Associate ProfessorJeanell Carrigan

B.A.(Mus) with distinction (Qld Con), Kuenstlerische Straatsdiplom (Hochschule fuer Musik, Munich), M.Mus. (UQ) DCA (University of Wollongong)

Jeanell Carrigan studied at the Sydney and Queensland Conservatories and then in Europe with Nancy Salas, Leah Horwitz, Pamela Page, Alfons Kontarsky and Karl Engel. As a professional musician she has been involved in many educational and performance based activities.

As a teacher she has experience at all levels - primary, secondary and tertiary, in the class and lecture room situation and on a one-to-one basis. She has held positions of employment at the Hochschulen für Musik in Stuttgart and Munich, the Universities of Queensland and Melbourne and the Queensland and Sydney Conservatories of Music. She is constantly in demand as an examiner and adjudicator and is presently an Associate Professor in the Collaborative Piano Unit at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

Jeanell has performed as a soloist, chamber musician and accompanist in Germany, Italy, Austria, Switzerland and throughout Australia, and has recorded for the Bavarian Radio Corporation, the ABC and for regional stations in Australia on many occasions. As a member of the Novalis Quartet, Trio Novalis and Richter/Carrigan Duo she performs regularly for Musica Viva and other concert organisations.

She holds a Doctor of Creative Arts in the area of Australian post-1970 solo piano repertoire and April 2026 released her thirty-seventh compact disc recording of Australian solo piano and chamber music. Her publications include several books: Post-1970 Australian Piano Music (1997); Australian Piano Music of the last Twenty -Five Years (2006); Composing Against the Tide (2016); A Musical Missionary. The Life and Music of Dulcie Holland (2020), (co-authored with Dr. Rita Crews OAM); Australian Piano Music 1850-1950. A Guide to the Composers and Repertoire (2021); The Music of Meta Overman. Queen of Colour and Fantasy (2021); Breaking the Drought. Roy Agnew: Composer, Pianist, Teacher (co-authored with Dr. Rita Crews OAM), (2022); Amayzing May. The Life and Work of May Howlett (2024); A National Treasure. The Life and Achievements of Larry Sitsky (2024); Women of the Keys, (2026) and over one hundred volumes of piano and chamber music written by Australian composers published by Wirripang, Australia.

In a review of the CD Reverie Alex Raineri wrote “Jeanell Carrigan has a remarkable and impactful career, particularly as an exponent of historical Australian works.” “A compelling disc that features excellent pianism and artistry from Jeanell Carrigan.”  (Music Trust, June 2022).

“The interaction between Carrigan, Goetz Richter (violin) and Minah Choe (cello) is fresh and dynamic, resulting in beautiful performances recorded with sumptuous richness and depth in the Verbrugghen Hall at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Thanks to the exhaustive research undertaken by Jeanell Carrigan, author of the liner notes and pianist for this recording (Limelight Review of the CD Music for the Salon Trio, by Lisa MacKinney, 8 July 2022.)

“As usual Jeanell Carrigan AM with her innate skill to interpret the composer's wishes, gives an outstanding performance of these works which will greatly encourage students to interpret and perform them at concerts and music festivals.” (Album review of Incantations, Music by John Peterson. Rita Crews, The Studio 2023.)

“Jeanell again proves her skill as a researcher and writer of the highest calibre.” (Book review of Amayzing May, The Life and Work of May Howlett.) Patrick O’Donnell, The Studio, 2024)

“Jeanell Carrigan, pianist, academic, adjudicator and strong advocate for getting Australian music performed and recording and presents the five individual brackets or sets with an expert, colourful attention to nuance, story, as well as programmatic reference. Jeanell Carrigan shifts virtuosically between the original Bach voice and Wilkin’s ‘so what’, eclectic elaborations here. The pianist gives a thorough and stunning reading of the extension of Bach.” (Album Review of Open Horizons, Paul Nolan, Sydney Arts Guide, October 2025.)

Other music Qualifications: F.T.C.L., L.T.C.L., A.T.C.L., L.Mus.A., A.Mus.A