Christian Heim

Heim was born in Sydney. He studied under Peter Sculthorpe and finished a PhD in music under Anne Boyd at the University of Sydney. Further conducting and composition studies took him to Vienna, Paris and New York. Many of his works – mainly for orchestra, percussion and vocal ensembles – are of a spiritual or meditative nature and include Prayer Dances, Journey, and Transformation.[http://www.australianmusiccentre.com.au/search?type=work&sort=alphaTitleSort&wfc%5b%5d=Christian+Heim "Search: Works by Christian Heim"], Australian Music Centre. Retrieved 20 January 2017.

Heim gained his Bachelor of Medicine (honours) from the University of Newcastle in 2001 and was granted the right to practice psychiatry on 15 February 2008.{{cite web |url=http://www.medicalboard.qld.gov.au/publicAccess/Details.asp?Reg_No=1044452 |title=Public Access Register – Registrant Details |author=Medical Board of Queensland |accessdate=26 November 2008 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615114536/http://www.medicalboard.qld.gov.au/publicAccess/Details.asp?Reg_No=1044452 |archivedate=15 June 2011 |author-link=Medical Board of Queensland }} He received a Churchill Fellowship to research the therapeutic effects of music in clinical settings.

As researchers, Dr Christian Heim and Dr Caroline Heim published the results of the largest study into long-term couples every undertaken{{Cite journal |last1=Heim |first1=Christian |last2=Heim |first2=Caroline |date=October 2023 |title="How did you stay together so long?" Relationship longevity, a cross-generational qualitative study |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jmft.12656 |journal=Journal of Marital and Family Therapy |language=en |volume=49 |issue=4 |pages=781–801 |doi=10.1111/jmft.12656 |pmid=37418139 |issn=0194-472X |via=WILEY}} in their book "Resilient Relationships: techniques for surviving hyper-individualism, social isolation and a mental health crisis"{{Cite web |title=Resilient Relationships: Techniques for Surviving Hyper-individualism, Social Isolation, and a Mental Health Crisis |url=https://www.routledge.com/Resilient-Relationships-Techniques-for-Surviving-Hyper-individualism-Social/Heim-Heim/p/book/9781032203911 |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=Routledge & CRC Press |language=en}} Together they research, publish, and speak{{Citation |title=Impulse by Caroline and Christian Heim on Resilience {{!}} Personal growth Workshop | date=8 February 2024 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Nuo32688L0 |access-date=2024-02-14 |language=en}} in the areas of relationship resilience and as contributors to relationship longevity.

In psychiatry, Heim currently works as a Clinical Director in the Tasmania Mental Health Services.{{Cite press release |title=Psychiatrist Dr. Christian Heim and Dr. Caroline Heim Release Largest Global Study That Reveals the 5 Questions Young Couples Really Want Answered |url=https://www.newswire.com/news/psychiatrist-dr-christian-heim-and-dr-caroline-heim-release-largest-22117001 |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=www.newswire.com |language=en}} Previously he worked in private practice, and subspecialized in psychotherapy, personal trauma, and couple therapy where mental illness was a prominent factor. He teaches medical undergraduates and lectures to trainee psychiatrists. He researches on the arts/health interface and is an Associate Senior Lecturer at the University of Queensland.

In music, Heim held academic lecturing posts in music at the University of Wollongong and the University of Newcastle and lectured (casual) at the Manhattan School of Music. His musical Starlight unofficially opened the Hope Theatre, Wollongong.http://www.move.com.au/artist/christian-heim access date 24 July 2018 His findings on the effects of baroque music on dementia patients were published in Australasian Journal of Ageing in early 2004.{{cite web | url = http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/02/05/1075853973711.html | title = Bach beats the blues in nursing home trial | last = Richards | first = Deb | work = The Sydney Morning Herald | date = 5 February 2004 | accessdate = 20 January 2017 }} They were described on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's Radio National program, The National Interest in July 2004.[http://www.abc.net.au/rn/nationalinterest/stories/2004/1151209.htm "Baroque Dementia"], The National Interest, ABC Radio National{{cite web | url=http://www.abc.net.au/cgi-bin/common/printfriendly.pl?http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/natint/stories/s1151209.htm | title = Baroque Dementia | last1 = Lane | first1 = Terry | authorlink1 = Terry Lane | last2 = Heim | first2 = Christian | last3 = McCliver | first3 = Sarah | work = The National Interest | publisher = Radio National (Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)) | date = 11 July 2004 | accessdate = 14 January 2017 }} A grant from the Bernard Judd Foundation enabled further publications in this area.Nair, B. K., Heim, C., Krishnan, C., D'este, C., Marley, J., & Attia, J. (2011). The effect of Baroque music on behavioural disturbances in patients with dementia. Australasian journal on ageing, 30(1), 11-15. Move Records released a CD of his work Prayer Dances featuring the Sydney Chamber Choir and Sprung Percussion.

He composed the music for and directed theatre productions for Crossbow Productions. These include Maxwell Anderson’s Mary of Scotland (Illawarra Performing Arts Centre, Wollongong 2004),{{cite web | url=https://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/organisation/30471 | title=AusStage }} Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure (the Myers Theatre, Kensington 2005), Anderson’s Anne of the Thousand Days (Brisbane Powerhouse 2006),{{cite web | url=https://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/event/69102 | title=AusStage }} William Gibson’s The Miracle Worker (Brisbane Powerhouse 2009),{{cite web | url=https://eprints.qut.edu.au/37754/ | title=The Miracle Worker | year=2009 }} William Nicholson’s Shadowlands (Brisbane Powerhouse 2010),{{cite web | url=https://www.briogroup.com.au/shadowlands-opens-today-at-the-brisbane-powerhouse/ | title=Shadowlands opens today at the Brisbane Powerhouse | date=28 July 2010 }} and Sartre’s No Exit (Darling Harbour Convention Centre, Sydney 2011){{cite web | url=https://eprints.qut.edu.au/47989/ | title=No Exit | year=2011 }} among others.

These productions provided the basis for academic publications on topics such as cultural issues and theatre,Heim, C. (2013). Found in translation: debating the abstract elements of cultures through actor training styles. Theatre, Dance and Performance Training, 4(3), 353-367. catering for people with disabilities,{{cite journal | url=http://journal.media-culture.org.au/index.php/mcjournal/article/view/265 | doi=10.5204/mcj.265 | title=Marginalising the Mainstream: A Signed Performance of The Miracle Worker Places Deaf Issues Centre-Stage | year=2010 | last1=Heim | first1=Caroline | last2=Heim | first2=Christian | journal=M/C Journal | volume=13 | issue=3 | doi-access=free }} and the role of consciousness in Meisner-based acting.Heim, C., & Heim, C. (2015). No Exit from the Gaze: Sartre's Theory Facilitated Through Aspects of Meisner's Practice. Journal of Dramatic Theory and Criticism, 29(2), 127-145.

Mardi Lumsden of JourneyOnline felt his 2010 direction of Shadowlands, a play written by William Nicholson,{{cite news | url = http://journeyonline.com.au/culture/shadowlands/ | title = Shadowlands | last = Lumsden | first = Mardi | work = JourneyOnline | date = 6 August 2010 | accessdate = 20 January 2017 }} "is an innovative adaptation ... with the introduction of live music, sculpture and mine." Caitlin Graham of Australian Stage felt that due to "some clumsy and fussy direction" it "falls short" whilst "The music and the sculpture are lovely and create a nice atmosphere."{{cite news | url = http://www.australianstage.com.au/201007293731/reviews/brisbane/shadowlands-%7C-crossbow-productions.html | title = Shadowlands | Crossbow Productions | last = Graham | first = Caitlin | work = Australian Stage | date = 30 July 2010 | accessdate = 20 January 2017 }}

Heim delivers public lectures on topics combining psychiatry and music. These include: "Baroque & the Brain Wave: can music help in dementia care?" to the Royal Society of New South Wales{{cite news | url = http://royalsoc.org.au/index.php/submit-bulletin-documents/2014-issues/75-377-may/file | title = Baroque & the Brain Wave: can music help in dementia care? | last = Wood | first = Anne | work = The Bulletin | issue = 377 | publisher = Royal Society of New South Wales | date = May 2014 | access-date = 20 January 2017 | issn = 1039-1843 }} (the society's Anne Wood described that "What he has done is to take this music from the late 17th century through to the mid 18th century and explore its therapeutic use in dementia patients with the aim of producing more calming brainwaves);" "An Afternoon with Frederic Chopin and George Sand" where he played piano in a portrayal of Chopin with Caroline Heim as Sand;{{cite web | url = http://www.chevalier.nsw.edu.au/event/royal-society-lecture-special-event/ | title = Upcoming Events | Royal Society Lecture 'Special Event' | publisher = Chevalier College | date = 12 March 2016 | accessdate = 14 January 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170116164230/http://www.chevalier.nsw.edu.au/event/royal-society-lecture-special-event/ | archive-date = 16 January 2017 | url-status = dead }} and “Beethoven’s Immortal Beloved” where he explored the psyche of the composer who never married.https://www.weekendnotes.com/beethovens-immortal-love-zonta-club-of-brisbane/ access date 24 July 2018

He writes books aimed at improving relationships and preventing mental health problems.

• Journey (1983){{Citation | author1=Heim, Christian | title=Journey for solo piano | date=1983 | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/8427736 | accessdate=14 January 2017| via = National Library of Australia }}
• Transformation (1993){{Citation | author1=Heim, Christian | title=Transformation: for Violin & Piano | date=1993 | publisher=Christian Heim | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/17329900 | accessdate=14 January 2017 | via = National Library of Australia }}
• Prayer Dances (2000) Move Records{{Citation | author1=Heim, Christian | author2=Routley, Nicholas | author3=Allan, Miriam | author4=Chubb, Andrew | author5=Lawson, Miriam | author6=Sydney Chamber Choir | author7=Sprung Percussion | title=Prayer Dances | date=2000 | publisher=Move Records | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/16084746 | accessdate=14 January 2017 | via = National Library of Australia }}
• Music Therapy in Hospital Settings (2001){{cite web | url=https://www.churchilltrust.com.au/media/fellows/Heim_Christian_2000.pdf | title = Fellowship Report | accessdate = 14 January 2017 }}
• The Lazy Way to Overcome Procrastination (2015) Vivid publishinghttp://www.vividpublishing.com.au/procrastination/ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180726225339/http://www.vividpublishing.com.au/procrastination/ |date=26 July 2018 }} access date 24 July 2018
• Your Relationship Is Your Greatest Asset (2017) Vivid publishinghttp://www.vividpublishing.com.au/yourrelationship/ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180406005329/https://www.vividpublishing.com.au/yourrelationship/ |date=6 April 2018 }} access date 24 July 2018
• Listen (how to) (2017) Vivid publishinghttp://www.vividpublishing.com.au/listen/ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180726235839/http://www.vividpublishing.com.au/listen/ |date=26 July 2018 }} access date 24 July 2018

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Category:Australian psychiatrists

Category:Australian male composers

Category:Australian composers

Category:1960 births

Category:Living people

Category:Academic staff of the University of Wollongong