Biography
Shaun Rigney is a composer, producer and occasional writer (b 1960, Melbourne). His music includes orchestral, chamber, instrumental, electronic and mixed media pieces.
His writings include plays, radio drama, poetry and critical writings.
Shaun's latest work as producer is Impressions, the new CD from Slava and Leonard Grigoryan, available on ABC Classics. This CD features the music of Debussy, Mompou and de Falla.
His most recent appointment is as composer and Artistic Director of the Aquamarine project, to feature several new orchestral works inspired by the Great Barrier Reef and its people.
Several CDs featuring his music have been released, including Afterimage – Slava Grigoryan Plays the Music of Shaun Rigney, released through ABC Classics. This CD features the acclaimed guitar virtuoso Slava Grigoryan performing a program of works from Shaun’s guitar archive, including the guitar concerto Lapis Lazuli (with Orchestra Victoria conducted by Brett Kelly), the guitar quintet The Garden of Forking Paths (with the Flinders Quartet), and the solos Ten Coastal Sketches and Girasol.
“… one of the best discs [Slava Grigoryan] has produced.”
Patricia Kelly, Brisbane Courier Mail
“ [Rigney’s] music is lyrical and searching with a lovely colouration.”
Greg Barns, Hobart Mercury
“It’s a subtle artistry that bespeaks landscape and interiors, wide skies and musings.”
Warwick McFadyen, Melbourne Age
For two years (2005 -2007) Shaun undertook duties as ABC Classic FM classical music producer based in Western Australia. In 2006 he was music recording producer on the West Australian Symphony Orchestra's first tour of China. Music he recorded on this tour featured in the ABC TV documentary Double Happiness.
Shaun has contributed regularly to ABC Radio Audio Arts programs since the early nineties, with pieces such as Rain, Steam and Speed (2005), A Portrait of the Air (2004), The Plover (2002), In Darkness and In Light (2000), In Angel Gear (1998-1999), The Beacons (1997), Distant Stations (1997), and Topology of a Phantom City (1993). Shaun also composes for film and TV, and was co-winner at the 1998 Watch My Shorts Film Festival (Melbourne) in the Best Sound category, for the AFI-nominated animation Seabound by Donna Kendrigan.
“I believe Mr Rigney writes music as a true artist would, from the heart… I can state with no hesitation that soon he will be established as one the most important young voices in the classical guitar repertoire.”
Pablo Cohen, Professor of Guitar at the Whallen Center for Music, Ithaca College, NY.
“I find [your] concerto and the guitar quintet most beautiful.”
Raphaëlla Smits, Belgian classical guitar virtuoso