I have been presenting at 5MBS since October 2022 and present a variety of Classical programs, including Baroque and Before, Sounds Classical, Cantabile, Prelude, Australian Musicians and In the Spotlight – Classical.

I have a longstanding love of classical music that I want to share. I started learning the flute at primary school, played in a wind quintet in music clubs in my youth, and still play professionally, now on the one-keyed baroque flute. I find that being a musician really helps me in my choice of music for broadcast.

I enjoy being able to share something that is so close to my heart, a universal language that crosses all barriers. Music communicates and shares all kinds of emotions, that will be different for each listener hearing the same music. I particularly love bringing out a hidden musical gem from our collection for our listeners, much as one enjoys bringing out a fine bottle of wine for a dinner guest.

I must confess to having a strong preference for early music, particularly the renaissance and baroque. Performance style is important to me, and for me has to allow the music to speak coherently and poetically, and often to dance. Favourite French composers would include François and Louis Couperin, Charpentier, Marais and more, while among the Germans Buxtehude, Böhm, Aufschnaiter, J S Bach (of course!) and Telemann. I am fascinated by the crossover between folk/dance music and notated music that has been evident for a very long time, with many shared elements that were actively encouraged at the French court in the baroque.

My other area of musical passion is the wind quintet genre, typified by Reicha and Danzi, and extending right through the 20th and now 21st centuries.

When not at 5MBS, I will often be playing or rehearsing music. I am blessed that my wife Anne Whelan is a very fine harpsichordist, and in exchange for the great privilege and pleasure of playing flute with her, I get to tune and maintain her instruments, as well as other harpsichords that are played professionally around town. I have also built two harpsichords from kits of parts.

In my earlier life, I was a paediatrician.