christchurch Symphony, Nizhny-Novgrod Philharmonic, Indiana Univeristy Philharmonic, Bloomington Camerata, Sydney Conservatorium Chamber, and Ku-ring-gai Philharmonic, the Beecroft orchestras, and Melbourne String Ensemble. Minah has won numerous awards including “Most Promising Performer” in 4th Adam International Cello Competition, Australian Postgraduate Award, inaugural Janos Starker Scholarship, Dorothy Fraser Scholarship and Australian University of Women Federation Commemorative Fellowship. Minah is passionate about teaching cello. She was a tutor at AYO Young Symphonists in 2010 and tutor at the Riverina Summer School for Strings in 2013. This year, Minah teaches at the Sydney Conservatorium and the Conservatorium High School and has commenced working as a Music Co-ordinator of the ​Australian Korean Classical Association.Minah plays a cello by Joseph Hel (1869).

Dr Jeanell Carrigan is presently an Associate Professor in Collaborative Piano at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, University of Sydney. She has performed as a soloist, chamber musician and accompanist in Germany, Italy, Austria, Switzerland and throughout Australia, and has recorded for the Bavarian Radio Corporation, the ABC and for regional stations in Australia on many occasions. She holds a Doctor of Creative Arts in the area of Australian post-1970 solo piano repertoire and in May, 2016 released her seventeenth solo compact disc of Australian piano music. She is passionate about promoting Australian Music particularly the piano music of Australian women composers. In a review of the CD A Little Variation, composer Houston Dunleavy said “This recording is one to add to the list of treasures of Australian music that seem to be growing by the year. Surely Jeanell Carrigan belongs in this category as well. Australian music has a great champion in Carrigan’s fine playing and scholarship. She deserves far wide recognition for the quality of her work.” (Music Trust 1/4/15)
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Fantasie Sonata for cello and piano, 2nd movt. (solo cello)

This is the third movement of my 4-movement Fantasie-Sonata for cello and piano. 

The Fantasie-Sonata for cello and piano was written in 2008, and is dedicated to my late mother. 

The work comprises four movements, Allegro moderato, Moderato, Andante maestoso and Allegretto ma non troppo. Each movement, although of contrasting moods, share a theme. Where the first movement is forward-moving, and full of passion, the third movement is more march-like, and robust. At the time of writing it, any thought of adhering to strict sonata form was furthest from my mind, favouring more the freedom of expression as the piece seemed to dictate itself to me; hence the title ‘Fantasie-Sonata.’ 

The performers for the entire sonata are Minah Choe (cello) and Jeanell Carrigan (piano)

Minah Choe was born in Seoul, Korea and began her studies at the age of 8. She graduated with Bachelor of Music with First Class of Honors from the Sydney Conservatorium where she was admitted whilst at high school and received scholarships throughout her studies. She was a full scholarship holder at the Australian National Academy of Music in 2002. In 2004 Minah received master's degree from the Indiana University Jacob’s School of Music under the guidance of Prof. Janos Starker and continued with doctoral degree as his teaching assistant at IU. Currently Minah is pursuing her Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the Sydney Conservatorium while working as a freelance cellist in major orchestras and performing widely in various chamber music concerts and recitals. ​Minah has appeared as a soloist with several orchestras including Sydney Symphony, Christchurch Symphony, Nizhny-Novgrod Philharmonic, Indiana Univeristy Philharmonic, Bloomington Camerata, Sydney Conservatorium Chamber, and Ku-ring-gai Philharmonic, the Beecroft orchestras, and Melbourne String Ensemble. Minah has won numerous awards including “Most Promising Performer” in 4th Adam International Cello Competition, Australian Postgraduate Award, inaugural Janos Starker Scholarship, Dorothy Fraser Scholarship and Australian University of Women Federation Commemorative Fellowship. Minah is passionate about teaching cello. She was a tutor at AYO Young Symphonists in 2010 and tutor at the Riverina Summer School for Strings in 2013. This year, Minah teaches at the Sydney Conservatorium and the Conservatorium High School and has commenced working as a Music Co-ordinator of the ​Australian Korean Classical Association.Minah plays a cello by Joseph Hel (1869). 

 Dr Jeanell Carrigan is presently an Associate Professor in Collaborative Piano at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, University of Sydney. She has performed as a soloist, chamber musician and accompanist in Germany, Italy, Austria, Switzerland and throughout Australia, and has recorded for the Bavarian Radio Corporation, the ABC and for regional stations in Australia on many occasions. She holds a Doctor of Creative Arts in the area of Australian post-1970 solo piano repertoire and in May, 2016 released her seventeenth solo compact disc of Australian piano music. She is passionate about promoting Australian Music particularly the piano music of Australian women composers. In a review of the CD A Little Variation, composer Houston Dunleavy said “This recording is one to add to the list of treasures of Australian music that seem to be growing by the year. Surely Jeanell Carrigan belongs in this category as well. Australian music has a great champion in Carrigan’s fine playing and scholarship. She deserves far wide recognition for the quality of her work.” (Music Trust 1/4/15)

Fantasie Sonata - 3rd movt. - cello and piano

This is the final movement of my 4-movement Fantasie-Sonata for cello and piano. 

The Fantasie-Sonata for cello and piano was written in 2008, and is dedicated to my late mother. 

The work comprises four movements, Allegro moderato, Moderato, Andante maestoso and Allegretto ma non troppo. Each movement, although of contrasting moods, share a theme. Where the first movement is forward-moving, and full of passion, the third movement is more march-like, and robust. At the time of writing it, any thought of adhering to strict sonata form was furthest from my mind, favouring more the freedom of expression as the piece seemed to dictate itself to me; hence the title ‘Fantasie-Sonata.’ 

The performers for the entire sonata are Minah Choe (cello) and Jeanell Carrigan (piano)

Minah Choe was born in Seoul, Korea and began her studies at the age of 8. She graduated with Bachelor of Music with First Class of Honors from the Sydney Conservatorium where she was admitted whilst at high school and received scholarships throughout her studies. She was a full scholarship holder at the Australian National Academy of Music in 2002. In 2004 Minah received master's degree from the Indiana University Jacob’s School of Music under the guidance of Prof. Janos Starker and continued with doctoral degree as his teaching assistant at IU. Currently Minah is pursuing her Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the Sydney Conservatorium while working as a freelance cellist in major orchestras and performing widely in various chamber music concerts and recitals. ​Minah has appeared as a soloist with several orchestras including Sydney Symphony, Christchurch Symphony, Nizhny-Novgrod Philharmonic, Indiana Univeristy Philharmonic, Bloomington Camerata, Sydney Conservatorium Chamber, and Ku-ring-gai Philharmonic, the Beecroft orchestras, and Melbourne String Ensemble. Minah has won numerous awards including “Most Promising Performer” in 4th Adam International Cello Competition, Australian Postgraduate Award, inaugural Janos Starker Scholarship, Dorothy Fraser Scholarship and Australian University of Women Federation Commemorative Fellowship. Minah is passionate about teaching cello. She was a tutor at AYO Young Symphonists in 2010 and tutor at the Riverina Summer School for Strings in 2013. This year, Minah teaches at the Sydney Conservatorium and the Conservatorium High School and has commenced working as a Music Co-ordinator of the ​Australian Korean Classical Association.Minah plays a cello by Joseph Hel (1869). 

Dr Jeanell Carrigan is presently an Associate Professor in Collaborative Piano at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, University of Sydney. She has performed as a soloist, chamber musician and accompanist in Germany, Italy, Austria, Switzerland and throughout Australia, and has recorded for the Bavarian Radio Corporation, the ABC and for regional stations in Australia on many occasions. She holds a Doctor of Creative Arts in the area of Australian post-1970 solo piano repertoire and in May, 2016 released her seventeenth solo compact disc of Australian piano music. She is passionate about promoting Australian Music particularly the piano music of Australian women composers. In a review of the CD A Little Variation, composer Houston Dunleavy said “This recording is one to add to the list of treasures of Australian music that seem to be growing by the year. Surely Jeanell Carrigan belongs in this category as well. Australian music has a great champion in Carrigan’s fine playing and scholarship. She deserves far wide recognition for the quality of her work.”

Fantasie Sonata for cello and piano: 4th movement

Sibelius simulation only.
Painting by William Turner

Phillip Wilcher

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