National Young Composers Project

Young Composers Project and Composer-in-Residence Project

In 1994, the then Vice-President of ASME, Associate Professor Gary McPherson initiated a project in conjunction with the Australian Music Centre and funded by the Australia Council to promote the place of composition in music education.

This initiative, the Composer-in-residence project is linked to another project, the Young Composers Project.

The composer-in-residence project has a two-fold aim of: developing a body of Australian musical works composed by leading Australian composers that are suitable for performance in school and community settings; and providing young composers from around Australia with a valuable opportunity to work with a leading professional and to receive feedback on their own compositional works.

The Composer-in-Residence project commissions a prominent Australian composer to compose a work for a school or community-based ensemble. It is anticipated that this is performed at the biennial national conference of ASME. In addition to working closely with the identified ensemble in order to complete the commission, the Composer-in-Residence also leads a series of workshops with Young Composers during the period of the national conference. Past ASME Composers-in-Residence are:

	Elena Kats-Chernin Composer-in-Residence 1995, ASME X Hobart Chants Performed by the University of Tasmania Community Music Concert Band Conducted by Monte Mumford
	Stephen Leek Composer-in-Residence 1997, ASME XI Brisbane Man to Tree – Five songs for A cappella SATB Choir Performed by a combined choir of students from Brisbane schools Conducted by David Banney
	Matthew Hindson Composer-in-Residence Project 1999, ASME XII Sydney “||” Performed by Sydney Chamber Choir and Sprung Percussion Conducted by Nicholas Routley
	Quentin S. Grant Composer-in-Residence Project 2001, ASME XIII Adelaide To be Sung Under Open Sky Performed by Adelaide Symphony Orchestra Conducted by Arvo Volmer
	Peter Sculthorpe Composer-in-Residence Project 2003, ASME XIV Darwin Burke & Wills Suite Performed by Darwin Symphony Orchestra Conducted by Martin Jarvis
	Lachlan Davidson Composer-in-Residence Project 2005, ASME XV Melbourne A Way Back Performed by The WhizBang Orkestra Conducted by Bryn Hills
	Iain Grandage Composer-in-Residence Project 2007, ASME XVI Perth wheatbelt Performed by Western Australian Youth Chorale Conducted by Robert Braham
	Karlin Greenstreet Love Composer-in-Residence Project 2009, ASME XVII Launceston Even in the city you can still see the stars… Performed by The University of Tasmania Community Music Program Wind Orchestra Conducted by Stephen King
	Paul-Antoni Bonetti Composer-in-Residence Project 2011, ASME XVIII Broadbeach, Gold Coast Fortitude Street Performed by The Gold Coast Philharmonic Orchestra Conducted by Mark Turpin
	Michael Sollis Composer-in-Residence Project 2013, ASME XIX Canberra, Giningininderry Performed by Radford College Choir Conducted by Joel Copeland

Anne Cawrse

Composer-in-Residence Project 2015, ASME XX Adelaide, Skittled, performed by the Australian String Quartet.

 

James Ledger

Composer-in-Residence Project 2019, ASME XXII Perth. Project did not include a commissioned work in 2019.

 

Maria Grenfell

Composer-in-Residence Project 2021, ASME XXIII Hobart and online. Commissioned work Breathe was performed by the Hobart Wind Symphony, conducted by Simon Reade.

Young Composers Project

The Young Composers project is a Chapter-based project whereby a student up to Year 12 is identified through competitive selection based. This is based on submission of a work composed to specific guidelines.

The successful Young Composer is subsequently funded to attend the biennial national conference. The submitted works by the Young Composers may be performed in concert at the conference. This project has provided young composers with an invaluable opportunity to work with experienced composers and peers from around the nation. Past Young Composers have included:

ASME X, Hobart, 1995. Orchestral works performed by Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra   Leah Curtis, Overture to Hero and Claudio (Orchestra) [Australian Capital Territory] Monica Grosman, Somnolence (Orchestra) [New South Wales] Paul Wang, Composition for String Orchestra [New South Wales] Andrew Helberg, Februar Sonate (Flute and Piano) [Northern Territory] Bryce Gilhome, Thoughts (Choir and Orchestra) [Queensland] Ange Zucco, Envy (Orchestra) [South Australia] Simon Reade, Elegy (Clarinet and Piano) [Tasmania] Amy Bennett, Tarantella and Siciliano (Piano Trio) [Victoria] Stuart George James, Composition for Orchestra and Solo Trumpet [Western Australia] Lauren Armishaw, Faraway (SATB Choir) [New Zealand]	ASME XI, Brisbane, 1997. Orchestral works performed by Queensland Symphony Orchestra   Michael Patterson, Loki (Orchestra) [Australian Capital Territory] Susan Lammi, Intrada (Brass and Percussion) [New South Wales] Andrew Helberg, Symphony No 1 in E minor (Orchestra) [Northern Territory] Simon Cobcraft, Viola Concerto in D Minor (Orchestra and Viola) [Queensland] Matthew Anderson, Seagulls (Orchestra) [South Australia] Myles Mumford, Nocturne and Dance (Orchestra) [Tasmania] Gareth Edwards, Forest Morning (Orchestra) [Victoria] Jemma Golding, Period Four, Monday (Orchestra) [Western Australia]
ASME XII, Sydney, 1999.   Hannah Croke, Eradication (Vocal Ensemble) [New South Wales] Samuel Donovan, Agnus Dei (Vocal Ensemble) [New South Wales] Anne Cawrse, Anthem for the Fallen (Saxophone Quartet and Wind Ensemble) [South Australia] Andrea Baker, Time to Change (Saxophone Quartet) [Tasmania] Taran Carter, Maddison (Wind Quartet) [Victoria]	ASME XIII, Adelaide, 2001. Works performanced by Adelaide Symphony Orchestra   Laura Wowk, Evolution 2000 [Australian Capital Territory] Michael Thrift, Begun, Begone, BOGONG [New South Wales] Rachel Merton, Struggles of the Mind [Queensland] Matthew Toogood, Bush Fire [South Australia] Anthony Moles, Compact Symphony [Tasmania] Stefan Cassomenos, Aegean Odyssey [Victoria] Michael Le Page, Distractions [Western Australia]
ASME XIV, Darwin, 2003. Works performed by Darwin Symphony Orchestra   Mark Oliverio, Divertimento [New South Wales] Gene Peterson, Raindance [Northern Territory] Timothy Franklin, Peak Hour [Queensland] Ester Toh, An Equal Eternity [South Australia] Johannes Luebbers, Green Lantern [Victoria] Kit Buckley, Ice Nightmare [Western Australia]	ASME XV, Melbourne, 2005. works performed by The WhizBang Orkestra   Alexander Garsden [New South Wales] Nathan Cox [Queensland] Melanie Pierides, Disconnected [South Australia] Robbie Elliot, Red, White & Blue [Tasmania] Dean Gourley, Another Day [Victoria] Danni Stefanetti, Too Caught Up [Western Australia]
ASME XVI, Perth, 2007. Works performed by Western Australian Youth Chorale   Andrew Howes, Exercise in the Process of Precipitation [New South Wales] Elizabeth Oldfield, Bushfire [South Australia] Daniel Wong, The Bells [Victoria] Perry Joyce, Old Botany Bay [Western Australia]	ASME XVII, Launceston, 2009. Works performed by The University of Tasmania Community Music Programme Wind Orchestra   Nathan Lam, Fanfare [Queensland] Ryan Mifsud, Aweigh: Santy Ano [South Australia] Tobais Brodel, LS Lives in Gaza [Tasmania] Gene Holland, Rage of the Spirits [Victoria]
ASME XVIII, Gold Coast, 2011. Works performed by The Gold Coast Philharmonic Orchestra   Edward Hampton, Epico [New South Wales] Nicholas Rossi, A Hero’s Tale [Queensland] Nathan Cummins, Allegro Animato [South Australia] Thieron Booth, Morning Introspection [Tasmania] Elana de Gleria Clark, All That is Gold [Victoria] Simon Matthews, Expostulation [Western Australia]	ASME XiX, Canberra, 2013. Works performed by Canberra Youth Orchestra and Radford College Choir   Raghav Sharma-Burton, [Australian Capital Territory] Andrew Hartley, Roi Fripp [New South Wales] Shaun Ji-Thompson, Morning Calm – Joseon Picturesque, mvt 1 Hanyang’s Snow[Queensland] Josh Belperio, The Book Thief [South Australia] Hayden Dun, The Midnight Circus [Victoria] Mitchell Price-Norgaard, Sonata No. 1 in Bb Major [Western Australia]

ASME XX, Adelaide, 2015. Works performed by the Australian String Quartet (Stephen King – viola, Sharon Draper – cello,                            *Brendan Joyce -violin 1, *Lachlan Bramble – violin
 2; *Guest artists)

Rhys Gray – Tasmania                              Der Bildungsroman

Grant Kynaston – Queensland                How Zemblanitous: A Chaconne for String Quartet

Holly Broadbent – Western Australia    Quartet in A minor

Joshua Pak – New South Wales            For Cello

Charles Wood – South Australia            Dance of the Earth

Nikki Edgar- Victoria                                  “no explanation”

 

ASME XXI, Melbourne, 2017. The National Young Composers Project was not held in 2017.

ASME XXII, Perth, 2019. Works performed by the UWA Conservatorium of Music Staff Ensemble

Samuel Carrick, Generous [Queensland]

Nathan Cattell, My Day Nothing at School; Isaac French, Pride; Kale Kendall, Chasing Hollow Mouse  [Western Australia]

Finn Clarke, Aquacension [Tasmania]

Luka Ison, Violin Sonata in A Major [New South Wales]

Lara Turner, 12 pieces for Clarinet, Violin & Piano [South Australia]

ASME XXIII, Hobart and online, 2021. Works performed by the Hobart Wind Symphony, conducted by Simon Reade.

Aron Nash, A Day in My Mind   [Tasmania]                                    

Kobe Vincs, Voyage of the Beagle  [Victoria]     

Guy Robertson, The Cathedral and the Burning City [Tasmania]

Mitchell Whiteman, Eternal [South Australia]