Even while as a student I worked as a group and theatre musician/arranger/composer, but was interested to move to Europe where I found work playing in nightclubs/live-music venues and also as a freelance dance pianist around the studios and educational institutions in London. I also played popular music on European cruiseboats, both in the band and for the shows. This was good experience for my return to Australia when I became the resident musical director and keyboardist for ten years in a Theatre Restaurant where I combined live music with pre-recorded backing tracks in a similar manner to cruiseships.
My taste in music is very wide: it had to be because I've been able to survive in the industry by having that versatility up my sleeve. My academic training has been a worthwhile backbone too because it has given me the opportunity to play almost anything, within my technical capabilities, which were really tested when I started doing company work for professional ballet/dance companies. What I enjoyed the most were the classes, particularly with those teachers and choreographers with musicality and creativity. I will never forget a number of most inspiring experiences, particularly in Europe, and have lost count of the number of artists I worked with, but here is a list of a few, more to be added later: