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Michael DooleyAdvDipMus, AMusA
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Statement of Support
"As someone active in the field of the Arts, I think it is vital to have a tertiary institution in Australia where young people with creative gifts can be nurtured in a Godly environment. There are many voices in the world of the Arts representing many world views, and I believe it is important that the Christian worldview is properly represented in all these art forms, in excellence and professionalism.
I am a firm believer in the apologetic value of music, as my own conversion from atheism was in part due to the Gospel presented through the music of J.S. Bach. I reasoned that if one of the greatest composers who ever lived could express his faith so powerfully through the beauty of his musical compositions, it was worth considering, and the emotional impact of the music combined with the eternal truths contained in Scripture caused me to start believing in God. I believe that music has an important role in the communication of the Gospel. I speak from experience when I say that many creative teaching institutions vigorously promote secular humanism and post modernism, and I believe the Christian University has the potential to give excellent training in the technical and vocational aspects of music making whilst at the same time instilling Godly motivations and aesthetic values into the students. I fully support the endeavours of the Christian University to fulfil this role."
I am a firm believer in the apologetic value of music, as my own conversion from atheism was in part due to the Gospel presented through the music of J.S. Bach. I reasoned that if one of the greatest composers who ever lived could express his faith so powerfully through the beauty of his musical compositions, it was worth considering, and the emotional impact of the music combined with the eternal truths contained in Scripture caused me to start believing in God. I believe that music has an important role in the communication of the Gospel. I speak from experience when I say that many creative teaching institutions vigorously promote secular humanism and post modernism, and I believe the Christian University has the potential to give excellent training in the technical and vocational aspects of music making whilst at the same time instilling Godly motivations and aesthetic values into the students. I fully support the endeavours of the Christian University to fulfil this role."
Professional Biography
Michael Dooley is a professional musician and classical composer who is motivated to spread the Gospel through the vessel of music.
Michael studied classical composition and piano at Sydney Conservatorium of Music in 1980 under leading Australian Composer Ross Edwards. He holds an Advanced Diploma in Music Performance from Canberra Institute of Technology in 2014, and an Associate in Music in classical piano. His professional experience and accolades immeasurably enrich Michael’s story. His music reaches many corners of the world having spent several decades as a missionary, humanitarian volunteer and musician in South East Asia and the Middle East. He has donned the hat of a professional piano and composition teacher at a private music school and at a secondary school. Today, he is a producer and performer of music.
In addition to this Michael has produced five albums of original work; three jazz albums and two albums of classical piano. His work caught the attention of concert pianist Andrew Rumsey who performed Michael’s music in 2017 at Carnegie Hall in the USA. Leading Australian Soprano, Louise Page, premiered Michael’s song cycle “Divine Nature” at her Artsong Recital that same year. Michael’s more current work has been performed and recorded by the elite Melbourne-based trio ‘Ensemble Liaison’, commissioned and performed by the Canberra Wind Symphony, showcased at the Canberra International Music Festival, and premiered in Canberra by the National Capital Orchestra.
Michael has also composed scores for Christian animated films. Major commissions have included the “Torchlighters” series, two feature films based on the book of Acts - “The Messengers” and “To every nation”, “The Pilgrims Progress”, and the film “Joseph” for which Michael received a nomination in the category of “Best Score for Children’s Television” for the Biblical animated film “Joseph” in the 2016 APRA/AMCOS Screen Music Awards. His latest project has Michael creating choral work entitled “Unto the King”, featuring 12 songs based directly on Biblical texts in a Gospel Music style that will be premiered by the ‘Rhythm Syndicate’ choir in a concert in December 2019. Several of these songs have already been performed at various venues including the High Court of Australia.
In his own performances as a solo pianist, Michael has performed at National Library of Australia, Great hall of Parliament House, The National Museum, The High Court of Australia, Royal Australian Mint and the National Portrait Gallery, Hyatt Hotel, AIS arena, Old Parliament House and numerous other venues.
Michael studied classical composition and piano at Sydney Conservatorium of Music in 1980 under leading Australian Composer Ross Edwards. He holds an Advanced Diploma in Music Performance from Canberra Institute of Technology in 2014, and an Associate in Music in classical piano. His professional experience and accolades immeasurably enrich Michael’s story. His music reaches many corners of the world having spent several decades as a missionary, humanitarian volunteer and musician in South East Asia and the Middle East. He has donned the hat of a professional piano and composition teacher at a private music school and at a secondary school. Today, he is a producer and performer of music.
In addition to this Michael has produced five albums of original work; three jazz albums and two albums of classical piano. His work caught the attention of concert pianist Andrew Rumsey who performed Michael’s music in 2017 at Carnegie Hall in the USA. Leading Australian Soprano, Louise Page, premiered Michael’s song cycle “Divine Nature” at her Artsong Recital that same year. Michael’s more current work has been performed and recorded by the elite Melbourne-based trio ‘Ensemble Liaison’, commissioned and performed by the Canberra Wind Symphony, showcased at the Canberra International Music Festival, and premiered in Canberra by the National Capital Orchestra.
Michael has also composed scores for Christian animated films. Major commissions have included the “Torchlighters” series, two feature films based on the book of Acts - “The Messengers” and “To every nation”, “The Pilgrims Progress”, and the film “Joseph” for which Michael received a nomination in the category of “Best Score for Children’s Television” for the Biblical animated film “Joseph” in the 2016 APRA/AMCOS Screen Music Awards. His latest project has Michael creating choral work entitled “Unto the King”, featuring 12 songs based directly on Biblical texts in a Gospel Music style that will be premiered by the ‘Rhythm Syndicate’ choir in a concert in December 2019. Several of these songs have already been performed at various venues including the High Court of Australia.
In his own performances as a solo pianist, Michael has performed at National Library of Australia, Great hall of Parliament House, The National Museum, The High Court of Australia, Royal Australian Mint and the National Portrait Gallery, Hyatt Hotel, AIS arena, Old Parliament House and numerous other venues.
