Peter Cousens AM

There is a fine line between the possibility of something wonderful happening, in a tiny moment, when you least expect it. It happened in a room at Mackay Conservatorium workshop for young people, exploring with me, the possibilities of bringing a song to life. A song presents initially, to an artistic interpreter (singer) as a series of black marks on paper; the hard labour of composer and lyricist. It once lived in their hearts and minds. It is now committed to a written fo

Songs are made up of ideas delivered purposefully in an emotional form. Music and melody can conjure an emotional response. No debate. A Song delivers ideas (messages) in a way that is accessible and emotional – this is the music part. The delivery method (words and music) is ideally suited to the message . The messenger, singer, needs to be authentic. You need to be as one with and connected to, what and how you are delivering, or audiences will subliminally switch off. It’

The Friends School built the $10 million dollar auditorium for students and the lucky people of Hobart. I was lucky enough to sing in this superb acoustic and then hold a Masterclass for thirty-four gleeful Musical Theatre aspirants. It was a weekend of open hearted revelation. To inspire authenticity, is the goal I set myself in front of a class of singers. I have no idea who they are, what they are singing or where they come from. It doesn’t matter much. Anonymity serves t