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Joshua Robinson

Composer

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Joshua Robinson, Composer

CV

Biography

Joshua Robinson is a Canberra-based composer whose music challenges traditional composition practice through the intersection of non-western and western music practices. He began playing in Canberra’s Sekar Langit gamelan ensemble in 2020, and performs with them regularly. Robinson is currently studying a PhD at the Australian National University under the supervision of Kim Cunio, Bonnie McConnell, and Eva Nisa, where he aims to develop new methods for ethical cross-cultural storytelling. He graduated with first class Honours in 2021 and is a recipient of the Australian Government Research Training Program Stipend.
Robinson is also an acclaimed film music composer with a large list of credits for short films. He was invited to an international workshop in Greece in 2018 and was invited back to the Thessaloniki International Film Festival later that year as a result of his participation. He has a particular interest in the ethics of film scoring, particularly regarding the use of so-called “ethnic” virtual studio instruments.
Robinson has also had a successful and varied professional career, including university administration, team management, event coordination, and mental health. He has delivered numerous mental health workshops and trainings which have all been well-received.

📜 Articles

🎤 Talks

  • Cooking as Musicological Inquiry, 46th National Conference of the Musicological Society of Australia, University of Adelaide, 30 November 2023
  • St Kilda to St Moritz (Panel Discussion), National Film and Sound Archive, 13 October 2023
  • CASS Honours Induction Event (Panel Discussion), ANU, 22 February 2023
  • A bi-musical approach to composition: Explorations of immersion in Balinese musical culture, 45th National Conference of the Musicological Society of Australia, Online, 2 December 2022
  • Mental Health Month Workshop, Mathematical Sciences Institute ANU, 31 October 2022
  • New Sounds | Old Films (Panel Discussion), National Film and Sound Archive, 24 September 2022
  • A bi-musical approach to composition: Explorations of immersion in Balinese musical culture, School of Music Research Seminar, ANU, 12 May 2022
  • A bi-musical approach to composition: Explorations of immersion in Balinese musical culture, BruceX, ANU, 13 September 2021
  • How temp scores limit creativity in film scoring, BruceX, ANU, 25 March 2019

🏫 Teaching

  • 2024 Semester 1 – Introduction to Ethnomusicology (guest lecture: Intercultural Gamelan Music)
  • 2023 Semester 2 – Writing About Music 2 (lecturer and tutor)

🎬 Credits

  • 2023 – St Kilda to St Moritz: Scoring Silent Old Movies, Composer
  • 2022 – New Sounds | Old Films: Composing New Corricks Film Scores, Composer
  • 2022 – Sockratic Justice, Executive Producer
  • 2021 – The Fifth Camper, Composer
  • 2020 – Hats Enough, Composer
  • 2020 – Cognominal, Composer
  • 2019 – The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, Music Director and Composer
  • 2019 – Unmasked, Composer
  • 2018 – Noises Off!, Music Director and Composer
  • 2018 – Fish Fingers, Composer
  • 2018 – Three Strikes, Composer
  • 2017 – Kill Me, Deadly, Music Director and Composer
  • 2017 – The ‘It List, Composer

🏆 Awards, Grants, Fellowships

  • 2018 – ANU ANZCA Composition Prize (Second Year)
  • 2018 – Invited Attendee, Thessaloniki International Film Festival
  • 2018 – Invited Participant, Fusion Film Scoring Workshops
  • 2016 – 3rd Place, Queensland Conservatorium’s SCORE IT! Competition

🎭 Performances

  • 2023, November 26 – KITA Block Party, Kita Restaurant, Canberra
  • 2023, November 19 – AIYA Cultural Showcase, Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia, Canberra
  • 2023, May 13 – Feared and Revered: Tapestry of Cultures Family Festival, National Museum of Australia, Canberra
  • 2022, December 6 – Diplomatic Reception, National Press Club, Canberra
  • 2022, September 17 – Indonesia Update, ANU, Canberra
  • 2022, July 26 – Bruce Hall (ANU), Canberra
  • 2022, May 24 – Rediscovering the Gamelan Orchestra (CSO), Hellenic Club, Canberra
  • 2022, April 30 – CIMF@Belco, Belconnen Arts Centre, Canberra
  • 2021, May 28 – Defence Attaché Dinner, Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia, Canberra
  • 2017, October 27 – Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia, Canberra

👨🏻‍💻 Work experience

Multiple Production / Artist Roles

Canberra International Music Festival, Canberra – 2017-

I worked multiple roles at a major Canberra music festival, and changed positions within the company from year-to-year depending on where I was needed most. These roles included production assistance, being a stage hand, artist coordination, venue management, and surtitle operation.

Administrative Officer (Marketing, Conferences, and Events)

Australian National University, Canberra – Jan 2022 – Feb 2023

Organised events, conferences, and research activities for the Mathematical Sciences Institute at ANU, including outreach events aimed at school-children. I also worked on internal projects such as improving work health and safety, mental health initiatives, and improving the diversity of the institute.

Community Coordinator

Australian National University, Canberra – Dec 2020 – Dec 2021

Managed the pastoral care team at a residential college at the ANU. I was on-call every other week, and assisted with escalating emergency incidents, including calling emergency services where appropriate. I also did some community building, focussing on fostering connections between residents.

Music Director

Bruce Hall (ANU), Canberra – 2017 – 2021

Composed, conducted, and recorded numerous original scores (totalling 150 minutes) for student films and theatre productions

Choir Director

Bruce Hall (ANU), Canberra – 2019

Was the co-director of a community choir with tasks involving conducting, singing, and choosing repertoire for the choir. We had 5 performances in 2019, and placed first in the inter-hall competition.

🛠 Skills

💻 Technology

Microsoft Suite

I am proficient in the Microsoft Suite, including using power automate to automate basic administrative tasks to ease my workflow.

Dorico and Logic Pro X

I use these programs to compose and produce my music.

LaTeX and Zettlr

I use these programs to write.

🗣 Languages

English

Native speaker

German

Intermediate speaker, learned for 8 years in school

Indonesian

A2 Level

📚 Education

PhD in Music

Intercultural and Intermodal Productions: Ethical Bi-Musical Approaches to Composition and Performance Practices

2023-

ANU – Canberra

Bachelor of Music (Honours)

First Class Honours awarded

2021

ANU – Canberra

Bachelor of Music / Bachelor of Science

Majors: Composition, Mathematics. Minors: Ethnomusicology, Computer Science

2017-2020

ANU – Canberra