Martin Cheney : Associate Artist
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![Photo of Martin Cheney](https://awscdn.australianmusiccentre.com.au/images/par_14817_1720158249_150w.jpg)
Photo: Adam Williams
Martin graduated from the Elder Conservatorium at the University
of Adelaide with a PhD in Composition (2023) and First Class
Honours in the Bachelor of Music Education (Most Outstanding
Graduate, 2009). He was selected for the Melbourne Symphony
Orchestra's 2023 Cybec 21st Century Australian Composers' Program
under the mentorship of Mary Finsterer. This collaboration
culminated in the World Premiere of Martin's first piece for
symphony orchestra, 'Penchant', on January 30th, 2024.
Martin co-founded the Adelaide Wind Orchestra (AWO) in 2012 which
has attracted high-profile guest artists including
internationally renowned conductor Dr John Lynch. Martin's new
clarinet concerto, 'like the very heaven for clearness', was
commissioned by AWO to be premiered at the 20th World Association
for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles (WASBE) conference in South
Korea in July 2024, featuring the Elder Conservatorium Head of
Woodwind and Arcadia Winds' Lloyd Van't Hoff as soloist. AWO has
performed and recorded a number of Martin's pieces, including
their World Premiere of 'Tangent: symphony for wind orchestra' in
2021 (which is now available via all good music streaming
services).
In 2022, Martin was one of the mentor composers for the
ReClassified festival presented by Recitals Australia, under the
direction of esteemed Australian composer Anne Cawrse. Martin
composed his first film score in 2023 for 'Within The Pines'
(dir. Paul Evans Thomas), which is yet to be released. He is also
represented in Australia by Matt Klohs and internationally by
Murphy Music Press, LLC.
Outside the world of composing, Martin is a music theatre
lecturer, repetiteur, music director and pit orchestra pianist
with experience in over 50 professional, amateur and educational
productions. As a pianist, he has performed with Il Divo, John
Bucchino, Marina Prior and John Foreman, as well as playing
keyboard for the Australian productions of 'Chicago', 'Miss
Saigon', 'Mary Poppins', '9 to 5', 'Chess', 'Aladdin', 'Mamma
Mia!' and 'The Wizard of Oz'. After 11 years working as a
secondary school music teacher, he was presented with an AHOMINGS
'Significant Contribution to the Profession' Award. Martin is a
published Arts writer and critic who writes for his own website,
Sharp Four Reviews, and has by-lines at the Australian online
magazines CutCommon and FilmInk. Martin currently lectures in the
Bachelor of Music Theatre at the University of Adelaide and also
dabbles in latte art as an amateur barista - he pours a pretty
decent fern leaf.
Biography provided by the composer — current to July 2024