Biography
Joshua Robinson is a PhD candidate at the School of Music at the Australian National University. His research explores the development of intercultural collaboration on music for film, television, and video games, particularly in relation to Balinese and Javanese gamelan. He is particularly interested in improving current intercultural collaboration practices through pedagogical frameworks to improve the current power hierarchy of composers, musicians, and audiences. His research aims to improve intercultural relations and smooth tensions between collaborators. He has been an active member of the Balinese gamelan ensemble Sekar Langit since 2020 and has performed at the National Museum of Australia, the Canberra International Music Festival, and in association with the Canberra Symphony Orchestra. In addition to his research, he works as a research assistant in health humanities and as a casual lecturer at the Australian National University. He is also the production manager for the registered charity Pro Musica Inc., which aims to support emerging musicians and provide quality music events to the people of Canberra. He holds a double degree in Science and Music from the Australian National University.
Articles
- “Cooking as Gastromusicological Inquiry.” Gastroethnomusicology Journal 1, no. 1 (2024)
- “A bi-musical approach to composition: explorations of immersion in Balinese musical culture.” Honours thesis, Australian National University, 2021
Talks
- Developing a framework for intercultural composition with applications to film, television, and video game scoring, Constellations — 2024 AHRC International Conference, Robinson College, University of Cambridge, 18 September 2024
- Beyond Bi-Musicality: New Approaches to Intercultural Music Composition, School of Music Research Seminar, ANU, 16 May 2024
- 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
- 2025 Semester 1 – Popular Music Studies (guest lecturer for two weeks)
- 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. In 2024, I became the production manager of the festival, overseeing all logistical components and ensuring we operated within budget.
Research Assistant
Project Title: Developing Transdisciplinary Health Humanities Education at the ANU
Australian National University, Canberra: May 2024 —
Worked as a research assistant on a project to develop health humanities courses at ANU. The team was transdisciplinary, working between music and psychology. My role included data extraction and analysis, interviews, and general administrative tasks. The goal of the project is to create two new transdiciplinary health humanities courses at ANU to begin in late 2025 or 2026.
Jazz Band Director
ANU Music Society, Canberra: February 2024 — June 2024
Conducted and directed the jazz band of a community music group. In this role I was responsible for choosing appropriate repertoire suitable for the playing ability of the band, conducting rehearsals, and managing dynamics within the band. Our performance at the end of semester concert was described as a favourite by many of the audience members in comparison with the other groups. I made sure to choose a variety of repertoire, from jazz standards to modern film scores, and I communicated information about these pieces to the audience, going beyond a simple recital.
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
Indonesian
B1 Level
German
Intermediate speaker, learned for 8 years in school
Education
PhD in Music
Thesis title: Beyond Bi-Musicality: Towards an ethical framework for intercultural composition
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