Media Releases

Media Release December 2006

Stunning New Album for Award-Winning Australian Musician

Fiona Joy Hawkins' Angel Above My Piano

One of Australia's most internationally successful (but least known!) neo-classical musician/composers has launched a brilliant new album this month.

Fiona Joy Hawkins whose romantic, evocative work has been described as "music to dream to" is a truly international Australian music star. Her last award-winning album Portrait of a Waterfall debuted at no.1 on the international New Age Reporter World Charts and was a finalist for Best Piano Album in the NAR Lifestyle Music Awards 2005). Fiona is the creator of the global YouTube Antarctic nature music video sensation www.penguinwhisperer.com and she has was a grand finalist in the 2006 MusicOz Awards in the Classical music category.

Angel Above My Piano takes an emotional journey through a variety of landscapes. Beautifully orchestrated and haunting, its piano melodies span the perfect 'Hollywood movie moment' to the extraordinary wilderness of Antarctica.

Opening with "Antarctic Interludes", Fiona Joy Hawkins brings to life the majesty and wilderness of the coldest continent. Inspired by her expedition cruise on the Orion, she has captured the grandness yet fragility of a frozen and unique place. It's an image she has shared, drawing thousands of 'hits' for her YouTube music video encounter with Adelie penguins!

The grand orchestration and soaring piano of "Opus For Love" is soul-searching. "This piece represents the journey that spans the winter of our life, the heart-ache we feel for those who have left us, and our sadness and joy when we look back to remember."

Fiona is also a successful visual artist, based in the Blue Mountains. Her title track took its inspiration from an Angel that came in a dream. "The Angel signifies the strength we search for in times of need. She looks like someone you know but no-one you have ever met."

Fiona also incorporates manuscripts of her music onto canvas to create bold colourful mixed media abstracts that allow the viewer to hear and see her music.

Truly an album of piano 'music to dream to', Angel Above My Piano by is filled with romantic melodies that are other-worldly and will transport you to places you have never imagined!

Listen to music previews and view paintings as well as order at www.fionajoyhawkins.com.au

Angel Above My Piano is available from Nov 2006 in ABC shops, good record stores and through i-tunes.

Media: for review CDs, images, interviews and more information, contact Geoff Sirmai Watchdog Communications (02) 9389 3907 or geoff@watchdog.com.au

FIONA JOY HAWKINS (additional information)

Classically trained as a pianist, Fiona's work is thematic and melodic. With a keen eye on film, she has always enjoyed creating music that tells a story.

"The idea of synchronicity has always intrigued me, colours, ideas and emotions all have corresponding sounds which are a description of everything I see and feel".

Fiona also incorporates manuscripts of her music onto canvas to create bold colourful mixed media abstracts that allow the viewer to hear and see her music.

Fiona has been painting for ten years and writing music since she was a child. Her love of music can be seen in her paintings. "I believe in the power of music as a source of inspiration and way of reaching people, and I can transfer a musical quality through my art to the canvas."

Fiona has been exhibiting and selling consistently since 1997 and is represented by Butterflies Gallery in Pokolbin and The Gallery in Blackheath NSW. Her studio is situated in beautiful Little Hartley in the Blue Mountains, NSW Australia.