Making Daybreak is a unique collaboration between two internationally-recognised Australian artists exploring and celebrating human resilience in the face of adversity at a time when it is particularly pertinent. This seminal work weaves melodies and lyrics that reflect on universal tales of pain, strength and connection, while mirroring the composers’ own individual journeys through trauma, grief, migration and chronic illness. The songs are brought to life through Robert's intricate accompaniments, adapted for piano and guitar from the original string quartet versions, bolstering Pauline’s powerful vocals in French and English. Robert and Pauline have been meeting regularly, including going away on retreat, to create these songs together from a place of deep introspection and conversation.
Pauline Maudy
Pauline Maudy is a French-Australian singer, songwriter and artistic director whose career spans continents, languages and genres. Best known as the creative force behind acclaimed six-piece band MZAZA, Maudy has also built a reputation as a prolific collaborator and solo artist, touring extensively throughout Australia and Europe. Her work has earned significant recognition, including Australian Folk Music Artist of the Year (Solo), multiple Queensland Music Awards for Best Song (World), and the Lord Mayor’s Fellowship. Singing in multiple languages and moving fluidly between folk, world, contemporary and song-based forms, Maudy’s music is distinguished by emotional depth, poetic lyricism and a powerful, unmistakable voice. Her debut full-length solo album, in collaboration with acclaimed co-composer Robert Davdison, is due for release in 2026 while her third studio album with MZAZA, ‘The Birth and Death of Stars,’ (2020) was described by Songlines Magazine as “a supernova of an album” and spent two months in the Transglobal Music Charts.
Robert Davidson
Robert Davidson is a prolific composer, bassist, lecturer and founder and artistic director of Topology. Davidson studied composition with Terry Riley in California before completing a composition PhD at the University of Queensland. He previously studied South Indian vocal music in Kerala, India. Davidson’s compositions are regularly performed, recorded and broadcast around the world, in venues including New York’s Lincoln Center, Sydney’s Opera House and London’s Barbican (gaining a 5-star Guardian review), and are featured in major festivals including The Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane Festivals, Ghent Festival of Flanders, Classical Next, Port Fairy and many more.
All of Australia’s professional orchestras and many leading soloists and ensembles, including The Brodsky Quartet (London), The London Contemporary Orchestra, Katie Noonan, Kate Miller-Heidke, TaikOz, Ensemble Offspring, The Australia Ensemble, The Australian String Quartet, The Paul Dresher Ensemble (San Francisco), Instruments of Happiness (Montreal) and many more have commissioned and performed his works. With Topology he has released 14 albums, and has directed numerous artistic collaborations with creators of many varied cultural and stylistic backgrounds. He has scored three films: Memory Tree (Juniper Films/SBS, 2003), Joyride (Fifty Fifty films/ABC 2018), and Strong female lead (Northern Pictures/SBS, 2021).
Dr Davidson is the head of composition at The University of Queensland and his research is in artificial intelligence and music, music theory, collaboration, music literacy and music education.
About Nickson Room Concert Series
The University of Queensland School of Music is proud to present our Nickson Room Concert Series for 2026. In reflecting the School's role in the broader South-East Queensland community, we have designed a diverse and exciting program. With established international and national artists performing, as well as our own emerging student artists, this year is set to be a vibrant, creative, and energetic time at the UQ School of Music. We look forward to connecting with you.
