Frederick Septimus Kelly was a noted pianist and deeply gifted composer, as well as an Olympic gold medal winning rower. Ironically he is hardly remembered even in his own country, probably because he was educated and lived in the UK, returning to Australia rarely to perform.

He is Australia’s important cultural loss of the Great War. Much of his music - some 36 pieces, have never been played publicly, let alone recorded. A leading figure in London musical society prior to WW1, he joined the British Royal Naval Division and served at Gallipoli and in France where he was killed on November 13 1916 on the final day of the Battle of the Somme. The Flowers of War are bringing his music to Australians in a brand new double CD, being published by the ABC, A Race Against Time. We will also be performing his music in London and Paris