Ian Shanahan

57 Yates Avenue
Dundas Valley NSW 2117
e-mail: i.shanahan@uws.edu.au
tel.: (02)9871-4282
Sydney, 29 July 2002
The Executive Director,
THE IAN POTTER FOUNDATION,
3rd Floor, 111 Collins Street,
MELBOURNE, Victoria 3000

REFERENCE FOR KATHLEEN GALLAGHER: TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN

Dear Sir/Madam,

I have known Kathleen Gallagher, as both a colleague and a friend, for

well over a decade. Throughout this time, it has been my privilege to experience
Kathleens considerable talents as a versatile flautist (albeit one who specializes in the
contemporary repertoire) performing in concert or via commercial recordings. Her
performances are always technically dazzling and astonishing, yet are full of life and
energy never merely clinical. Kathleen is certainly an indefatigable proselytizer of her
instrument, one who has commissioned and premired numerous works by Australian
composers; she has also promoted important European repertoire on the local scene and,
conversely, toured and disseminated Australian repertoire overseas. Kathleen Gallagher
has, justly, achieved considerable critical acclaim: she is, in my opinion, a genuine living
treasure and a cultural icon.

It has also been my pleasure indeed, one of the highest points of my composerly career
thus far to collaborate with Kathleen Gallagher in the composition of my alto flute solo,
Dimensiones Paradisi, which is dedicated to her. Throughout the genesis and
development of this piece, Kathleen unstintingly provided a steady flow of technical
advice, workshopped fragments of the piece, and even gave helpful editorial advice. (She
has since performed and recorded my work on many occasions, both locally and
internationally, and has promoted the piece amongst her colleagues.)

Your financial assistance towards Kathleens proposed ventures would benefit her
personally and professionally allowing her to gain further knowledge, exposure and
experience whilst reciprocally enhancing Australian culture still further. Please help her
to continue building upon her already significant cultural investment. I wholeheartedly
and unconditionally support Kathleen Gallaghers application for an Ian Potter
Foundation Grant.

Yours faithfully,

Ian Shanahan, B.Mus (Hons) Syd

Lecturer in Performance and Composition,
Music Department, School of Contemporary Arts,
University of Western Sydney