Australian Music Centre | Breaking sound barriers

William Barton

William Barton is Australia's leading didgeridoo player as well as composer, instrumentalist and vocalist.

William first learnt the instrument from his uncle, Arthur Peterson, an elder of the Wannyi, Lardil and Kalkadunga people and was working from an early age with traditional dance groups and fusion/rock jazz bands, orchestras, string quartets, and mixed ensembles.

Throughout his diverse career he has forged a path in the classical musical world, from the London, Berlin and Bremer Philharmonic Orchestras to historic events at Westminster Abbey for Commonwealth Day 2019, at Anzac Cove in Gallipoli and for the Beijing Olympics.

William holds honorary doctorates from both Griffith University and the University of Sydney, has released five albums on the ABC Classics label including HEARTLAND, released in 2022, with Véronique Serret and the words of William’s mother, Aunty Delmae Barton. William has been developing a new musical language, which is epitomised in this record.

William was named Queensland Australian of the Year for 2023 and was an Australian of the Year nominee. He has been awarded with multiple APRA AMCOS Screen Awards, an AACTA Award, and an ARIA Award for his work with the Australian Chamber Orchestra for the soundtrack from the film “River”. His other awards include the prestigious Don Banks Music Award from the Australia Council in 2021, Winner of Best Original Score for a Mainstage Production at the 2018 Sydney Theatre Awards and Winner of Best Classical Album with an ARIA for Birdsong At Dusk in 2012.

Brad Cohen

Brad Cohen is a musician, working internationally as a conductor, technological innovator, and publisher. He is the Founder of the immersive music platform Tido, and was Artistic Director of West Australian Opera between 2015 and 2018.
Brad has conducted at opera companies including English National Opera, New York City Opera, and Opera Australia. He has led orchestras including the London Philharmonic, the Philharmonia, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte Carlo, Stuttgarter Philharmoniker, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Stavanger Symphony Orchestra, Het Gelders Orkest, and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.
Brad's work is unified through a commitment to making music accessible. In 2010 he created the concept of Tido, which was released in September 2016 with an initial collection of Piano Masterworks. As a publisher and editor, he has also created a series of opera editions. His critical edition of Les Pêcheurs de perles has received international acclaim, with productions at the Royal Opera House, the Metropolitan Opera, and English National Opera.

Tracy Morgan

Non-Executive Director (Treasurer)
MBA (Macq.). CAHRI, GAICD

Tracy is the Chief Executive Officer (Australia) for World Hope International. She has over 25 years’ executive and consulting experience, including 10 years running her own consulting practice, working with organisations navigating change. Her career spans NFP leadership, strategy facilitation and development, change management, financial management, executive search, human resources consulting and organisational design.

Tracy’s board roles include NED, Co-Deputy Chair and Chair Finance & Audit Committee for Wesley Mission, Chair of The Housing Connection, and Non-Executive Director roles at Sylvanvale Disability Services and Sydney Philharmonia Choirs.

Martel Ollerenshaw

Director, Arts & Parts

Based in London, Martel Ollerenshaw is an international arts broker and creative producer. With a wide portfolio of skills and interests, she works with artists, organisations and festivals to create and produce work that is pioneering and often genre blurring. Between 2002 and 2017, she worked at Serious International Music Producers/EFG London Jazz Festival, where her portfolio included Seriously Talented, the suite of talent development programs for professional musicians in jazz and improvised music. Martel is the Chair of Pacitti Company/SPILL Festival (an organisation specialising in live art, activism and performance), the vice president of the Europe Jazz Network and board member of hcmf// (Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival).