ABOUT JODIE

Jodie Blackshaw (b. 1971) grew up in the south-east of rural Australia and formed a very personal relationship with music early in life through the creative application of her imagination to musical colours and movement. Today, she continues to seek creative experiences for students through her teaching and composing so they, too, may enjoy the personal relationship she discovered in her formative years. This includes the launching of her very own four-volume series “Teaching Performance through Composition”. 

In 2020 Blackshaw completed her PhD in Composition at the Australian National University. Her supervisor was Australian indigenous composer Dr. Christopher Sainsbury and her associate supervisor was Dr. Craig Kirchhoff. In addition to composing and presenting music education workshops, Blackshaw is passionate about fostering equality in concert programs, especially in schools. In 2017 she founded the Female Band Composer database (https://www.jodieblackshaw.com/female-band-composers) which is now cited as a tool for repertoire selection by The Midwest Clinic. In 2018 Blackshaw founded the website www.colourfullmusic.com in response to a panel presentation she curated for the Midwest Clinic entitled ‘Directors for Diversity’. The panel featured Jerry Junkin, John Lynch, Mary K. Schneider, Kevin Sedatole and high school band director Julie Bounds. ColourFULL Music shares diverse wind band programs created by an international array of leading conductors within the wind music community and now has a following of more than 5000 music educators and conductors. 

Jodie has thrice presented at the Midwest Clinic in Chicago (2012, 2014, 2018) as well as conducted residencies and/or conference presentations in the Middle East, Hong Kong and throughout Canada, Australia and the United States. She is published by Manhattan Beach Music, GIA Music Inc., Brolga Music/C. Alan Publications, Alfred Music and Murphy Music Press Incorporated. In 2006 she won the inaugural Frank Ticheli Composition Contest and was the BandQuest composer-in-residence in 2014. Her music is played frequently internationally with performances of her first symphony appearing in Portugal, France, Germany, Switzerland, Australia and the United States.  In June 2022 Blackshaw launched her ‘Conservation Series’, an infinitely growing set of works that raises both funds and awareness surrounding climate change and endangered species. Artistic Citizenship is an important component of Blackshaw’s compositions as she believes this enables students of all ages to become more emotionally engaged with their approach to music performance.

In July 2022 Jodie proudly became a board member of the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles (WASBE) and is currently Chair of two sub-committees: WASBE Connect and WASBE Emerging Composers Project. She is also writing her first work for Brass Band and loving every minute!