Frederick Septimus Kelly was one of Australia’s greatest Romantic composers, yet his virtuosic piano works remain virtually unknown. Chris Latham traces Kelly’s life – which was cut short at the Battle of the Somme – and introduces an event that celebrates the scale and depth of his musical talent.

Left: The first page of FS Kelly’s manuscript for his 12 Studies, written in response to Chopin’s Études. Image courtesy of the Flowers of Peace. Right: Frederick Septimus Kelly. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Frederick Septimus Kelly is one of Australia’s greatest cultural losses to war.

Born in Sydney in 1881, Kelly grew up in a musical family overlooking the harbour, where he sailed each weekend. A fine athlete, he enjoyed swimming between the heads at Bondi and became the...