ARIA Award winner, the Canberra born-and-bred pianist, musician Sally Whitwell is everywhere.

Earlier in the month she was in town co-directing (with Toby Cole) the premiere of her work “Treasure Chest”, the musical story of a Mother’s Day box of chocolates gift, for the Canberra International Music Festival.

Last year she toured China, Hong Kong and Inner Mongolia with the Gondwana Sydney Children’s Choir, also appearing at the International Federation of Choral Music World Choral Expo 2015 in Macau.

Recently, she was appointed music director of Sydney-based community chamber choir Coro Innominata.

Born and raised in Canberra, Whitwell studied piano with the late Janice Battison, then Ann Thompson and finally at the then-Canberra School of Music where she majored in bassoon studies with Richard McIntyre. Piano studies with Susanne Powell led to further study in accompaniment at Sydney Conservatorium with David Miller.

These days, her choral and vocal ensemble compositions are performed by Juice vocal ensemble, Gondwana Choirs, VOX, Moorambilla Voices, Leichhardt Espresso Chorus, Luminescence and the Woden Valley Youth Choir.

Now the pianist/composer has been invited to “work her playful magic” at the Young Music Society Winter Music School in July.

She’ll be joined by local musicians Jim Sharrock, who taught at the Society’s autumn school and early childhood specialist Kimberley Steele in exploring the “stories in the stars” through music for primary school students. This program is a non-residential school that runs during school hours, Monday to Friday.

Winter Music School “Stories in the Stars”, Belconnen Arts Centre, July 11-15, 9am-3.30pm daily. After-school care is also available. Bookings and inquiries to youngmusicsociety.org.au or 6251 8017.