Australia's Fiona Joy Hawkins is a pianist, singer, and composer who makes ambient, jazz, and classical-influenced new age recordings. Born in Cessnock, New South Wales, Hawkins took piano lessons from a young age and by her teens was already composing her own music. After high school, she honed her talents studying classical piano at Tamworth Conservatorium of Music. Influenced by the lyrical, atmospheric work of artists like George Winston and Michael Nyman as well as the classical compositions of Chopin, Hawkins debuted in 2005 with Portrait of a Waterfall. She then followed up with several more well-received albums, including Angel Above My Piano (2006) and Ice: Piano Slightly Chilled (2008). In 2009, her Will Ackerman-produced album Blue Dream garnered her Zone Music Reporter Awards for Album of the Year, Best Contemporary Instrumental Album, and Best Instrumental Album. In 2011, she released the holiday-themed Christmas Joy, followed in 2012 by the Celtic-inflected Sensual Journeys. In 2013, Hawkins once again returned to Celtic themes with 600 Years in a Moment, which featured guitar and production contributions from Ackerman. ~ Matt Collar, Rovi