Academically I had the joy of studying at The West Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) attaining both a Bachelor of Music (Jazz) Honours - Composition and Arrangement with First Class Honors and a Master of Creative Arts. In my postgraduate research I focused on Impressionism and Spectral Music, with an exploration of musical colors still influencing how I write today. While studying I was presented the Jazz Society Encouragement Award (2000), membership into the Golden Key International Honor Society, the Melville Toyota Scholarship and the highly coveted Edith Cowan University Scholarship for Masters Research. Upon graduating I helped launch the arts school at the Mount Pleasant College where I functioned as head of department. As a composer and arranger I've had the privilege of working with some incredibly talented artists. A move to Nashville in 2013 with my family opened the door to a number of amazing collaboration opportunities that I am so grateful to have contributed to. Below is a small selection of this work with some insight into my involvement with each project.
LOOK UP CHILD
The songs on this album allowed me to explore a soul & jazz sound in the arrangements.
The producer Paul Mabury, my twin brother, asked me to work to the piano track and Lauren's vocal.
All other production elements were added later, giving me a lot of creative freedom.
Look Up Child went on to win two Grammy Awards and become a platinum selling album.
Still Rolling Stones, This Girland Rebel Heart
are different sounding songs that each have a special place in my heart.
Writing and recording the strings that are heard at the end of This Girl remains a highlight in my career.
LOOK UP CHILD
The songs on this album allowed me to explore a soul & jazz sound in the arrangements. The producer Paul Mabury, my twin brother, asked me to work to the piano track and Lauren's vocal. All other production elements were added later, giving me a lot of creative freedom.
Look Up Child went on to
win two Grammy Awards
and become a
platinum selling album.
Still Rolling Stones,
This Girl & Rebel Heart
are different sounding songs
that each have a
special place in my heart.
Writing and recording the
strings that are heard
at the end of This Girl remains
a highlight in my career.
AFTER ALL THESE YEARS
Brian and Jenn Johnson had a vision to create a cinematic sounding worship album.
My arrangements are featured on every song with both a vocal and instrumental release of the record.
Gravity and Mention of Your Name allowed me to utilize some string textures that I especially enjoyed recording.
AFTER ALL THESE YEARS
Brian and Jenn Johnson had a vision to create a cinematic sounding worship album. My arrangements are featured on every song with both a vocal and instrumental release of the record.
Gravity and
Mention of Your Name
allowed me to utilize some string textures that I especially enjoyed recording.
WOUNDS
When working on the song Wounds for Jordan Feliz
I took advantage of some extra time we had in the studio.
I wrote a 'B-side' arrangement honoring the original while
incorporating some reharmonization and an alternate ending.
I BELIEVE IN JESUS
There's an anthemic quality to this tune by Chris Tomlin
that so much of his music has managed to captured.
I endeavored to underscore this attribute with a rhythmic string
ostinato on the bridge and some soaring lines on the chorus.
TAKE IT TO JESUS
In this arrangement for Anna Golden, featuring Kari Jobe,
I wanted to create a sound that balanced
both the pain and warmth of the lyrics while
supporting the dynamic changes.
UNRAVELING
This powerful song by Cory Asbury was recorded
during the pandemic with a smaller string section.
I enjoyed creating tension and release as I strived
to capture the emotion of the vocal performance.
WOUNDS
When working on the song
Wounds for Jordan Feliz
I took advantage of some extra
time we had in the studio.
I wrote a 'B-side' arrangement
honoring the original while
incorporating some
reharmonization and an
alternate ending.
I BELIEVE IN JESUS
There's an anthemic quality
to this tune by Chris Tomlin
that so much of his music
has managed to capture.
I endeavored to underscore this
attribute with a rhythmic string
ostinato on the bridge and some
soaring lines on the chorus.
UNRAVELING
This powerful song by
Cory Asbury was recorded
during the pandemic with a
smaller string section.
I enjoyed creating tension
and release as I strived
to capture the emotion of
the vocal performance.
TAKE IT TO JESUS
In this arrangement for
Anna Golden, featuring Kari Jobe,
I wanted to create a sound
that captured both the pain
and hope of the lyrics as it
accentuated the dynamic changes.
It is such an honor to conduct the artists who take the notes I write on a page and shape them into sonic reality. I am so grateful to have worked with some of the most talented studio musicians in the world.
