User:Nigel MacLean

NIGEL MACLEAN, violin, composer, producer

Born in New Zealand and classically trained on violin from the age of five, Nigel debuted with a performance of the 1st Movement of Beethoven’s Violin Concerto at the age of thirteen. He was awarded a scholarship to train with the NZSO training group, Schola Musica, at age sixteen, and two years later made a life changing decision to "leave the page" and learn the diverse world of violin styles. In 1990 he was awarded a scholarship to study jazz at the Berklee College of Music (Boston) under Matt Glaser, and is now an alumni advisor to the faculty.

As an established, multi genre violinist Nigel has played a variety of roles including Orchestral Leader, Solo Artist, Assistant Producer, Producer, Director ([http://www.filmharmonix.com Filmharmonix) and Composer. As a Solo Artist his performance and recording credits include Kate Ceberano, Joe Chindamo, Paul Kelly, Renee Geyer, John Denver, David Hirschfelder, David Hobson, Dan Hicks, and Joe Camilleri. In his role as Notation Editor for Oscar nominee David Hirschfelder Nigel worked on soundtracks for the films Elizabeth, Sliding Doors, Better Than Sex, and What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted. In addition Nigel has contributed improvisations on soundtracks for Underbelly, Angel Baby, Rage In Placid Lake, After the Deluge, One Perfect Day, CrashBurn, Crackers, The Interview, and others. Nigel orchestrated and conducted the music for Geoffrey Wright’s production of Macbeth (2006), and composed music for a short film by David No titled Forged, which won Gold Medal for Best Music in a Short Film at the Park City Film Music Festival (Utah, USA) in 2008. Recently Nigel composed music for Jack Charles vs The Crown (Melbourne International Arts Festival 2010), and has been credited as composer/producer on Kate Ceberano’s recent Lullabies album. Nigel has twice won the National Bluegrass Championships and has been awarded three Golden Fiddle Awards.

In 1998 Nigel formed Filmharmonix to compose and produce music for film and release. The company produced Illawarra Suite, a twelve-movement chamber jazz suite for string quintet, guitar and wind, which was handed to Nigel by the late Don Harper to complete composition and recording. Nigel composed a movement titled ‘Common Koel’, which won a Golden Fiddle Award for best composition in 2006. In 2000 Nigel began his own jazz project titled Blue Drag. Albums include Relaxin At The Camarillo, featuring the sultry singer Julie O'Hara and recorded entirely off solar power in the hills of regional Victoria. The album was placed on the ABC National playlist and received critical acclaim. The next album, titled I'll See You There, was released in 2006. It features foremost Australian singer Kate Ceberano, Joe Chindamo on piano, and introduces young diva Chantal Mitvalsky. In all, over fifty musicians appeared on this release, which won a Golden Fiddle Award for Best Band CD. Filmharmonix has also produced a cross-cultural collaboration with Senegalese griot singer and kora player Jali Buba Kuyateh, titled Tumarankee.

As an educator Nigel has conducted string improvisation workshops and performed Nationally and Internationally for festivals and schools. His list of clients include Victorian College of the Arts (VCA), Monash University, AUSTA (Australian String Teachers Association), Pan Pacific Fiddlers Festival (Japan), Hawkesbury Fiddle Festival, Wangaratta Jazz Festival, Manly Jazz Festival, Melbourne International Jazz Festival, East Coast Blues Festival, Thredbo Jazz Festival, Port Fairy Festival and the Tamworth Country Music Festival.