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Michael Sollis (born 1985 in Canberra, Australia) is an Australian interdisciplinary artist, musician, artistic director, researcher, and teaching artist. He is the founder and director of The Griffyn Ensemble, known for its innovative and genre-defying performances. His work spans multiple disciplines, integrating music with themes of science, community engagement, and cross-cultural storytelling.[1]

Early Life and Education

Sollis has published research analyzing the interplay between language and music,[2] and has been influenced by the music and culture of Papua New Guinea.[3] He studied with, and later taught alongside, Jim Cotter and Dr. Larry Sitsky at the ANU School of Music.[4]

Career

The Griffyn Ensemble

In the early 2000s, Sollis founded The Griffyn Ensemble, serving as its Artistic Director and composer. The ensemble is known for its genre-defying performances and collaborations across various artistic disciplines. They have been featured on ABC Classic, toured with Musica Viva In Schools, and were shortlisted for an Australian Classical Music Award.[5]

The Griffyn Ensemble has a history of engaging with First Nations communities. Their 2021 project, "Songs from a Stolen Senate," featured collaborations with Indigenous Australian musicians, using parliamentary texts to create songs reflecting personal and cultural narratives.[6]

Musica Viva Australia

In 2016, Sollis was appointed by Richard Gill as the inaugural Artistic Director of Education at Musica Viva Australia, overseeing the country's largest music education program.[7] During the COVID-19 pandemic, Sollis led support for creativity in Australian schools and Australian artists, ensuring continued access to music education through online platforms and resources.[8] Sollis has also contributed significantly to creativity in education, developing programs in Scottish prisons, Egyptian schools, regional Australia, and Australian universities[9].

National Folk Festival

In 2023, Sollis was appointed as one of the co-artistic directors for the National Folk Festival, alongside Holly Downes and Chris Stone.[10] Their leadership focuses on revitalizing the festival and integrating contemporary and traditional folk practices.

Composition and Collaborations

Sollis’s work spans multiple artistic disciplines and themes, including astronomy, interdisciplinary storytelling, and community engagement. Examples include:

  • Astronomical Themes: He has collaborated with astronomer Fred Watson on musical works inspired by celestial bodies.[11] His composition "Northern Lights" was influenced by Estonian composer Urmas Sisask, reflecting a shared fascination with astronomy and music.[12] His project "One Sky Many Stories" combined Indigenous Australian and Western astronomical narratives, fostering cross-cultural dialogue.
  • Visual Arts and Interdisciplinary Projects: Sollis collaborated with Jyll Bradley on the "City of Trees" project, commissioned by the Canberra Centenary, exploring the intersection of music and the environment.[13]
  • Music Education: He was commissioned by the Australian Society of Music Educators to develop new works for young people.[14]
  • Community Engagement: His work "The Dirty Red Digger" explored the intersection of rugby league and World War I history, integrating live music with documentary elements. [15]Sollis is influenced by his participation in the semi-professional Canberra Raiders Cup, playing First Grade for Rugby League club the Gungahlin Bulls from the age of 16.[16]

Cancer Advocacy

In 2021, Sollis was diagnosed with advanced bowel cancer.[17] Since then, he has become an advocate for cancer awareness, sharing his journey to emphasize the importance of early detection and research. He created "Reticulum", a sound sculpture installed at the University of Canberra Hospital, which weaves together interviews from immunodeficient families with music inspired by the increasing isolation of the stars.[18] Michael has also previously been an active advocate for Australian freelance artists. [19].

References

  1. ^ "Michael Sollis - Australian Music Centre". Australian Music Centre. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  2. ^ Sollis, Michael (2010). "Tune–Tone Relationships in Sung Duna Pikono". Australian Journal of Linguistics. 30 (1): 67–80. doi:10.1080/07268600903134038. S2CID 62766793.
  3. ^ Cook, Rhiannon (21 October 2008). "Griffyn Ensemble - Island Universes". Australian Music Centre. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
  4. ^ Niles, Don; Rumsey, Alan (2011). Sung Tales from the Papua New Guinea Highlands. Canberra: ANU E-Press. p. xi.
  5. ^ "Michael Sollis - Australian Music Centre". Australian Music Centre. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  6. ^ "Songs from a Stolen Senate". ABC News. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  7. ^ "Musica Viva Appoints Michael Sollis as Inaugural Artistic Director of Education". 15 February 2016.
  8. ^ "Musica Viva: Music education during COVID-19". ABC News. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  9. ^ "Cultural Facilities Corporation Composition". 10 March 2025.
  10. ^ "Musicians offer a new artistic lead for the Folk Festival". Canberra CityNews. 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  11. ^ Watson, Fred (2013). Star-Craving Mad. Sydney: Allen & Unwin. p. 316. ISBN 9781742373768.
  12. ^ "Northern Lights by Michael Sollis". Australian Music Centre. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  13. ^ Parsons, Sara-Jayne (August 2013). "City of Trees". Art Monthly Australia. 262: 32.
  14. ^ Capaldo, John; Latukefu, L. (2013). Redefining the Musical Landscape: Inspired Learning and Innovation in Music Education. XIX National Conference Proceedings. Parkville, Victoria: Australian Society for Music Education. p. 14.
  15. ^ Gall, Jennifer (27 April 2015). "Griffyn Ensemble review: The Dirty Red Digger marks a coming of age". The Sydney Morning Herald. Sydney. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
  16. ^ Wilson, Janet (15 April 2015). "Griffyn Ensemble's The Dirty Red Digger looks at war and rugby". The Canberra Times. Canberra. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
  17. ^ "Michael Sollis". Cancer Council ACT. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  18. ^ "Reticulum - Canberra Art Biennial". Canberra Art Biennial. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  19. ^ "Cultural Facilities Corporation Composition". 10 March 2025.

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