Stephen Cronin

Stephen Cronin was born in Brisbane, Australia. He studied composition and piano at the University of Queensland and was awarded the Master of Music degree in composition and subsequently a Doctor of Philosophy in Composition from that institution. During 1985-86 he studied at the University of London and on his return to Australia was appointed to the staff of the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University. Departing his long teaching career Stephen relocated from Queensland to Tasmania in early 2020, attracted to life in the Huon Valley which boasts a lively and eclectic arts community.

Stephen’s works have been performed and commissioned by leading Australian and overseas groups including various orchestras, Duo Contemporain, Octomania, The Seymour Group, Synergy and The Song Company. Many of his vocal works are settings of text written by New York artist Leon Waller.

Awards he has received include a Rotary Foundation scholarship, the Percy Brier Memorial Prize for Music Composition, the Dalley-Scarlett Memorial Scholarship, the inaugural Paul Lowin Song Cycle Award, the A. H. Maggs commission, a Vienna Modern Masters recording project and an Australia Council Composer Fellowship.

Recordings of Stephen’s music appear on Globe, Tall Poppies, Z.o.o, ABC Classics, Divine Art, Sunset Music, VoxAustralis, Innaminka, Anthology of Australian Music, Vienna Modern Masters and other independent releases.

As a mentor and role model Stephen has always sought to expand his own multi-disciplinary artistic practice to accommodate interests in the visual arts, prose and handwoven fabrics. His composition teaching focused on the establishment of a solid compositional craft based on strong aural and theoretical foundations and a desire to expose students to a broad variety of styles and genres.

While composition remains his pivotal artistic focus, printmaking, photography, and particularly hand weaving offer a broadened means for supporting intersecting artistic practices and Stephen’s aspiration to continue exploring new horizons. He is convinced “All art is about politics” and “Weaving is sound made visible.”