University of Queensland Emmanuel College Music Scholar Michael Bradshaw began playing piano at the tender age of seven while living with his family in Japan. His parents played instruments and filled the house with music, creating an environment where both Michael and his sister, Holly, developed a deep love for music.
Throughout his school years, Michael's love for music was matched by his love for science, and he completed two years of university mathematics before deciding to focus on music.
In 2011 he gained his Bachelor of Music with 1st class honours in Performance and Musicology from The University of Queensland's School of Music.
The combination of performance and musicology is not commonly undertaken as a major, although Michael believes it suited him.
"I sometimes find it helpful to think of my love of music as stemming from three sources," he said.
"The first is the physical and aural joy of playing an instrument. The second is the desire to understand how a piece of music is put together. And the third is the process of trying to get into the mindset of the composer and people of the time the piece was composed; to try and work out what they found beautiful and meaningful, and what made them tick."
"For me, the musicology component allowed me to develop the second and third areas of interest, and at the moment UQ is unique in Australia for offering a performance/ musicology specialisation."
For his honours thesis, which looked at the music of Beethoven, Michael was awarded the inaugural Donald Tugby Musicology Prize for the music thesis gaining the highest overall mark in 2011.
The prize is for $1,000 and Dr Tugby, who taught anthropology at The University of Queensland from 1958 to 1986, has generously established a trust fund to support it in perpetuity. Dr Tugby was a member of the University Choir and an advisor on world music to the School of Music.
Since beginning his degree in 2008, Michael has enjoyed ongoing support from Emmanuel College. As an Emmanuel resident he has been awarded generous scholarships and unrestricted use of College facilities, including a Yamaha grand.
Emmanuel Principal Stewart Gill said he believed the College had a role to play in fostering young academics and researchers.
"The College has supported Michael in various ways since he began his degree, and in 2010 Michael officially became Emmanuel Music Scholar," Mr Gill said.
"He regularly performs for guests at Emmanuel events such as the Sir Harry Gibbs Law Dinner and the annual medical dinner, plays the organ at Emmanuel's chapel services and stages his own concerts at the College. He gives back."
"We are pleased Michael will return to Emmanuel in 2012 and we'll support him again with a full scholarship and the unrestricted use of our Yamaha grand piano."
Michael says this support is invaluable for his studies.
"I am incredibly grateful to Emmanuel for all they do. I would not be where I am now without this support," he said.
"Apart from the use of their excellent grand piano, and giving me performance opportunities, they have provided occasions for me to present my research to colleagues from diverse areas such as science, literature, and philosophy. It is a wonderful leaning environment."
The University's School of Music has also been a pillar of support with expert tutelage and guidance from piano teachers Max Olding and Anna Grinberg, and thesis supervisor Simon Perry. This year Michael will begin his Master of Philosophy with UQ's School of Music with a view to venturing down the academic path in the future. Further study in England or the US is a strong possibility.
Media: Margaret Chatburn (07) 3871 9342 or m.chatburn@emmanuel.uq.edu.au
