Biography: Katherine Rawlings

Melbourne-based composer Katherine Rawlings is celebrated for her stylistically thematic and emotive music that draws inspiration from nature, visual art, and literature. Proficient in both piano and violin, she frequently composes for piano and string instruments, which remain central to much of her work. For over 25 years, her works have been performed worldwide by esteemed soloists and ensembles including the Australian String Trio, Trio Anima Mundi, Collision Theory, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Victoria, the Zelman Memorial Symphony Orchestra and The Crossing Machine. In 2016, Katherine founded The Linus Ensemble to build community support for local composers, performers, and artists in the northern suburbs of Melbourne.

Katherine's work often thrives on collaborations with musicians, painters, film directors, authors, and illustrators, and many of her compositions have been inspired by these diverse influences. In 2014-2015 she collaborated with author Ailsa Wild and illustrator Simon Howe as composer, producer, concert curator and publisher for Anthea's Garden, the illustrated children's book with music. She was the artist in residence for Wesley College Melbourne and has been a guest speaker at numerous educational institutions including the University of Melbourne's Conservatorium of Music, Monash University's Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music and Performance and Lowther Hall.

Katherine holds a Bachelor of Music from the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music and a Master of Music from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. She has studied under many accomplished mentors, including Katy Abbott, Brenton Broadstock, Mary Finsterer, Stuart Greenbaum, Richard Mills, Terumi Narushima, and Johanna Selleck. Her expertise has earned her recognition as an award-winning composer, and her compositions are distributed both nationally and internationally through her website, www.katherinerawlings.com, and the Australian Music Centre.