There was always music in my life. My dad [John Matheson] was a conductor and my mum [Maggie Findlay] was an opera singer, and he would coach her. I would hear him coaching singers all the time. Like me now, he didn’t really listen to music – it was always going on in his head – but my mum did, so whenever my dad was out of the house, she would put something on.

Tahu Matheson. Photo © Prudence Upton

The first thing I actually remember hearing was a recording of Carmen, starring Grace Bumbry, I think. I remember having this very strange reaction when the fate motif appeared in the overture – hopefully in the way Bizet had intended.

My dad began teaching me piano when I was four or five. He was a fantastic father but a terrible teacher, so it was quickly decided I should learn from this lovely lady down the street. There’s a bit of drudgery to start with, but then, all of a sudden, you get to a piece that really thrills you.

I studied piano at the Queensland Conservatorium [graduating with a Bachelor and a Master of Music] where...