Books by Gillian Wills
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Gillian Wills
Gillian Wills

Gillian Wills is a graduate and and an honorary associate from the Royal Academy of Music and an author and arts writer who publishes with Inreview, Australian Book Review, Limelight, Griffith Review and The Australian. 

Her memoir Elvis and Me: how a world-weary musician and a broken racehorse rescued each other, Finch Pty was released in 2016 in Australia, America, Canada, the UK and NZ. 

Prior to relocating to Brisbane, Queensland from Victoria, Gillian was Dean of Music at the Victorian College of Arts, Melbourne.

Like Beatrice, nicknamed Beat, Gillian owns three horses, two rescue dogs and three ducks and lives on a small farm on the outskirts of Brisbane.

Books

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Big Music

Beat is given a chance to shine when she is appointed dean of Turalong Music School, but her role is not what it seems.

Fine-tuning this institution is like playing a cracked violin with broken strings. She’s determined to revive the school’s reputation despite gender bias, staff conflict, fraud, betrayal, a famous composer’s ghost and a...

Elvis and Me

How a world-weary musician and a broken racehorse rescued each other

After retiring from her position as Head of Music at a prestigious arts college, Gillian Wills buys her first horse on a whim. Elvis is emaciated, emotionally scarred, saddle-phobic and has a bad attitude to boot. Although he was described as ‘perfect for beginners’, Gillian soon discovers there is nothing perfect or standard about him! Leaning...

'Ah Music, A Magic Beyond All We Do Here,' p. 289, Gillian Wills, Sound Musicianship, ed. Andrew Brown, Cambridge University Press, 2012

Understanding the Crafts of Music

Sound Musicianship is a book for music educators and musicians about musicianship—about musical skills, abilities, habits, sensibilities and understandings. Musicianship is explored as a form of craftsmanship. Like most crafts, music requires a balance of theoretical knowledge and practical skills that contribute to a highly tuned ability to...

Latest Updates

July 16, 2025

Manly Writers' Festival 2025: Celebrating Reading & Ideas

Proud to be a contributing author to this Festival.

Here are the details of the...

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July 16, 2025

Interested in Big Music? Learn more about the book in this promotional video.

April 1, 2025

Queensland Symphony Orchestra & Circa | The Rite of Spring

21 February, 2025, QPAC, Brisbane, QLD

Performing The Rite of Spring as a...

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April 1, 2025
Author Talk at 11am on Easter Saturday, 19 April at Flax and Ruben, Rouse St, Tenterfield. There will be wine and cheese.

Melody, mayhem and...

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