Australian collaborative pianist Penelope Cashman draws audiences into vivid worlds of song – the shared human experience of poets and composers across time and culture. Her performances have been compared to “a Turner painting… iridescent” (GlamAdelaide). She has performed with singers at venues including the Haus der Musik (Vienna), Ukaria Cultural Centre (South Australia), and the Holywell Music Room (Oxford, UK).

Also active as a vocal coach, Penelope has presented masterclasses at the University of Waikato Conservatorium of Music (NZ) and served as faculty member for the State Opera of South Australia Opera Academy. She teaches lyric diction at the Elder Conservatorium of Music and her repetiteur credits for State Opera South Australia include Così fan tutte, Madama Butterfly and Ross Edwards’ Christina’s World.

Recent performance projects include the world premiere and recording of Glyn Lehmann’s chamber song cycle “As the Universe Expands” and recitals for the Elder Lunchtime Series and Chamber Music Adelaide’s On The Terrace. In 2025, together with tenor Kyle Stegall, Penelope established the recital series, Magpie Artsong.

Penelope commenced intensive training in the Taubman Approach with Dr Therese Milanovic In 2020, supported by two grants from the government of South Australia. She received additional tuition from John Bloomfield, Mary Moran, Robert Durso and Edna Golandsky. Penelope has a thriving teaching studio in Adelaide and online, and the Taubman Approach lies at the heart of all her teaching. She is passionate about life-long music learning and is co-ordinator of Adelaide University’s Open Music Academy Continuing Education program. The 2026 Australian Piano Pedagogy Conference will feature her presentation, “Lifelong Possibility at the Piano: Neuroscience-Informed Teaching for Adult Learners”.

In addition to a PhD from Adelaide University, Penelope holds a Masters of Vocal Accompaniment from the Musik und Kunst Privatuniversität der Stadt Wien (Austria), and performance degrees from the Conservatorium van Amsterdam (The Netherlands), and the Australian National University, where she received the University Medal.