Showcase Pieces
A highly skilled interviewer, columnist, and public speaker with work experience across Australia, Germany, the US and the UK. Diverse body of content for print and digital since 2010, with strong focus on classical music and LGBTQ+ voices.
Having interviewed authors, film composers, drag queens and queer activists, I have refined the ability to distil complex and challenging life experiences into written features that are compelling, insightful, and wholly original.
I am always open to collaborations and freelance assignments. If you feel yours is a story worth sharing, please contact me via email: [email protected]
Showcase Pieces
Finding a room to rent in Australia is a competitive sport that requires time, money, mental reserves and a good deal of luck.
Most people have little idea of the stigma directed at hospitality workers. There is an assumption that wait staff above a certain age lack the skills or gumption to "get a proper job".
An exuberant David Helfgott shines on the opening night of his nationwide farewell to public performance.
Digital copy of "Planet Earth: Our World in Music" concert programme notes for the Western Australian Charity Orchestra
"You cannot start without me." So asserts the eponymous Lydia Tár in the opening scene of Todd Fields' austere psychological drama set within the world of classical music, spearheaded by a thunderous lead performance from Cate Blanchett.
The Age - Published in Melbourne Since 1854
I've lived in cities all over the world, but it was a trip to Melbourne that helped me discover my personal superpower.
Yes, the double hyphen of Heitmann-Ryce-LeMercier might seem like overkill, but there is a reason why I have so many surnames.
LIMELIGHT - Australian Arts & Culture
Katy Abbott unleashes stories and emotions long trapped inside envelopes marked 'return to sender'.
Cellist Timo-Veikko Valve plots the soundlines of his native and adoptive countries in a dynamic and rousing concert.
No gimmicks, no overwrought throes of musical passion. Just control and competence from an orchestra of young players.
A strong performance of overly familiar work ultimately overshadowed by the smaller, far more compelling pieces in Winter Gala's first half.
A stellar showcase of charisma and coordination from the MSO led by visiting conductor Anja Bihlmaier. Reviewed: Schumann's "Manfred" Overture and Tchaikovsky Symphony #6
"A great pianist pushes the piano to its absolute limits." Joyce Yang triumphantly responded to her own rallying call.
Beat Magazine - Live Music & Performance
You might not think so, but classical music is really cool. It's cool because it's so difficult to get right.
Headlining with a release-day performance of his new EP Two Truths, Hugo van Buuren was joined by a diverse assembly of supporting acts.
In a foot-stamping, three-hour bonanza that presented the jazz canon of Brazilian, Japanese, and American artists, the Melbourne International Jazz Festival enjoyed an evening of firsts on Saturday night.
Transplanting the iconic mother-daughter duo from their early 2000s television roots to a more contemporary setting - August 2021, in the depths of Melbourne's notorious COVID lockdowns - comedian Thomas Jaspers brings to the stage a parody play that is uniquely Melbournian and a loving tribute to the original show.
In a fast, mysterious programme of two works - Layered Point, for six-member troupe; and VOYAGER #3 for two solo performers - the emerging dance company CoExist Collective showcased an impressive fusion of synchronisation and mysticism in last night's performance at the Melbourne Fringe Festival.
Exploring works that express doomed romance, the MSO's Forbidden Love presented a soaring tempest of anguish and ecstasy.
Public Speaking Videos
"Find the Good: How to Keep Positivity Close to You"
What does "Community" mean for an outsider coming in? Explorations of living and working in Germany.
INTERVIEW: Film Composers
An interview with award-winning film composer Sean Tinnion, exploring his early start in music compositions and the film scores that inspired him.
Artists can undergo an entire evolutionary cycle of job roles throughout the course of their film career, in front of and behind the camera. As in the case of Australian composer Christopher Gordon, music makers might dip their toes into completely different waters, too.
Whether on the editing software of a home studio or in front of a 90-piece orchestra, the magic of making music always begins inside somebody’s head. From the rattling of a piano or singing in the shower, it all stems from the most unassuming sparks of an idea.
For over a century, Hollywood has been the jewel in the crown of the American film industry. Thousands of artists packed their bags for the bright lights, with just a pocketful of change and dreams of making it big.
It was on an aeroplane in June, 2010 that I first heard the music of Antony Partos. I was 13, flying from the United Kingdom back home to Western Australia with my older brother to spend the summer holiday with our dad.
AUSTRALIA, BOTH AS COUNTRY AND CONCEPT, is something of a paradox. An enormous sunburnt landmass dumped at the bottom of the planet, a million miles from anything else, one would be forgiven for presuming the disconnected nature of its inhabitants.
INTERVIEW: Artists and Creatives
In the age of on-demand streaming, heading out to see a film at the cinema elicits a strong sense of occasion. When that movie-going experience is combined with an orchestral concert, the result is nothing short of spectacular, says Sydney University film expert Dr Will Jeffery.
Contributor Liam Heitmann-Ryce-LeMercier examines the role of the female antagonist in the James Bond films.
Unattainable beauty standards are nothing strange in the western world, but they are uniquely heightened within gay culture. To find out why body beauty is so prized in gay spaces, Liam Heitmann-Ryce-LeMercier speaks with two young queer men for their perspectives.
Contributor Liam Heitmann-Ryce-LeMercier examines the queer appeal of James Bond in the Pierce Brosnan era.
Moments of discovery are usually the result of two things. The first is general word-of-mouth: recommendations from a friend, the things you need to see, to go to, to listen to.
For Australian classical performer Leanne Glover, there are strong links between the musicality of the human voice and the oboe, the chosen instrument of her professional life in music. It is the ties between these two forms of expression which afford her an even deeper understanding of the music she plays onstage for a living.
Perhaps the most controversial of James Bond film cars, the remote control, rocket-launching BMW 750iL has an interesting story behind it. (Syndication of article originally published in BMW Car magazine)
A sneak peak into the home of trans drag artists Margo Marshall, Cazeleon, and SueGivesAFuck. As much as it may sound like the elevator pitch for a sitcom, 'three trans drag artists share North London house share' is in fact the day-to-day reality of three very special ladies.
Keeping your head above water has proven to be a significant challenge over the past year, even when you're just looking out for yourself. Trying to keep an entire business afloat, however, is a whole other matter, with the livelihood of your team on the line as much as your own.
The loudest voices and strongest changemakers often emerge from the sidelines. In their efforts to be recognised and represented, and by dint of their diminished population, minority groups are required to surmount far greater hardships than most.
For Bromley-born comedian Tom Allen, the fantasy world inside his head was always much more appealing place than the suburban "middle place" where he grew up. Tom spent much of the mid-90s buried in his diaries and the celluloid dreamscape of Fred Astaire movies.
The best way to get somebody to do something is by telling them they can't. Instruct a five-year-old to have only two of those chocolate chunk cookies on the table and you can be sure, the instant you leave the room to answer the door, the entire packet will have been devoured.
INTERVIEW: German Startup Community
An idea is a campfire: the initial spark of creativity will burn out into smoke if it isn't nourished with fuel. In the same way, an incredible idea will never be able fully grow without the input of others
With every step we take, towards long-term ambitions or short-term goals, we leave behind our own personal mark on the world. These footprints serve as the lasting legacy to those around us, the people we share our lives and passions with
The path to career success is one formed of millions of different footprints. The journey towards our professional ambitions is one that involves crossing the paths of so many others, each of them trying to leave behind their own mark
At networking events, there is always the potential to find new ideas and those promising flickers of creativity - we want to share with you these moments that matter, and why events can be so meaningful for those who attend them
With one eye on the present and the other eye on the future, Startupnight 's technology exhibition in Cologne was a dazzling display of ideas and innovation
LGBTQ+ Writings
Opening up to new opportunities - - I was asleep when he first saw me, passed out on a massage bed in the Ruheraum of the Boiler men's sauna. The room is no bigger than a train station Starbucks, housing two parallel rows of about ten beds, as seen through a glass wall allowing visitors to seek out a potential resting buddy.
In July 2005, my Mum married my stepdad, and in October we moved to England. My birth parents were never married and so this made our relocation a little bit easier. Being eight-years-old at the time, I didn't register what was going on and remember only saying something like Oh wow, that's Stonehenge
Keith Haring loved to listen to music as he worked. He would paint in tempo with his playlists, creating a new line or stroke to match the beat of the music. It was his creative stimulant, a constant companion to his output.
I recently went on a date with a guy, my first since the world broke in March. After four months of isolation, I was delighted by the chance to flirt outrageously with the pretty, talkative person with whom I'd matched on Tinder.
In February 2016, I was living in Melbourne and the ten weeks I had there are among the brightest, most joyous periods of my entire life. But there was one sour note in this happy symphony
If you are a man within the LGBTQ community, I propose that the image above is a fairly common sight. Getting a guy into your bed is as easy as opening up Grindr, pinging a "hey" to the first acceptably attractive face you find, and providing the necessary data.
Delivered. - Deutsche Post DHL Global Customer Magazine
#EachforEqual: this is the theme of the first International Women's Day of the new decade, forwarding an idea that, "Collectively, each one of us can help create a gender equal world."
Hugs and kisses will only go so far - this year, be sure to show the love with some of the best last-minute gifts that won't disappoint
The business landscape of the 2020s is being shaped by an intensification of familiar threats - as the latest Allianz Risk Barometer finds, changes in legislation and regulation have now risen into the top 3 major risks
Globalization has affected the world on so many different levels that you might not have even noticed it - yet pretty much everything moves around the world because of it: goods, services, data, ideas, people, technologies...
With Halloween just around the corner, the race is on to find the best scary costume, pack the house with candies and frighten your neighbours with spooky decorations
Buffalo Market (San Francisco) - Organic Produce Supply and Delivery
The idea of buying organic produce once seemed a very novel idea, with few consumers prepared to pay the extra premium for higher-quality ingredients. But now buying organic has become one of the leading food trends of the past few years, with sales of organic food in the US exceeding $55,000,000 in 2019.
Supported the world over since its 2003 inception, Meatless Monday is a movement dedicated to reducing the consumption of meat, with benefits ranging from the personal to the global. With animal livestock accounting for almost 15% of greenhouse emissions worldwide, changing your diet really could change the world.
Restaurants are fast-paced and challenging environments, with a countless number of issues that may arise at any moment: the quickest way to get a point across is with specific food service terminology. Communication is key, for a strong team that can work together is just as important as the food being served.
One year after the COVID-19 outbreak was officially recognised as a pandemic, US President Joe Biden has signed the American Rescue Plan into law, with many businesses and restaurants set to benefit from this $1.9 trillion relief fund. A total of $28.6 bn will reportedly come to the aid of struggling restaurants.
With so many of them out of action in this pandemic, most restaurants are likely to be closed for business or operating on a delivery-only basis. That means the only part of the dining experience open to your customers is the food on offer: now more than ever, your menu has become the face of your business.
On the one-year anniversary of US restaurant closures, leading members of the Independent Restaurant Coalition and the Golden Gate Restaurant Association came together last night for a public Q&A over Zoom, providing insights into how US restauranteurs are set to benefit from the recently signed American Rescue Plan
Moment Bulletin - German News & Culture
The citizens of Bonn and Köln have their own bespoke festivity known as Karneval, essentially the German equivalent of Mardis Gras. But not this year.
There is plenty to be said for the elegance of marques such as Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen, all of which have produced some real gems over the past century. Here's a round-up of the ten best...
Herbert Diess, Chief Executive Officer of the Volkswagen Group, has reportedly brought a leadership crisis upon the German car manufacturer after he demanded a contract extension as head of the company.
Following the September release of their newest generation of S-Class, the W223 facelift, Mercedes-Benz has given their high-end luxury saloon the millionaire's Pimp My Ride treatment in the form of the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class.
Earlier this month, BMW released details of their new all-electric iX SUV which is due to hit UK showrooms at the end of 2021 - and estimated to leave a £100,000 hole in your pocket.
In the Berlin of old, citizens fared well to remember that rooms had ears. Before the fall of the Wall in November 1989, hundreds of thousands of spies and two-faced friends harboured tip-offs pertaining to any suspected dissident behaviour.
Norwich Evening News - Columnist
Day-to-day life resembles walking along a familiar pavement in thick sandals. It is very comfortable and you know where you're going. Travel, however, is more akin to walking across sand in bare feet: it feels lovely between your toes, but isn't particularly stable...
Fatalistic thought can be overwhelming, but can also be assuaged with a healthy dose of bright-side thinking
At the risk of sounding like a Hallmark card, if something is not difficult then it probably isn't worth fretting over. It's quite easy to ride the London Eye or swim with dolphins, and I don't think high-fiving Mickey at Disneyland is going to change your life
I recently saw the film Call Me By Your Name, whose opening credits burst onto the screen with a piano composition by John Adams. Its title is "Hallelujah Junction" and immediately sets the tone of the film: a joyous dance of notes played by two instruments, out of sync yet beautifully in-key
It is a secret to no-one that I am gay. I do not hide in closets, I am not quiet, and I do not convenience anyone's expectations. I am, however, still young and do not quite know who I am, and I do not expect I ever shall really know until I die, when I stop changing
On the face of it, university is the most exciting time in a person's life - the parties, the clubbing, the laughter, the chatter, the banter, the friends you make and the memories you share...
Writings on Music
I have loved classical music for as long as I can remember. There is no specific reason for this, as I neither had musical parents nor any zealous teachers to push piano keys under my fingernails. Certainly, my family enjoyed music, but my childhood home was not occupied by radios in every room to stimulate my brainwaves
Following the drug-clumsy misadventures of a young Australian who has recently moved to the German capital, this explores everything from casual sex, comedowns and the musical characteristics of urban rhythm.
The CD you see here has been in our family since the early 2000s. It came with us when we moved from Australia to England and is probably the most important album in my life...
Every day, at almost every waking hour, I am listening to music. Buzzing in my ears or burbling out of a portable speaker, it is always there to lift my high spirits or soothe my frazzled mind. But it was while cooking dinner one evening that I asked myself: does music have a colour?
I am writing to say that your music has enriched my life. I want to thank you for the work you have produced, and the intensely positive impact it has had on me.
Oscar-nominated composer, and New York City native, Philip Glass welcomes the world premiere this month of the King Lear Overture, his first work commissioned by the New York Philharmonic Orchestra.
Berlin Stories
Burning midnight oil in the world's party capital
When you know, you know - - Some relationships form before you are even aware of them. Love at first sight is perhaps the most overused example of this, but it manifests itself in other, often environmental ways.
Arriving at Matt's apartment, Jonas realises his door is the same dark blue colour as Felix's, though this glossy coating far outshines the sun-scarred lacquer Jonas left behind this morning. Matt holds the door open, its surface reflecting onto Jonas the...
The train rattles appallingly and the scream of its wheels pierce Jonas's ear drums. Jonas is coming down. There is no perfume of voices here, no confetti sentences, only sweat. Jonas is no longer buzzing. The drugs are not fun anymore.
Jonas is buzzing. His fingertips sing with feeling, his feet are electric. The door crackles on his hand as it closes; he can feel the paint fizz in the canals of his fingerprints. Jonas is wired. He is dancing to the music in his head.
Only two days together, but an encounter that has long lived on in mind and memory