Dr Timothy O’Dwyer is a world-renowned saxophonist, composer, soundpainter and interdisciplinary collaborator. He is as adept at traditional to freer forms of jazz and improvised music as he is realising the most complex contemporary classical notated scores.
Dr O’Dwyer’s career as a saxophonist, composer and educator has constantly stretched across borders of genre, performance practice and art forms. Trained as a jazz musician at the Victorian College of the Arts in Melbourne, he furthered his studies with a tuition grant from the Australian Council for the Arts in 1995, studying with new complexity composer Richard Barrett in Amsterdam and visionary saxophonist and improviser Evan Parker in London.
This diversity and commitment to excellence is evident with the breadth of projects and artists he has been involved with whilst living in Singapore, from performing with jazz musicians Jeremy Monteiro and Andrew Lim, to collaborating with Singapore director Ho Tzu Nyen, Malaysian composer Chong Kee Yong and members of the Observatory.
During the 1990’s, Dr O’Dwyer was a seminal figure in the avante-garde music scene in Melbourne Australia. He was a founding member of the punk-jazz group, bucketrider (1992), that went on to release four acclaimed CDs including tributes to Sun Ra and late period John Coltrane. The group also performed with international rock groups such as Zena Geva (Japan) and Sonic Youth (USA). He was one of the founding directors of the longest running weekly improvised music event in Australia—The Make It Up Club—that is still presenting weekly programmes to this day.
He has been a member of the contemporary classical ensemble ELISION since 1994, premiering many new works for the saxophone and composing works for the ensemble that have premiered at arts festivals throughout Australia, Europe and Japan, including the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival (UK) and Radio Bremen (Germany). He is also a current member of the Australian Art Orchestra, whom he regularly tours with in Australia and also to China.
He formed the Tim O’Dwyer Trio in 2005, which has since released two CDs and performed at important jazz festivals in Australia, Southeast Asia, Japan and Europe including the 2010 Montreux Jazz Festival. Dr O’Dwyer has performed and recorded with some of the most prominent jazz musicians in Australia. Internationally, he has won the Bell and Aria awards for best jazz album as a member of the Australian pianist Andrea Keller’s group.
In collaboration with his team at the School of Contemporary Music, Dr O’Dwyer authored the first ever degree programmes in Popular Music and Jazz in Singapore. As the Head of the School since 2009, Dr O’Dwyer has brought transformational change over the past decade, allowing young musicians to develop their own musical voice, creating new works across the pop, jazz, electronic music and classical genres. He serves as an expert on various boards and committees on education and music in Singapore.
Read More
- O’Dwyer, T. ‘A History of Jazz in Singapore’. Bloomsbury Encyclopedia of Popular Music. (Forthcoming, 2026)
- O’Dwyer, T., De Jong, K., Sharpley, J., ‘A Discussion on Improvisation in Western Classical Music Pedagogy in Singapore’. Improvisation Methods and Practices in Southeast Asia: Music, Dance and Theatre. Routledge (2025)
- O’Dwyer, T. ‘The Fold: In search of a new harmony through embodied composition’. Book Chapter in Embodied Performativity in Southeast Asia: Multidisciplinary Corporeality. Ed. Stephanie Burridge. Routledge (2020)
- O’Dwyer, T., Moore, D. ‘Becoming and Contagion: Exploring the Liminal Space in an Improvising Duo’. C/O MAGAZINE (Issue #0). Zurich University of the Arts (2020)
- O’Dwyer, T. ‘The Fold: Musical Monads, and Baroque Assemblages’ in Symbolism: An Interdisciplinary Annual of Critical Aesthetics, Ed. Natasha Lushetic. De Gruyter Publishing (2019)
- O’Dwyer, T. ‘Everything Old is New Again: Musical Appropriation in the 19th and Mid 20th Centuries’ in ISSUE 06 Citation: Dejavu, Venka Purushothaman, LASALLE College of the Arts (2017)
- O’Dwyer, T. ‘Diversity as a Strategy’ in Sounds Australian: Journal of the Australian Music Centre #65 (2005)
- O’Dwyer, T. ‘Adequate Returns, The Next Generation’ in Sounds Australian: Journal of the Australian Music Centre #54 (1999)
- Recognised by the Australian High Commission as one of “60 for 60” individuals shaping bilateral relations with Singapore (2025)
- Academy of the Arts of the World (Cologne), Fellow (2013–2014)
- Dean’s Commendation Award, Faculty of Creative Industries QUT, For Excellence in Doctoral Study and Research (2014)
- Aria & Bell Jazz Awards, Andrea Keller’s Bartok Project (2003)
- Asia Link Residency; Japan (2003)
- Radio Bremen (Germany) Recording Scholarship (2002)
- Arts Victoria, Recording Grant, bucketrider (2002)
- Le Bahns Connective Residency; Brussels (2002)
- Australia Council, New Work (ELISION Commission) (2001)
- Green Room Award, Clocked Out Productions (2000)
- Arts Victoria, Presentation and Promotion (Make it Up Club) (1998–2000)
- Australia Council, Professional Development Grant, Composition Studies with Richard Barrett (Netherlands), Saxophone Studies with Evan Parker (UK) (1995)
Published recordings (composer/performer; select)
- Walter Thompson & Tim O’Dwyer Vol 1,2,3 (2024)
- More Molecules, LaoBan Records (2023)
- Blood Sports, LaoBan Records (2023)
- The Mirror Unit, Sonic Rivers, FMR (UK) (2021)
- Tim O’Dwyer Trio, Mirror Lake, LaoBan Records (2020)
- O’Dwyer Harnik Moore, LaoBan Records (2020)
- Water Pushes Sand (AAO), Jazz Head; Australia (2017)
- Tim O’Dwyer’s The Fold, Leo Records; UK (2016)
- Solo, HYSTERESIS, UJIKAJI; Singapore (2015)
- The Mirror Unit, Wind Makes Weather Creative Sources (PT) (2015)
- Tim O’Dwyer Trio, Falconry, Idyll Giant; Australia (2010)
- Tim O’Dwyer Trio, Broken River, Idyll Giant; Australia (2006)
- bucketrider, l’evenements, Dr Jim’s Records; Australia (2004)
- Solo, Multiple Repeat, molecular music projects; Australia (2003)
- ELISION, Chaya Chernowin, Mode; New York (2003)
- Andrea Keller’s Bartok Project, ABC Classics; Australia (2002)
- bucketrider, la baphomet, Dr Jim’s Records; Australia (2001)
- Solo, Solo Sax Show, Voxaustralis; Australia (1998)
- bucketrider, guignol’s band, Dr Jim’s Records; Australia (1998)
- ELISION, The Intertwining – The Chasm, Institute of Modern Art; Queensland, Australia (1998)
- The Ugly Sisters, Solid Compilation, Larrikin; Australia (1994)
Performances
- Varsha, Singapore International Festival of the Arts; Singapore (2019)
- Singapore Indian Fine Arts Society (SIFAS) Intercultural Ensemble, SIFAS Festival, The Esplanade; Singapore (2019)
- H.O.P.P.A Festival of Experimental Music, LASALLE College of the Arts; Singapore (2019)
- Singapore Indian Fine Arts Society (SIFAS) Intercultural Ensemble, SIFAS Festival, Chennai Kutcheri; India (2018)
- T-Rex, The Esplanade; Singapore (2018)
- Australian Art Orchestra, Water Pushes Sand, Australian tour to launch album — Darwin Festival of the Arts, Jazzlab Melbourne, University of Tasmania, Museum of Old & New Art (MONA); Tasmania, Australia (2017)
- Simon Nabatov – trio performances with Daryl Irvine; LASALLE College of the Arts; Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (2017)
- Evan Parker, John Edwards, Mark Sanders, The Vortex; London, UK (2017)
- Mirror Unit German Tour (Tim O’Dwyer, Georg Wissel) — Berlin, Dresden, Kassel, Hannover, Cologne; Germany (2017)
- Mirror Unit SEA Tour — Silpakorn University Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Kuala Lumpur, CHOPPA Festival LASALLE; Singapore (2017)
- George E. Lewis, Tim O’Dwyer, Voyager, LASALLE College of the Arts; Singapore (2016)
- An Irish Circus (2016)
- Frank Gratkowski & Tim O’Dwyer, electro-acoustic duo, LASALLE College of the Arts; Singapore (2016)
- Carl Stone, Tim O’Dwyer, Dirk Stromberg, Music Salon; Singapore (2016)
- Anthony Braxton Tribute, Music Salon; Singapore (2016)
- T-Rex – Baybeats Festival; Singapore (2016)
- Sound Bridge Festival; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (2015)
- SOLO – series of performances in Singapore to launch new CD featuring Metasax hybrid instrument; Singapore (2015)
- Water Pushes Sand, Australian Art Orchestra; Chengdu, China, OzAsia Festival and Melbourne International Festival of the Arts; Australia (2015)
- Various performances and collaborations, Erik Satay and the Kampong Arkestra; Singapore (2015)
- Tours throughout China and Sri Lanka, including the Music Matters Festival, Shangyin Trio (2015)
- Tony Buck, Rudi Hall, Sebastian Gramms, Tim O’Dwyer; Loft; Cologne, Germany (2014)
- Axel Dorner, Steve Heather, Jan Roder, Tim O’Dwyer, Miss Hecker; Berlin, Germany (2014)
- Magda Mayas, Richard Scott, Steve Heather, Tim O’Dwyer, Sowieso; Berlin, Germany (2014)
- Erik Satay and the Kampong Arkestra – debut performance of Singapore Soundpainting Ensemble, BluJaz Café; Singapore (2014)
- Liquid Architecture Singapore, LASALLE College of the Arts; Singapore (2014)
- Presentation and performance of METASAX project, Earzoom Festival IRZU, Sonic Arts Festival; Ljubljana, Slovenia (2014)
- Inside the Saxophone, collaboration with filmmaker Florian Baron, Marina Bay Sands ArtScience Museum; Singapore (2014)
- Timothy O’Dwyer, Nabatov, Gramms, Nilessen, LOFT; Cologne, Germany (2014)
- Mirror Unit, Peter Kowald’s ORT; Wuppertal, Germany (2014)
- Installation and performance, Protean Territories (2014)
- Tim O’Dwyer Trio tour of Rheinland Germany; Cologne region (2014)
- The Fold – Dance Project; Cologne, Germany (2014)
- Hong Kong New Music Ensemble, Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts; Hong Kong (2014)
- Mike Cooper & Tim O’Dwyer, Café OTO; London, UK (2014)
- SOLO, UK tour — Goldsmiths University, Huddersfield University, Peter Wiegold’s Club Inegales; UK (2014)
- SOLO, Temporary Art Tower; Cologne, Germany (2014)
- Translocal – Ad Hoc; Peter Kowald’s ORT; Wuppertal, Germany (2014)
- The Fold (Köln Project), MusikFabrik with Akademie der Kunste der Welt; Cologne, Germany (2014)
Conference papers
- O’Dwyer, T. Henderson, J. “Ecstatic Tongue, Spittle and Slap: Exploring Timbral Language Between Two Improvising Saxophonists.” Australasian Jazz and Improvised Music Network (AJIRN8). Auckland University. 2025
- O’Dwyer, T. Foo, B. “Exploring a Local Identity in the Context of Hyperglobalization and Post-genre-ism.” 13th SEADOM Congress. Sunway University; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 2024
- O’Dwyer, T. “Crafting Safe Spaces: Soundpainting as a Conduit for Navigating Inclusivity and Exclusivity in Creative Music Making.” AJIRN7: Inclusivity & Exclusivity. Monash University; Melbourne, Australia. 2024
- O’Dwyer, T. Moore, D. “Becoming Other: A Pathway To Understanding Free Improvisation.” AJIRN. University of Melbourne. 2023
- O’Dwyer, T. “Soundpainting: A Tool for Creating More Dynamic and Connective Online Exchanges in Performance and Pedagogy.” Global Connections: National University of Theatre and Film; Bucharest, Romania. 2023
- O’Dwyer, T. “Making Telematic Performance More Accessible: New Possibilities for International Student Interaction and Emerging Online Performance Aesthetics.” Hong Kong Academy of Fine Arts. 2022
- O’Dwyer, T. “A Crack in the Mirror: Navigating Rhythmic Sense in Pandemic Times.” Arrhythmia: Performance Pedagogy and Practice. 2021
- O’Dwyer, T. “From Gesture to Texture: Developing and Transforming Improvised Music Language in Telematic Performance.” NOWNET Arts Conference. 2021
- O’Dwyer, T. “Analyzing Improvised Music: A Machinic Approach.” 3rd International Conference on Deleuze and Artistic Research. Orpheus Institute; Ghent, Belgium. 2019
- O’Dwyer, T. “Monads and Psychic Geometry: Manifesting Corporeal Musical Events in The Fold.” Seminar on Corporeality; LASALLE College of the Arts. 2019
- O’Dwyer, T. “Jazz Education in the Lion City: Building Singapore’s First Jazz Program, a Bridge Too Far?” AJIRN Conference; Melbourne. 2018
- Jazz Education in the Lion City: Building a Jazz Programme in Singapore, a Bridge Too Far, AJIRN
- Keynote address, Soundpainting: A Pathway to Enable Interdisciplinary Practice, Creativity, and for Building Better Societies, ARCADE 3rd International Symposium on Art, Craft and Design. Silpakorn University; Bangkok, Thailand (2019)
Invited talks and keynotes
- O’Dwyer, T. Keynote at Asia-Pacific Improvisers Symposium – Yong Siew Toh Conservatory, National University of Singapore (2025)
- O’Dwyer, T. ‘Telematic Performance and the 21st Century Musician’. International Conference on Music Education; ISI Yogyakarta Saraswati, Indonesia (2024)
- O’Dwyer, T. ‘Moving Professional Music Training into the Next Decade’. SEADOM Congress, Mahidol University; Bangkok, Thailand (2023)
- O’Dwyer, T. Keynote speaker at Westpac Asian Exchange Scholars Program, University of Tasmania (2023)
- O’Dwyer, T. ‘Telematic-Soundpainting: A Pathway to International Online Collaboration’. ARCADE 5th International Symposium on Art, Craft and Design; Silpakorn University; Thailand (2021)
- O’Dwyer, T. ‘Soundpainting as a Pathway to Unlock Interdisciplinary Practice, Creativity, and for Building Better Societies’. ARCADE 3rd International Symposium on Art, Craft and Design; Silpakorn University; Thailand (2019)
Service
- PhD Examiner for Sydney University, University of Melbourne, Griffith University; Australia
- Executive Committee: South East Asian Directors of Music Congress
- Australian Jazz and Improvised Music Research Network Committee
- Chair of the Board, SAtheCollective (2017–2025)
- External Examiner, Royal Northern College of Music; Manchester
- Advisor to Ministry of Education on ‘O’ and ‘A’ Level music syllabus
- Philosophy
- Composition
- Improvisation
- Soundpainting
