2016

ABOUT

Nestled in the forest at Willsons Downfall, near Stanthorpe, The Piano Mill is a unique architectural feature, an homage to outback Australia, and an outrageous musical instrument all in one.  A square structure cladded in copper, it's designed by architect Bruce Wolfe (director of Conrad Gargett) and purpose-built to house sixteen pianos - eight at ground level and eight on the "mezzanine."  The walls consist of large-scale louvers, which can be opened and shut to alter the Mill's acoustic.

 

Each Easter, Clocked Out assembles a team of all-star pianists and instrumentalists to bring The Mill to life, exploring the unprecedented sound  of this new mega-instrument.  Now an annual fixture of the avant garde music calendar, "Easter at The Piano Mill" features performances in the forest, new chamber music and improvisation, and of course the sixteen pianos of The Piano Mill.

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"The Piano Mill’s environmental ‘stage’ is a powerful leveller in which traditional hierarchies are dissolved. Boundaries between performer and composer, architect and musician, audience and performer, raw sound and tunefulness are refreshingly eased. And so too are the often closely guarded borders between jazz, art music, world, folk and experimental genres and, between improvised and notated music. In this event, the random sounds of nature such as carolling butcher birds contribute additional texture." - Gillian Wills, Australian Stage

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READ A FEATURE BOOK ABOUT THE MILL

The Piano Mill: Stories from the journey, Uro Publications

 

READ ARTICLES ABOUT THE MILL

The Sound from Down-Under - Triton Magazine

The Piano Mill: Nostalgic Music and Architecture in the Australian Bush

- Leonardo Music Journal

The Piano Mill - Resonate Magazine

Set to Music - ArchitectureAU

Piano Mill - Highlife Downs Living Magazine

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AWARDS

2018 World Architecture Festival Category Winner

2017 APRA-AMCOS Award for Excellence in Experimental Music

2017 Queensland Architecture Award