Enquiries: davidandjodie@iinet.net.au

Jodie Blackshaw is a Riverina girl now living in the Yass Valley Shire who studied a Bachelor of Music in Composition with Larry Sitsky at the Canberra School of Music, graduating in 1992. Since then, she has worked in several different settings, from outback Australia to inner-city Sydney, teaching music to students of all ages and conducting a variety of concert bands.

Through her teaching, conducting and composing, Blackshaw has passionately searched for a new approach to young band that offers band directors with a product that centres on musical elements other than melody and harmony. In 2001 Jodie completed her Graduate Diploma in Education and during this time, she discovered the Orff-Schulwerk methodology for music education. This approach was the answer she had been searching for and consequently, it has been a significant influence in her works for young musicians.

In 2005 Jodie won the inaugural Frank Ticheli Composition Contest that earned publication of her Grade 1 piece ‘Whirlwind’ with Manhattan Beach Music. She has recently completed a commission for the Australian Capital Territory Instrumental Music Program and appears as a guest clinician and adjudicator for band festivals throughout Australia. A second work ‘Terpsichorean Dances’ is due for publication in 2009.

In April 2009 Blackshaw travelled to the University of North Texas to work with the UNT Symphonic Wind Band under the baton of Professor Dennis Fisher. This experience culminated in the world premiere of her latest work.

Jodie is fanatical about producing quality, meaningful works for band and desires that her music not just be “another piece, but an educational and spiritual journey for both the players and the director”.