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:
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] |
ASME XI, Brisbane, 1997. Orchestral works performed by Queensland Symphony Orchestra
Michael Patterson, Loki (Orchestra) [Australian Capital Territory] |
ASME XII, Sydney, 1999.
Hannah Croke, Eradication (Vocal Ensemble) [New South Wales] |
ASME XIII, Adelaide, 2001. Works performanced by Adelaide Symphony Orchestra
Laura Wowk, Evolution 2000 [Australian Capital Territory] |
ASME XIV, Darwin, 2003. Works performed by Darwin Symphony Orchestra
Mark Oliverio, Divertimento [New South Wales] |
ASME XV, Melbourne, 2005. works performed by The WhizBang Orkestra
Alexander Garsden [New South Wales] |
ASME XVI, Perth, 2007. Works performed by Western Australian Youth Chorale
Andrew Howes, Exercise in the Process of Precipitation [New South Wales] |
ASME XVII, Launceston, 2009. Works performed by The University of Tasmania Community Music Programme Wind Orchestra
Nathan Lam, Fanfare [Queensland] |
ASME XVIII, Gold Coast, 2011. Works performed by The Gold Coast Philharmonic Orchestra
Edward Hampton, Epico [New South Wales] |
ASME XiX, Canberra, 2013. Works performed by Canberra Youth Orchestra and Radford College Choir
Raghav Sharma-Burton, [Australian Capital Territory] |
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]