An individual voice in Australian improvised music, Anthony Schulz has developed a sound world that dispels preconceptions of the Piano Accordion. In 1996 he was a founding member of the groundbreaking ensemble Frock, a group that speaks through the meld of disparate cultures and historical displacement. Frock’s exploration of improvisation, form and ensemble relationship has led them to produce eight albums and perform their music throughout Australia, Europe and Asia. 

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“The sense of space evoked by these musicians – even when all six were playing together – gave much of the concert an intimate, chamber-jazz feel.  But Frock’s infectious energy and humor also propelled the music into unexpected moods of playful celebration.”

(Jessica Nicholas, The Age) 

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In 2007, Anthony was awarded an ARIA for his work with Zulya and the Children of the Underground (Best World Music Album - Three Nights). Three Nights went on to spend 3 months in the European World Music charts and was ranked as high as 2nd place.

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“…The original songs are built mostly around Anthony Schulz’s inventive Piano Accordion playing

(Dave Curry, Canberra Times)

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At one point thrashing his accordion in the dissonant expressionism of Berg’s Wozzeck, to the next, improvising freely with ECM icon Barre Phillips; he then re-appears in a contemporary jazz performance with the noted jazz vibraphonist Dave Samuels or renowned guitarist Doug DeVries. It is through the lens of seemingly disparate musical forms that Anthony has increasingly focused his ongoing exploration of the piano accordion as an instrument capable of great nuance and complexity.

 

2020 finds Anthony at a pivotal moment in his career as a result of which two new musical projects have emerged. The deconstruction of classical repertoire is explored with violinist Andrea Keeble in the duo Sun Most South and new works are presented that fuse contemporary chamber music with European folk songs and improvisation in trio format with Eugene Ball (trumpet) and Ben Hanlon (double bass). Additionally, Anthony continues to perform with the duo Folia. With virtuoso double bassist Nick Tsiavos, Folia is a collaboration that continues to strive for deeper levels of musical maturity reflective of the pair’s ongoing search for artistic output through the exploration of creative interplay through the lens of cultural dispossession.

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"With ‘Folia’ Nick Tsiavos and Anthony Schulz offer an insight into a musical conversation that has been unfolding for over 15 years.  Intimate, subtle and breathtakingly beautiful Folia reminds us that the simple act of listening can be a truly transcendent experience, both for the audience and for the musicians who allow us to share these improvised performances".

(Owen McKern Program Manager 3PBS 106.7FM)

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In July 2019, Anthony received partial financial support and time release from Melbourne Polytechnic to study with the classical  Freebass Accordionist Associate Professor Joseph Macerollo at the University of Toronto.  

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Anthony has a Bachelor of Music (Improvisation) and a Masters of Music Performance from Melbourne University (VCA) and is a Lecturer in the Bachelor of Music program at Melbourne Polytechnic.

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Anthony is the Board Chair of the Boite and the Vice-President of the Accordion Society of Australia