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  • Mr Tom O'Halloran at ECU's Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts

    Mr Tom O'Halloran

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Mr Tom O'Halloran

Senior Lecturer

Staff Member Details
Telephone: +61 8 6304 6659
Email: t.ohalloran@ecu.edu.au
Campus: Mount Lawley  
Room: ML2.110  
ORCID iD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2372-7232

Tom is the Course Coordinator of Jazz Performance at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts.

Current teaching

Tom oversees both the academic and student performance programs, including curating the corresponding jazz visiting artist program.

  • MUS1342-MUS3346 - Ensemble Studies: Big Band
  • MUS3345-MUS3346 - Creative Composition and Arranging
  • MUS2383 - Jazz and Contemporary Musicianship 3 (Unit Coordinator) - Piano skills
  • MUS2384 - Jazz and Contemporary Musicianship 4 (Unit Coordinator) - Piano skills
  • MUS4330 - Music Philosophy and Research (Unit Coordinator and Lecturer)
  • MUS4565 - Music Technology for Performance (Unit Coordinator and Lecturer)

Background

Tom O'Halloran is an award-winning jazz pianist, commissioned composer, enthusiastic conductor and jazz educator. He leads his own original jazz piano trio outfit, conducts orchestras from time to time, composes experimental music, and plays analogue synthesizers.

In 2022 he appeared onstage at His Majesty’s Theatre, Perth, where he improvised a live score each night to accompany the Black Swan Theatre Company's production of The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams.

His recent 2021 composition My Voice, A Trigger For Change was written for the large forces of Big Band and Jazz Vocal Choir, and 2021 also saw Tom release two new albums featured on ABC Jazz: Axiom with his longstanding piano trio and TLC with his jazz organ trio.

In 2017 Tom was commissioned to compose and perform music for the 2017 IN-SITU season; and developed Passage, music for a site-specific dance work. In 2016 he released Now Noise, and also received an Australia Council grant to compose and develop the work. The album won Jazz Work of the Year at the 2017 APRA Art Music Awards.

Tom has appeared with high calibre jazz artists from the USA including bassist Robert Hurst, Walter Smith III and Peter Bernstein. He has also appeared the 2017 IP Jazz Festival in Malaysia, the Houston International Jazz Festival, the IAJE festival in New York, Villa Celimontana in Italy, Dubai, UAE and New Zealand.

Tom has toured Australia many times, and has played large venues like the Sydney Opera House and the Promethean Theatre (Adelaide), and also the best jazz clubs in the country – including 505, The Basement (Sydney), Bennett’s Lane and Paris Cat (Melbourne), and The Ellington Jazz Club (Perth).

He has composed two multi-piano pieces: Dissolve (for two pianos) and Drumkit (for six pianos). These explored his interest in musical interruption and chromatic saturation, synthesised with jazz interaction and improvisation.

Professional associations

  • 2010 - present - Perth Jazz Society, PIJF (Member)
  • 2010 - present - Jazz Coordination Association of WA, JCAWA (Member)

Awards and recognition

  • Jazz Work of the Year, 2017 APRA Art Music Awards
  • 2016 Best Keys and Synth Artist, West Australian Music Industry Award (WAM)
  • 2014 Best Jazz Artist, West Australian Music Industry Award (WAM)
  • 2009 Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) Limelight Magazine award for best jazz achievement
  • 2011 Freedman Foundation Jazz Fellowship, Sydney Opera House (finalist)

Research areas and interests

  • Integrating concepts from modernism within jazz improvisation and composition
  • Hybridity within jazz works
  • Multi-disciplined approaches to composition and improvisation
  • Technology and moving image within contemporary jazz

Qualifications

  • Certificate IV in Training & Assessment, Other WA registered training organisation, 2022.
  • Master of Music (Composition), The University of Sydney, 2012.
  • Bachelor of Music (Performance) in Jazz, Edith Cowan University, 1998.

Research Outputs

2024

Book Chapters

  • Foran, S., O'Regan, J., Perry, V., O'Halloran, T. (2024). Scaling Up: Teaching Contemporary Music through Repertoire Structures. The Handbook on Music Business and Creative Industries in Education (147-170). Equinox Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1558/equinox.45323.

2022

Creative Arts Research Outputs

  • O'Halloran, T. (2022). Harnessing improvised piano techniques to underscore The Glass Menagerie. [Stage Performance]. His Majesty’s Theatre, Perth.
  • O'Halloran, T. (2022). Two studies in pitch strategies for solo piano improvisation. [Musical Performance]. Audible Edge Festival of Sound 2022.

2021

Creative Arts Research Outputs

  • O'Halloran, T. (2021). My Voice, A Trigger for Change. [Musical Score/Musical Performance].

2020

Creative Arts Research Outputs

2018

Conference Publications

  • O'Halloran, T. (2018). A Case for Innovation in Jazz through Integration of the Digital/Moving Image. Reflecting Worlds: The Promise of Limitations of Mimesis in Electronic Music (51-59). The Australasian Computer Music Association. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/ecuworkspost2013/6405.

Creative Arts Research Outputs

2017

Creative Arts Research Outputs

  • Vanderwal, B., O'Halloran, T. (2017). Subverting notions of intensity and genre within jazz - My Name is Nobody. 2017 Wangaratta Jazz and Blues Festival.
  • O'Halloran, T., Karlsson, S. (2017). Passage. St. George’s Cathedral, Perth..

2016

Creative Arts Research Outputs

  • O'Halloran, T. (2016). Strategies for increased polyphony in jazz piano accompaniment. Perth International Jazz Festival.

2015

Creative Arts Research Outputs

  • O'Halloran, T., Zwartz, J., Mannell, E. (2015). Soundgun - 2015 Perth International Jazz Festival. Northbridge Piazza.

2014

Creative Arts Research Outputs

  • O'Halloran, T. (2014). Drumkit (for 6 pianos). Tom O'Halloran.
  • O'Halloran, T. (2014). Memory of Elements - Now Noise.
  • Vinson, W., Oehlers, J., O'Halloran, T., Boneham, A., Vanderwal, B. (2014). Will Vinson/Jamie Oehlers Quartet at the Ellington. The Ellington Jazz Club, Perth.
  • O'Halloran, T., Roberts, T., Alderson, D., Fisenden, A. (2014). Void @ PIJF. The Ellington Jazz Club, Perth.
  • Berstein, P., O'Halloran, T., Susnjar, D., Abbey, N. (2014). Peter Berstein at the Perth International Jazz Festival. The Ellington Jazz Club, Perth.
  • Roberts, T., O'Halloran, T., Vanderwal, B., Alderson, D., Jago, T. (2014). Nu-Jive - Melbourne International Jazz Festival. Bennett's Lane, Melbourne.
  • O'Halloran, T., Vanderwal, B., Florisson, K., Mendes, M., Tarr, C. (2014). Quinteto São Paulo - 2014 Performances. The Terrace Hotel.
  • Harrod, T., O'Halloran, T., Zwartz, J., Mannell, E. (2014). Tina Harrod - Live at The Ellington Jazz Club. The Ellington Jazz Club.
  • Wood, G., O'Halloran, T., Hopkins, J., Winton, H., Claudio, R. (2014). Rachel Claudio Live at The Ellington 2014. The Ellington Jazz Club, Perth.
  • Oehlers, J., O'Halloran, T., Susnjar, D. (2014). Jamie Oehlers Trio - Beaufort Street Festival and PJS at the Laneway. The City of Stirling Stage, Perth and The Laneway, Perth.
  • Grigson, F., O'Halloran, T., Mackey, C., Gander, A. (2014). Andrew Gander @ the Ellington. Ellington Jazz Club, Perth.
  • Arena, T., O'Halloran, T. (2014). Merci Down Under. Governor's House Ballroom, Perth.
  • Oehlers, J., O'Halloran, T., Susnjar, D., Bernstein, P. (2014). Peter Bernstein with Jamie Oehlers Trio. Cultural Centre, Perth.
  • Grigson, F., O'Halloran, T., Tarr, C. (2014). TLC Organ Trio. Ellington Jazz Club, Perth.
  • O'Halloran, T., Zwartz, J., Mannell, E., Harrod, T. (2014). Soundgun Album Launch at Venue 505. Venue 505, Sydney.
  • O'Halloran, T., Davies, K., McGlynn, M., Stewart, B., Grafton, Z., Harrison, D. (2014). WAAPA Jazz Ensemble - Melbourne International Jazz Festival 2014. Federation Square, Melbourne.
  • O'Halloran, T., Vanderwal, B. (2014). O'Halloran/Vanderwal duo - The Ellington. The Ellington Jazz Club.
  • O'Halloran, T., Alderson, D., Susnjar, D. (2014). Tom O'Halloran Trio at the 2014 Perth International Jazz Festival. Urban Orchard, Perth.
  • O'Halloran, T. (2014). Tom O'Halloran solo piano - WAAPA Lunch-time Concert. WAAPA.
  • Vanderwal, B., O'Halloran, T., Tarr, C., Florisson, K., Mendes, M., Rojas, G. (2014). Quinteto Sao Paulo featuring Giorgio Rojas. Ellington Jazz Club.
  • O'Halloran, T. (2014). Infinite Ivories. WAAPA Music Auditorium.

2013

Creative Arts Research Outputs

  • O'Halloran, T., Rammers, S. (2013). Night Cap Session with Shaun Rammers and Tom O'Halloran.
  • O'Halloran, T. (2013). Improvised pieces, solo Performance. WAAPA.
  • O'Halloran, T. (2013). Going Solo Piano Series. Sydney Improvised Music Association Inc.
  • O'Halloran, T. (2013). Flying Lesson (score). Perth Jazz Society.
  • Jeans, S., O'Halloran, T., Grigson, F., Susnjar, D. (2013). JOGS at the Ellington. Ellington Jazz Club.
  • O'Halloran, T., Vanderwal, B. (2013). Musical Conversations: The Art of The Duo. The Laneway Lounge, Perth.
  • O'Halloran, T., Rogers, G., Murray, R. (2013). Glenn Rogers Trio. The Ellington Jazz Club, Perth.
  • Pooley, P., O'Halloran, T., Tarr, C., Flynn, J., Millard, P., Walker, R. (2013). James Flynn "Reflections" CD launch. The Ellington Jazz Club, Perth.
  • Grigson, F., O'Halloran, T., Tarr, C. (2013). Music for visual art. Genesis in the Hills Vegetarian Cafe and Restaurant.
  • O'Halloran, T., Roberts, T., Alderson, D., Fisenden, A. (2013). Void. The Ellington Jazz Club, Perth.
  • O'Halloran, T., Jeavons, P., Tarr, C. (2013). Tom O'Halloran Trio at the 2013 Perth International Jazz Festival. Cultural Centre, Perth.
  • Pooley, P., O'Halloran, T., Nin, C. (2013). Caroline Nin: Hymne a Piaf. Mandurah Performing Arts Centre.
  • O'Halloran, T., Gioia, A., Florisson, K., Ainsworth, B. (2013). The Alan Corbet Fund and PJS present Andrew Gioia Quartet. The Ellington Jazz Club, Perth.
  • O'Halloran, T. (2013). Horizon Art Orchestra and Tom O'Halloran. The Ellington Jazz Club, Perth.
  • O'Halloran, T., Roberts, T., Jago, T., Alderson, D., Fisenden, A. (2013). Troy Roberts Nu-Jive. Brookfield Place, Weld Square, Perth.
  • Tarr, C., O'Halloran, T., Vanderwal, B., Florrison, K., Mendes, M. (2013). Quintet San Paolo. The Ellington Jazz Club, Perth.
  • Tarr, C., O'Halloran, T., Jeavons, P. (2013). Natilie Dietz in Concert. The Ellington Jazz Club, Perth.
  • O'Halloran, T., Bergersen, H., Jeavons, P., Tarr, C. (2013). Tom O'Halloran Trio and Heath Bergersen. Weld Square, Perth.
  • O'Halloran, T., Undy, C., Mannell, E., Maegraith, R. (2013). 2013 Jazzgroove Summer Festival. Tom Mann Theatre, Sydney.
  • Tarr, C., O'Halloran, T., Grigson, F. (2013). TLC Organ Trio at the Ellington. The Ellington Jazz Club, Perth.
  • O'Halloran, T., Alderson, D., Fisenden, A. (2013). Jam Sessions with the Tom O'Halloran Trio. The Ellington Jazz Club, Perth.
  • O'Halloran, T. (2013). Mingus, Monk and Miles. The Geoff Gibbs Theatre, WAAPA.

2012

Creative Arts Research Outputs

  • Jodrell, M., O'Halloran, T., Jeavons, P., Robbie, I., Susnjar, D. (2012). Daniel Susnjar Afro Peruvian Quintet. The Ellington Jazz Club.
  • McGregor, A., O'Halloran, T., Tarr, C., Jeavons, P. (2012). Ali McGregor's Alchemy. The West Australian Idolize Spiegeltent.
  • Cowlishaw, B., O'Halloran, T., Jeavons, P., Susnjar, D., Gioia, A. (2012). Briana Cowlishaw. The Ellington Jazz Club.
  • Torrance, V., O'Halloran, T., Jeans, S., Sandon, J., Florisson, K., Falle, B. (2012). JAZZWA Showcase 2012. The Bakery, Perth.
  • O'Halloran, T., Abbey, N., Tarr, C., Coffin, S. (2012). Sean Coffin. The Ellington Jazz Club.
  • O'Halloran, T., Phillips, C., Pitt, S. (2012). Deuces with Cristal Phillips and Solomon Pitt. The Ellington Jazz Club.
  • Wood, G., O'Halloran, T., Falle, B., Gregory, J., Caton, C. (2012). Late Night Grooves with Jeremy Gregory and Cian Caton. The Ellington Jazz Club.
  • O'Halloran, T., Oehlers, J., Vanderwal, B. (2012). Beaufort Bop - O'Halloran, Oehlers, Vanderwal. Defectors Bar, Mount Lawley, Western Australia.
  • O'Halloran, T., Walker, R. (2012). The Collaboratory with Ray Walker and Tom O’Halloran. The Ellington Jazz Club.
  • Sandon, J., O'Halloran, T., Grigson, F., Tarr, C. (2012). TLC and James Sandon. The Ellington Jazz Club.
  • O'Halloran, T., Jeavons, P., Susnjar, D. (2012). Art Gallery of Western Australia Nights at the Gallery: The Tom O'Halloran Trio. The Art Gallery of Western Australia.
  • Morgan, H., O'Halloran, T., Sandon, J., Vanderwal, B. (2012). Ben Vanderwal and Howie Morgan. The Ellington Jazz Club.
  • O'Halloran, T., Tarr, C. (2012). Kristin Berardi at the Ellington 2012. The Ellington Jazz Club.
  • O'Halloran, T., Hurst, R. (2012). Robert Hurst – Perth Winter Arts Festival. The Ellington Jazz Club.
  • O'Halloran, T., Jeavons, P., Susnjar, D. (2012). Downstairs at the Maj - Tom O’Halloran Jazz Trio. His Majesty's Theatre.
  • Kyle, J., O'Halloran, T., Tarr, C., Coffin, S. (2012). Josh Kyle - Perth Winter Arts Festival. The Ellington Jazz Club.
  • O'Halloran, T., King, P., Jeavons, P. (2012). Penny King Trio - Sunday Serenades. City of Joondalup Civic Chambers.
  • O'Halloran, T. (2012). Tenors Un Limited. The Octagon Theatre.
  • Lynton, C., O'Halloran, T., Eastman, R. (2012). Tribute to Larry Carlton and Robben Ford. The Ellington Jazz Club.

2011

Creative Arts Research Outputs

  • O'Halloran, T., Grigson, F., Tarr, C. (2011). TLC Organ Trio - 2011 Jazz Club Sets. The Ellington Jazz Club, Perth.
  • O'Halloran, T., Curnow, K., Grigson, F. (2011). Katherine Curnow - 26th May 2011. The Ellington Jazz Club, Perth.
  • Mackey, C., O'Halloran, T., Anning, S., Vanderwal, B., Jeavons, P. (2011). Carl Mackey - 11:11. The Ellington Jazz Club.
  • O'Halloran, T., Vanderwal, B. (2011). Tom O'Halloran WAAPA Lunchtime Concert - 18th April 2011. Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts.
  • O'Halloran, T., Grigson, F., Tarr, C. (2011). 2011 Beaufort Street Festival. Beaufort Street (outdoor), Mount Lawley, Perth..
  • O'Halloran, T., Oehlers, J., Mackey, C., Jeans, S., Jeavons, P., Vanderwal, B. (2011). Memory of Elements National Tour 2011. Australian Jazz Clubs.
  • O'Halloran, T. (2011). 2011 WAAPA All-Star Big Band Musical Director/Pianist. Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts.
  • O'Halloran, T., Jeavons, P., Susnjar, D. (2011). 2011 Tom O'Halloran Trio National Tour. Austraian Jazz Clubs.
  • Torrance, V., Booth, P., O'Halloran, T. (2011). Victoria Newton/Paul Booth Project. The Ellington Jazz Club.
  • O'Halloran, T., Muller, J., Zwartz, J., Mannell, E. (2011). James Muller and Soundgun - 2011 Sydney Fringe Festival. 505.
  • O'Halloran, T., Oehlers, J., Mackey, C., Jeavons, P., Jeans, S., Vanderwal, B. (2011). Memory of Elements. Charles Hotel.
  • Wood, G., O'Halloran, T. (2011). Piano Perspectives. Government House Ballroom.
  • O'Halloran, T., Gioia, A., Little, S. (2011). Andrew Gioia Sean Little with Tom O'Halloran. The Ellington Jazz Club, Perth.
  • Tarr, C., Florisson, K., O'Halloran, T., Boaden, D. (2011). Pat Metheny Tribute at the Perth Jazz Society. The Charles Hotel, North Perth.
  • O'Halloran, T., Gillespie, N. (2011). Natalie Gillespie - Michael Buble support show. Sandalford Winery, Swan Valley.
  • Roberts, T., O'Halloran, T., Jeavons, P., Fisenden, A. (2011). Troy Roberts Quartet. The Ellington Jazz Club.
  • O'Halloran, T., Jeavons, P., Susnjar, D. (2011). 2011 Freedman Fellowship. Sydney Opera House.
  • Greig, J., Pigneguy, M., Jeans, S., Tanner, P., Mackey, C., Jeavons, P., O'Halloran, T., Robbie, I. (2011). The Awakenings Ensemble. The Ellington.
  • O'Halloran, T., Vanderwal, B. (2011). Train Lullaby (music for film).
  • O'Halloran, T., Oehlers, J., Mackey, C., Jeavons, P., Jeans, S., Vanderwal, B. (2011). Memory of Elements Live. Jazzhead.

2010

Creative Arts Research Outputs

  • O'Halloran, T. (2010). Dissolve - score. Tim O'Halloran.
  • Wood, G., O'Halloran, T., Bodycoat, A. (2010). Minor Major Marlene. His Majesty's Theatre.
  • O'Halloran, T., Vanderwal, B., Oceans, L. (2010). Lucky Oceans,Tom O'Halloran and Ben Vanderwal. The Ellington.
  • O'Halloran, T. (2010). Tom O'Halloran Tour 2010. Selected Australian venues.

2009

Creative Arts Research Outputs

  • O'Halloran, T. (2009). JONI - A Tribute to the Legendary Joni Mitchell - transcriptions of 18 works. Sydney Opera House.
  • O'Halloran, T., Susnjar, D., Jeavons, P. (2009). We happy Few - CD. Glebe, NSW.
  • O'Halloran, T. (2009). Hymne a Piaf - Director. The Vanguard, Newtown.

Research Student Supervision

Current Supervisions

Completed Supervisions

Principal Supervisor

  • Master of Arts (Performing Arts), Creative constraints: Developing a method for restrictive jazz composition
  • Master of Arts (Performing Arts), Applications of Béla Bartók's Techniques of Pitch Organisation to Jazz Improvisation
  • Master of Arts (Performing Arts), Making the most of life's uncertainty: An analysis of the philosophies and musical language of David Ades
  • Master of Arts (Performing Arts), Towards interaction: Combining jazz techniques and idiomatic writing for varied ensembles. A collection of musical works -and- an exegesis

Associate Supervisor

  • Master of Arts (Performing Arts), Self-accompaniment and improvisation in solo jazz piano: Practice-led investigations of assimilation, ostinatos and 'hand splitting'
  • Master of Arts (Performing Arts), Developing a Framework for Music Ekphrasis in Jazz Composition

Assistant Supervisor

  • Doctor of Philosophy, Night music (compositions, performance and improvisations) -and- developing a chromatic-intervallic approach to jazz improvisation through reflexive practice. An exegesis
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