It is a great honour to write about Paul Jarman and the impact his music has had in my career and to the young people I work with.

The first time I remember hearing Paul’s music was in Sydney when the Birralee Blokes sang his piece Pemulwuy at the ABC Choir of the Year competition. It is hard to describe the feeling in the room as this powerful and spell-binding piece was performed live by a bunch of young Brisbane men. Of course, that performance resulted in a win for the Blokes and also literally sparked a dynamic movement in male singing with continuation of the Pemulwuy Male Voice Festival in Brisbane.

There is something special about hearing a Paul Jarman work for the first time. There is always something coming that you don’t expect as a story unfolds and chapters reveal themselves. As someone who works with male choirs, there is rarely a season when I am not working on at least one piece by Jarms. His music has an innate energy that boys in particular respond to, and sees audiences clap with joy and weep with emotion.

Jarms has a true passion for story-telling and making music that connects with young Australians. Paul often chooses to write about real figures in Australia’s history that have inspired him, or just make a good story! When writing commissions, Jarms does his absolute best to find out the feel and nature of the group he is writing for. He won’t start a piece until he feels he has the essence of the group and the particular story or theme he is writing about.

He is also a man of integrity, warmth and humour. He is humbled when he sees how important his music has become to many, and is truly moved with quality music-making, no matter the experience or the age of the group. Paul Jarman is a champion for young and aspiring composers and has truly changed the landscape of Australian choral music.

Kate Albury

Choral Director

Brisbane Grammar School

Conductor Gondwana Juniors 2011; Gondwana Singers 2015