The Piano Mill

I was lucky to be invited to play at The Piano Mill – 10th Anniversary.

“Made of Wood” Sunday April 20 2025

Artistic Director: Vanessa Tomlinson

Co-producers: Harrigans Lane Collective and Clocked Out

Playing with Vanessa Tomlinson is always a pleasure, and I would describe this Piano Mill experience as if Vanessa’s dream had come to life in the real world. Hearing the beautiful singing of Helen Svoboda on a boat in a picturesque dam, surrounded by the enchanting sounds of violin, double bass, piano, and natural wooden textures, was truly magical. I even got to play my favourite instrument—the marimba—along a forest pathway, amongst nature and birdsong. It was a beautiful experience to be there.

This is the review of the Piano Mill.

I had the chance to interview Bruce Wolfe, a key figure in making this event possible. Along with Jocelyn Wolfe, as the landowners, they generously made the space available for this unique experience. Bruce is an amazing architect, and his creativity beautifully complements the imaginative, dream-like music-making of Vanessa Tomlinson and Erik Griswold.

1. How did you meet Nozomi
   Nozomi was a student at the Conservatorium in Brisbane at the time my wife Jocelyn taught there and
   I came into the orbit of both students and staff and was genuinely impressed by the extraordinary
   talent on display.
2. You came to my debut solo recital in 2006 and you told me your story from it. Can you
   describe it here?
   I think Nozomi’s may have been the first solo concert I saw at the Hanger Hall venue at the Con,: it
   was certainly impressive with a stage full of percussion instruments and a single solo performer. The
   standing ovation as well as the total command of the stage during the entire performance left a lasting
   impression.
   At the time I understand that Nozomi was looking for work and it seemed remarkable that someone
   who could be so exceptional in her field would find it difficult to get paying position when, in so many
   other professions, including my own, one only had to be competent not exceptional.
   This one event helped influence our ongoing support of contemporary music and the musical
   profession here in Queensland. This along with Jocelyn’s involvement at the Conservatorium has led
   to the “music” focus of Harrigans Lane Collective (HLC) in sustaining interdisciplinary creative arts
3. The Piano Mill was amazing. Will it happen again in the future?
   Easter at The Piano Mill has become the principal event in the HLC program with Vanessa Tomlinson
   as the creative director and we have just celebrated the 10th anniversary. It is always difficult to
   consider embarking on another with the experience of the effort involved so recent in ore collective
   memories. Whether there is another, whether there is a change in format or time and whether the Mill
   itself changes configuration internally are all questions and options we, as a team will be reviewing
4. What’s your next project?
   HLC has been an experimental ground for me as an architect, designer and maker with several
   structures for both performance and folly constructed throughout the 200HA property. Whilst I feel that
   may be sufficient, one can never be sure. In the interim I keep busy in making smaller objects,
   predominantly out of timber, which I feel, will keep me quite satisfied. Were you to ask Jocelyn, she
   might tell you of other plans for a “light chapel” and a “glass music box for piano” but I have not yet
   committed to these!

Thank you very much for the interview, Bruce—and for the unforgettable music-making experience at the 10th Anniversary of the Piano Mill.

I may have come home with plenty of ticks and leeches (and I’m still itchy!), but it was absolutely worth being there.