Leading jazz musician to join ANU School of Music

One of Australia’s most outstanding young jazz musicians, Johannes Luebbers, will join ANU School of Music in 2015.

Luebbers is a talented musician and composer who has released two albums with his own ensemble, and who has written for orchestras and major events.

“I am delighted to be joining the School of Music and look forward to contributing to its terrific jazz and contemporary music programs, as well as the broader musical life of the School and the ACT community,” Luebbers said.

Professor Peter Tregear, Head of the ANU School of Music, said Luebbers was an exceptional educator who has worked in a range of musical genres, including music theatre, folk, pop, blues/funk/soul and classical music. He will work in jazz and contemporary music at the School of Music.

“This is truly an outstanding appointment. Luebbers is without doubt one of the brightest young jazz talents in Australia today,” Professor Tregear said.

“He’s a highly gifted educator as well as composer and performer.”

Perth-based Luebbers is a graduate of the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA), where he is currently enrolled in a PhD.

He has won numerous awards, including the APRA Professional Development Award for jazz in 2006, the Jazz Song of the Year (WA Music Industry Awards) in 2008, and the Best Australian Jazz Composition of the Year’ (Bell Awards) in 2009.

In 2011, Luebbers won the Young Australian Jazz Artist of the Year (Australian Jazz ‘Bell’ Awards) and the Jazz Work of the Year (APRA/AMC Art Music Awards).

He has released two albums with his own ensemble the Johannes Luebbers Dectet, and has written music for Orchestra Victoria with Sinead O’Connor and Dan Sultan, the WA Symphony Orchestra, the Australian Rock Symphony with the Baby Animals and The Divinyls, the Logie Awards, the WA Youth Orchestra and the WA Youth Jazz Orchestra.

With his ensemble he has performed at the Wangaratta Jazz Festival, the York Jazz Festival and was a featured performer at the 2011 APRA/AMC Art Music Awards.

Luebbers has also worked in genres as diverse as music theatre, folk, pop, blues/funk/soul and classical music.

Luebbers is currently president of the Perth Jazz Society, and was until recently a member of the Australian Council for the Arts music board, and is co-founder of the independent new music label Listen/Hear Collective.

Further information: http://www.johannesluebbers.com/