In April 2023, I composed new music for four double bassists and had the joy of debuting it live (watch a short clip of it here). After this debut, I expanded the composition to be suitable for six double bassists, and with generous financial support from the community and a fantastic recording engineer Pat Telfer, the music was recorded in July.
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The composition of five distinct movements with approximately 40 minutes of duration embraces improvisation and showcases catchy melodies, harmonically evolving sections, dynamic rhythmic interactions, and the organic beauty of the double bass as a musical instrument. The recording was released in August 2023, through Jacques Emery’s label ‘People Sound'. link
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It is a rare chance to bring six bassists together. Still, it was made possible through Phoenix Central Park’s Season XIV performance (October 2024), which went on to win Performance of the Year: Jazz/Improvised Music at the 2025 APRA AMCOS Art Music Awards.
From left to right: Oscar Neyland, Paddy Fitzgerald, Helen Svoboda, Chloe Kim, Jacques Emery, Harry Birch, Jonathan Zwartz
In 2024, I was commissioned by the Moirai Ensemble: Meg Cohen (violin), David Moran (cello), and Alex Meagher (percussion).
I am honoured to be the first Australian-based composer to create new music for these instruments. Meg, David, and Alex create really beautiful and unique sounds on their instruments. Their precision and commitment in performances are inspiring, and their gentleness and leaving spaces for the music to breathe allow me to imagine so many potential pathways for this new composition. We will spend a week at the Bundanon Art Museum residency in June to develop this new music.
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From left to right: Chloe Kim, Meg Cohen, David Moran, Alex Meagher
Watch Here
In 2024, the Sydney Improvised Music Association commissioned me to compose 12 minutes of new music. Under the generous mentorship of Alice Chance, I created a large-scale work, titled Music For 50 Musicians: Lasting Gratitude, No Regrets, Dying Light.
The title of this composition comes from a conversation with a close friend in Korea, a dermatologist who has treated my heart surgery scars for over a decade. When I asked him how he navigates life, he replied: “If you appreciate every day, things will all be good.” His calm wisdom deeply resonated with me, inspiring a work that reflects my hope to strive to live every day well, so that what lasts beyond death can be my gratitude towards my friends, with no big regrets or hard feelings left.
The work features the following artists, from Sydney, Melbourne, the USA, and Switzerland. The official release date of the work is to be confirmed.
Piano
Novak Manojlovic
Lauren Tsamouras
Jordan Chung
Max Petersen
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Accordian
Gary Dayley
Liz Jigalin
Guitar
Hilary Geddes
Jess Green
Carl Dewhurst
Yutaro Okuda
Harley Coleman
Luke Chapman
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Alto Saxophone
Sam Gill
Peter Farrar
Flora Carbo
Hinano Fujisaki
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Flute
Jim Denley
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Tenor Saxophone
Gabriella Hill
Sandy Evans
Saskia McIntyre
Tessie Overmyer
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Bari Saxophone
Matt Keegan
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Bass Clarinet
Phillipa Murphy-Haste
Jeremy Rose
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Violin
Meg Cohen
Jacob Hiser
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Cello
Chris Pidcock
Mary Rapp
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Double Bass
Jacques Emery
Ben Ward
Sabine Tapia
Hannah James
Henry Hall
Nick Henderson
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Percussion
Hayley Chan
Alex Tucker
Niki Johnson
Ashley Stoneham
Daniel Raymond
Choir
Alice Chance
Toby Graham
Bonnie Stewart
Katrina Todd
Thibuad Kessell
Ansoie
Marcus Whale
Lilly Barker
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Trumpet
Tom Avgenicos
Ellen Kirkwood
Uma Volkmer
Joseph Lisk
Presented by Melbourne Recital Centre: Merlyn Myer Commission with Alice Chance, Chloe Kim & Syzygy Ensemble
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Joy Extract is a dynamic new work by collaborators Alice Chance (an award-winning composer whose works span concert music, musical theatre, electronic music and screen music) and myself, imagined for the Syzygy Ensemble. The work asks, What does it mean to distil and extract joy through music? It draws upon diverse influences and an activity-led composition process, comprising percussive, contemporary classical, and improvisatory perspectives, creating a genre-bending, smile-fostering work that bubbles with delight and surprise. The work will be premiered on 1 Oct 2025, 7:00 pm, Primrose Potter Salon, Melbourne Recital Centre. link
A 12 Month compositional and performance series dedicated to the final year of my 20's with each month focusing on learning, growing, creating and sharing my process through monthly performances with diverse formats, line-up's of international, local and interstate collaborators. ​
