Award of Honorary Fellowships, 2013.
CAROLYN TROTTER
Carolyn Trotter, AMusA, LTCL, was born in Sydney on 16th October, 1940. On scholarship to the
NSW Conservatorium of Music and Sydney Teachers’College, Carolyn trained as a Secondary
Music Teacher from 1958 to 1961. She studied piano with Frank Hutchens and Alexander
Sverjensky, and singing with Ruth Ladd. Her skills as an accompanist were honed playing for
students from the studios of Elizabeth Todd and Leo Demant. She also taught at the Broken bay
and Collaroy Music Camps.
In 1962, Carolyn’s first music teaching appointment was to Macarthur Girls’ High School,
Parramatta, where she established music class programs, choirs and orchestras. In 1970, after
3 years at Dover Heights High School, Carolyn was appointed music director at Ravenswood
School for Girls in Gordon. This position she held until 1987. At Ravenswood, music was for
every girl, with classroom music as well as choral, instrumental opportunities and musical
productions. Exciting events took place such as performances at the opening of the Sydney
Opera House and the Entertainment Centre, Caro ls by Candlelight for Channels 7 and 9 and
successful Eisteddfod participation in NSW and interstate. Carolyn’s administrative ability led her
to coordinate the Independent Girls Schools’ Music Festivals at the Opera House in 1974, 1976
and 1981, conducting the combined choir in excerpts from the Messiah and African Sanctus.
For many years, Carolyn was the representative for Independent Girls’ Schools on the Music
Syllabus Committees for the School Certificate and Higher School Certificate. She was also an
executive member of ASME and the Percussion Society.
When the Carlson Chorale was invited to sing in Bethlehem Square for the 1979 Christmas
Assembly of choirs, Carolyn Trotter became their official piano accompanist. Carolyn professionally
accompanied the choir for eight official concerts throughout Israel, Hungary, Austria and England.
The conductor, Rosalind Carlson, enjoyed working with such a brilliant, musically talented and
understanding piano accompanist as Carolyn. The rapport established was magical.
In 1984, Carolyn received a Fulbright Scholarship to study choral music in USA. On her return,
Ravenswood’s new school hall was aptly named the Carolyn Trotter Hall.
From 1988-1994 Carolyn became Music Director at Barker College in Hornsby. Here she
developed strong instrumental and choral programs with orchestras, bands, instrumental
ensembles and choirs touring and successfully competing nationally.
The Barker College Centenary in 1990 was celebrated with concerts from all music groups within
the school. In 1994, when Carolyn retired, she left a remarkable musical legacy for Barker.
The Collegiate of Specialist Music Educators is proud to admit Carolyn Trotter as an Honorary
Fellow.
Rosalind Carlson
NIGEL WESTLAKE
Nigel Westlake was born on September 6, 1958 in Perth, and his career in music has spanned
more than three decades. His father Donald, was Principal clarinet with the Sydney Symphony
Orchestra, 1961-1977 and mother Heather was a violinist. Nigel attended the Sydney
Conservatorium of Music but left school early to take up a professional career in music, studying
clarinet with his father.
At 17 years of age Nigel started freelancing with various orchestras. As a clarinettist he worked
doing recording sessions, chamber music concerts, theatre and ballet performances and tours.
He toured Australia and the world with ballet companies, a circus troupe, chamber groups, fusion
bands and orchestras – including London, New York, Rome, Paris, Moscow, Amsterdam, Berlin,
Tokyo, Beijing and Singapore to mention a few. In 1979 Nigel formed a classical/jazz-rock/worldmusic fusion band to play original music. It was at this time that his interest in composition
developed and he began to receive offers to compose for radio and circus – commissions for TV
and film followed.
In 1983 Nigel studied music in the Netherlands, furthering his great interest and involvement in
contemporary music. From 1987-1992 he was clarinettist with the Australian Ensemble, resident
at the University of NSW. His Imax film score Antarctica was written in 1991. In 1992 Nigel was
a performer and composer with John Williams’ group Atticca, touring the United Kingdom and
Australia. His primary attention since then has been given to composition. His conducting debut
was with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra in 1997.
Nigel is married to Janice Louquet Westlake and they had two sons, Joel born in 1983, and
Eli born in 1986. Eli tragically died in 2008. The effect on the composer and his family was
devastating. Nigel felt that he “was finished musically, physically exhausted from the emotional
turmoil.” Shimmering Light in 2009 was a retrospective CD [a compilation of some of Nigel’s
concert works and soundtracks for films] and represented his reconnection with composition.
The first of his new works to be performed publicly was Missa Solis – Requiem for Eli in 2011.
The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra premiered the work.
Nigel Westlake’s compositions have been performed around the world, and have won numerous
awards, including the Gold Medal at the New York International Radio Festival and also many
APRA/AGSC and Classical Music Awards, as well as Screen Composer Guild Awards for both
film and concert music.
Nigel has numerous Film credits and Awards – feature films include Miss Potter, the score of
which won the Feature Film Award of the year and Best Sound Track Award in 2007; Babe,
winning 1996 APRA Music Award and 1997 Best Original Award and Golden Globe Award for
Best Feature Musical/Comedy, as well as Babe – Pig in the City, and The Nugget which won
the 2003 APRA Best Feature Film Score Award, to mention but a few of the many Credits and
Awards for Percussion ensembles, instrumental and orchestral works.
In 2012 Nigel received an Honorary Doctorate of Music from the University of NSW, and Missa
Solis-Requiem for Eli won the Art Music Awards/Orchestral Work of the year having won the
Limelight 2011 Award for Best New Composition.
The Collegiate of Specialist Music Educators is proud to admit Nigel Westlake as an Honorary
Fellow.
Warwick McEwan
PAUL DYER, OA
Paul Dyer was brought up on the north shore of Sydney, the middle child of three. His mother was
a professional pianist and singer and his father a ‘hobbyist’ drummer.
Graduating with a DipMusEd ’81 and BMus ’83, he studied piano and harpsichord at Sydney
Conservatorium. Following this he undertook post graduate studies with Bob van Asperson at the
Royal Conservatory in the Hague, gaining a Soloist Diploma.
In Holland he performed with many major orchestras and undertook ensemble direction and
orchestral studies with Sigiswald Kujiken and Frans Bruggen.
Paul Dyer has performed with many prominent soloists including Graham Pushee, Andreas
Scholl, Cyndia Sieden, Elizabeth Wallfisch, Yvonne Kenny, Emma Kirkby. He has toured as a
recitalist in Germany, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and the USA . He is a continuo player
with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and the Queensland Philharmonic Orchestra. His debut
with the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra in 2000 led to guest appearances as conductor in
2001, 2002 and 2003. He has also conducted the Pacific Baroque Orchestra, Vancouver and
recently the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, London. An inspiring teacher, Paul Dyer is
in constant demand as a teacher of harpsichord and performing practices in period styles. His
meticulous research has unearthed many obscure and different works to present, with his own
inimitable flair, enthusiasm and awareness of period conventions.
Paul Dyer began his plan to found the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra with the General
Manager, Bruce Applebaum in 1989. His vision was to create Australia’s first professional
Baroque Music Orchestra playing instruments of the period. He wanted to play Baroque music to
the highest possible standard, and bring new audiences to classical music. The first concert was
at the Opera House performing on a motley collection of begged and borrowed instruments
Named for J.S Bach’s famous concertos written between 1713 and 1721, this orchestra has
now built a subscription audience of more than 35,000, with musicians gathered from all around
Australia. They have played with a stunning array of soloists from recorder virtuoso Genevieve
Lacey to the French counter Philippe Jaroussky, toured Europe with Andreas Scholl and recently
won a fifth Best Classical Recording Aria award for ‘Tapas’, a collection of musical tastes from
Spain, Italy and Austria. What distinguishes this orchestra, concert after concert, is the obvious
joy and enthusiasm shared by the performers. The music is imbued with warmth and fun, married
with serious musicianship and meticulous research.
Paul Dyer connects with the audience at each concert and communicates his vision and
enthusiasm, encouraging their participation and interest in repertoire which ranges from the
8th century to the 18th century. The instruments date from the Baroque Period or are faithful
reproductions.
In 2009 Paul Dyer was awarded the Alumni Award for Professional Achievement for his
advancement of the Australian music industry as a performer, conductor, educator and role model.
He has dedicated himself to giving back to the younger generation as a mentor and teacher.
Paul was awarded the title of Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in this year’s Australia Day
Honours List for his “distinguished service to the performing arts, particularly orchestral music as
director, conductor and musician, through the promotion of education programs and support for
emerging artists.”
The Collegiate of Specialist Music Educators is proud to admit Paul Dyer, as an Honorary
Fellow.
Pamela Herring
DR ROSS EDWARDS, OA
Ross Edwards, one of Australia’s best known composers, was born in Sydney in 1943. Having
completed his school years at Sydney Grammar School, he studied at the Sydney Conservatorium
and subsequently at Adelaide University, where he was awarded a Master of Music. Later, he
returned to Sydney University where he was awarded a doctorate. His teachers included Peter
Sculthorpe, Richard Meale and Sandor Varess. Later, in London, he studied with Sir Peter
Maxwell Davies. Upon his return to Australia he took up a position at Sydney University until he
became a freelance composer in 1980. He now lives in Sydney with his wife, Helen. They have
two adult children. Much of his working life is spent at his studio in the Blue Mountains.
The music of Ross Edwards, while globally significant, is deeply rooted in Australian culture –
its people, land and nature. From the natural environment he draws colours and patterns in
sound - most notably, the sounds of birds and insects, which give his music its unique quality.
It is this quality which reflects his endeavour to re-connect, through music, “elemental forces
enabling it to be used to restore such qualities to humanity as ritual, spontaneity and the impulse
to dance”.
The large catalogue of works of Ross Edwards includes symphonies, concerti (for a variety of
instruments), chamber music, works for strings, choral works, music for children, film scores. His
works for solo instrument range from piano to shakuhachi and didgeridoo. A significantly large
number of these works has been commissioned, reflecting the popularity and accessibility of
his music, both with performers and audiences. Perhaps the best known of his works include
the Violin Concerto “Maninyas”, his Piano Concerto of 1983, his Symphony “Da pacem Domine”
to the memory of Stuart Challender, the Oboe Concerto written for Diana Doherty with its
choreographed dance, the Marimba Dances, and the unforgettable Dawn Mantra, beginning with
the didgeridoo solo, which heralded in the new millennium, atop the Sydney Operas House.
Over the years, Ross Edwards has won a number of awards for his compositions. The APRA
and MCA Awards and nominations in the Classical Music category include:
2003 Finalist for Instrumental Work of the Year: Song for Emily - a Guitar Duo
2006 Finalist for Orchestral Work of the Year: Oboe Concerto ( a work for which Diana Doherty
had previously won the Award for Instrumentalist of the year.)
2012 Finalist for Orchestral Work of the Year and for the Vocal and Choral Work of the Year
with his Sacred Kingfisher Psalms.
His Awards include:
2005 Orchestral Work of the Year : Concerto for Guitar and Strings;
2007 : Instrumental Work of the Year : Piano Trio
2008 : Vocal or Choral Work of the Year: Symphony no. 4 “Star Chant”
Earlier in his career he was the recipient of two Keating Fellowships , and in 1989 he won the
Don Banks Music Award. For his Services to Music as a Composer, Ross Edwards was made a
Member of the Order of Australia in 1997.
The Collegiate of Specialist Music Educators is proud to admit Dr Ross Edwards as an Honorary
Fellow.
Marilyn Moulton