I was born and educated in Australia, my first instrument being the pianoforte, studying under Bevan Crabtree and Dorothy McCormack. I abandoned piano studies in favour of composition and worked with Dr Philip Bracanin at the University of Queensland to get my BMus degree. As a student there I won the Gold Coast Composition Competition two years in a row, and in 1998 was accepted on the Young Composers Program (in association with the ABC) working with QSO resident composer Nigel Sabin. Through this I had the opportunity to have my works performed by members of the Queensland Symphony Orchestra and broadcast on national radio. At the moment I’m focussed on completing my PhD in Music Composition, working with the help of Dr. Robert Davidson at the University of Queensland. My research looks at the unique creative opportunities available to composers working with music technology tools.
Commissions from artists and professional ensembles are most welcome, as are requests for incidental music and soundtracks for film/TV. In addition to the creative work, I can also arrange, transcribe, record, mix and remix. If you need something done, try me! Or, if you just have a wicked crazy idea that could involve my skills, you know I’d probably be up for it. My favourite composers include Ravel, Shostakovich, Terry Riley, Gavin Bryars, John Tavener, and Graham Fitkin. My favourite pop artists are David Bowie, Bjork, Morrissey/The Smiths, Brian Eno, Aphex Twin, Amon Tobin, Sufjan Stevens and The Flaming Lips.
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Press & Reviews:
Leah Kardos - Feather Hammer - Echoes & Dust (12/01/2012) (review)
HurdAudio Rotation: Pianos, Theatrics and Two-by-fours - Devin Hurd/ HurdAudio (22/12/2011)
'DFACE' by Leah Kardos - Beautiful Song Of The Week (19/12/2011)
Leah Kardos - Feather Hammer - Peter van Cooten / Ambientblog.net (reviewed 7/12/2011)
[81%] Leah Kardos - Feather Hammer - Barcode (review)
(Interview) 'Composers: Leah Kardos' - Chris McGovern / The Glass (01/10/2011)
'Feather Hammer: a progressive collection of short pieces threaded together as a tone poem on the composer's relationship with the piano as her first instrument' - Chris McGovern / Chamber Music Today (01/10/2011)
'New Music: Leah Kardos - Feather Hammer' - Acid Ted
'Leah Kardos: Feather Hammer - a journey into new worlds of what music can be' - Chip Michael / Interchanging Idioms (17/09/2011)
'Introducing Leah Kardos' - Fictionfish (17/09/2011)
'Leah Kardos - Feather Hammer' - Telephant (16/09/2011)
(Interview) '5 Questions to Leah Kardos (Composer)' - I Care If You Listen (25/02/2011)