Sally Whitwell is a pianist and composer, living and working on Ngunnawal and Ngambri land. Her 5 solo albums on ABC Classic have garnered between them 8 ARIA nominations and 3 wins. She is known particularly for her interpretations of the piano works of American minimalist Philip Glass, her debut album Mad Rush leading to invitations to premiere Glass’s Etudes for Solo Piano at Perth International Arts Festival, Center for the Art of Performance UCLA, and at Next Wave Festival, Brooklyn Academy of Music. In a five star review of her recording of Glass’s Etudes in Limelight Magazine, Sally is described as “one of Australia’s finest solo performers”.
Sally was for many years Principal Pianist with Gondwana Choirs with whom she toured throughout Europe, the Americas and Asia. She has been commissioned to compose for many vocal ensembles including Adelaide Chamber Singers (2020 Composer in Residence), The Song Company, Australian Vocal Ensemble (AVÉ), The Consort of Melbourne, Luminescence Chamber Singers, The Australian Voices, Divisi Chamber Singers, Sydney Philharmonia Choirs, Moorambilla Voices, and Brisbane Birralee. Many instrumental ensembles and philanthropists have also commissioned Sally to create new works. Amongst them, Phoenix Central Park, Ensemble Offspring, Acacia Quartet, Plexus Ensemble, Homophonic, Emily Granger (harp) and Alicia Crossley (recorders).
Sally’s latest album release includes a brand new work for guitar and piano, ‘Starwalker’, commissioned by guitarist Matt Withers. In 2023, she collaborated with The Australian Romantic and Classical Orchestra, Hush Foundation, the National Gallery of Australia and the National Institute of Dramatic Art. Currently, she is working on new commissions for Synergy Percussion, Inventi Ensemble, Southern Cross Soloists, and The Arts Unit of the NSW Department of Education. Her first opera, Margaret and the Grey Mare, created in collaboration with artist Katy B Plummer and a coded-for-purpose artificial intelligence, is now playing at Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre as part of Sydney Festival.
