BRENDON MCLEOD
BRENDON MCLEOD
Multidisciplinary Artist: Writer, Musician, Other
Brendon McLeod
Brendon McLeod is studying a PhD in creative writing at The University of Sydney, for which he was awarded the Arthur Macquarie Travelling Scholarship. His unpublished novel, “The Rhinoceros” was awarded a fellowship from The Writers’ Space to Varuna The National Writers’ House. His poem “split mind” was shortlisted for the Judith Wright Poetry Prize. His work has been published or is forthcoming in Rabbit Poetry, Overland, Australian Poetry Journal's Digital Publication, Quadrant, The Catholic Poetry Room, Verge, Vernacular Journal, The Ekphrastic Review, and The Minnetta Review. He has been invited to read his poetry at Sappho Books' Monthly Poetry Night and the Banjo Patterson Poetry Festival. He is a jazz musician and works as a music teacher. His work often explores the lived experience of mental illness. He lives and works on Wiradyuri country in regional New South Wales, Australia.
Detailed Biography
Brendon McLeod is a multidisciplinary writer of poetry, drama, and long- and short-form prose fiction. Commencing in 2025 he will be studying a PhD at the University of Sydney, writing an epic poem about Henry Davis Snowden Reweti, ancestor, son of a convict, Māori Pakeha, and maritime trader in the early colonial period of Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia. Brendon was shortlisted for the 2023 Overland Judith Wright Poetry Prize. In 2023 he was awarded a residency from The Writers’ Space to Varuna The National Writers’ House in Katoomba for an excerpt from his in-progress novel ‘The Rhinoceros’. His work often discusses his lived experience of mental illness. He is a performing improvising musician specialising in jazz trombone with experience in other instruments and genres, including folk and rock. He has worked in education in fields including literature, music, language, and academic communication. He holds a Diploma of Music (Jazz) from The University of Adelaide, a Bachelor of Liberal Studies, Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Literature, and Masters of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) from Charles Sturt University. He lives and works gratefully on beautiful Wiradyuri country. Always was always will be.