Paul Grabowsky AO

Paul Grabowsky is one of Australia’s most distinguished and versatile artists, renowned for his extraordinary contributions to the worlds of jazz, film, theatre, and classical music.

Born in Papua New Guinea and raised in Melbourne, Paul quickly became a prominent figure in Melbourne’s music scene during the late 1970s, working across jazz, theatre, and cabaret projects. His talent led him to Europe and the US from 1980 to 1985, where he performed alongside jazz legends such as Art Farmer and Johnny Griffin. Upon his return to Australia in 1986, Paul solidified his reputation as a leading jazz musician, performing with his own trio and sextet, the Wizards of Oz, and serving as the musical director for iconic Australian singer Vince Jones.

From 1990 to 1992, Paul was the musical director of Tonight Live with Steve Vizard, a nationally televised variety show, and later served as Commissioning Editor (Arts and Entertainment) for ABC Television from 1995 to 1998.

As a composer, Paul has written the scores for over twenty feature films across Australia, the UK, and the US, including Innocence (Paul Cox), Last Orders, The Eye of the Storm, Words and Pictures (Fred Schepisi), and Shiner (John Irvin). His television credits include the acclaimed Phoenix and Janus series, as well as the Emmy-winning Empire Falls. Additionally, his works for the theatre include four operas and various multimedia projects, with his latest opera, The Space Between, premiering at Arts Centre Melbourne in 2018.

Paul is also the founding Artistic Director of the Australian Art Orchestra, a position he held from 1994 to 2013, shaping the ensemble’s pioneering contributions to Australian music.

A recipient of numerous prestigious awards, including seven ARIA Awards (most recently in 2019 for his album Tryst with singer Kate Ceberano), two Helpmann Awards, and several APRA and Bell Awards, Paul has made an indelible impact on the Australian music landscape. In 2000, he was named the Sydney Myer Performing Artist of the Year, and in 2007, he received the Melbourne Prize for Music. Paul was also the 2010 Australian National University H.C. Coombs Fellow.

In addition to his performing and composing career, Paul served as the Artistic Director of the Queensland Music Festival from 2005 to 2007 and the Adelaide Festival of Arts in 2010 and 2012.

Currently a Professor at Monash University, Paul also directs the Monash University Academy of Performing Arts and the Monash Art Ensemble. In recognition of his exceptional service to music and arts administration, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2014.