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Photo: Visual Arts Imaging Gallery

Born, in 1951, into a family that owned and operated a music studio, Margaret Brandman naturally became fascinated by music. From the age of four she studied accordion and piano, taking up guitar and clarinet in her teens. Her education, supported by formal studies in piano, clarinet, harmony and composition at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, covered many styles of music.

Brandman was awarded a scholarship to the University of Sydney, where she studied composition with Peter Sculthorpe. In 1975 she was awarded a Bachelor of Music (Composition), having already acquired her Associate Performer degree and Teacher of Pianoforte Diploma. She has since also been awarded the F.Comp.ASMC, F.Mus.Ed.ASMC and L.Perf.ASMC degrees by the Australian Society for Musicology and Composition, Hon.FNMSM (UK) and the Dip.E WPTA.

Many of Brandman's compositions have received concert performances and radio broadcast. Undulations for String Orchestra, published in Germany, has been performed in Germany, Switzerland and Sydney. Saxophone Quartet was performed in 1997 at the Donne in Musica Festival in Italy while Images and When Spirits Soar were performed at the Festival of Women's Music in Sydney. In 1999 Lyric Fantasy for Piano and Strings was premiered by the Musica da Camera orchestra with soloist Colin Forbes in Canberra. The late Aaron McMillan performed and recorded the piano work Sonorities on his Arc of Light CD. Her song cycle, Songs of Love and Desire, received airplay on 2MBS FM in 2003 and 2004. Spirit Visions for 2 pianos was premiered at the JSC in Penrith in 2009 and Autumn Rhapsody concert piano solo, was performed by the composer at the World Forum concert in the UK in 2012.

Throughout her career Brandman has contributed to many prestigious national and international music journals. Her original theories on music education have been disseminated through interviews in magazines such as the Incorporated Society of Musician's ( UK) Music Journal and the online internet music magazine published by the University of New Mexico (USA).

Brandman has also gained international recognition through her pioneering of a holistic approach to music education. Her extensive educational catalogue includes Accent on Music (high school text) and her Contemporary series method books. In 2012, she received the Diploma of Excellence in Piano Pedagogy, from the World Piano Teacher's Association in Serbia, for her DVD presentation 'The Geometry of the Piano and the Symmetry of the Hands'.

Books, scores and recordings of Brandman's work are available from the Australian Music Centre. Published works are also available from all music retailers.

Margaret Brandman — current to March 2013