BY HARRY SDRAULIG AS TOLD TO CUTCOMMON
The TSO Australian Composers’ School was run with exceptional professionalism from start to finish, and I really felt that all of the staff and players involved were absolutely committed to achieving the very best artistic outcome for each work.
It was a real pleasure to work with soloist Lloyd Hudson, conductor Elena Schwarz, and the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra. Our concertinos were given ample rehearsal time, which really showed in the superb final performances.
With my piece, I really tried to take some orchestrational risks and explore new colours and textures and I was really pleased that, for the most part, they paid off!
I think orchestras should be really excited about programming music by younger Australian composers, provided they’re good enough — it shouldn’t be done just for the sake of it. But on that point, I genuinely believe the professional quality in the younger generation is already there. My composer peers in this TSO program are cases in point!
Orchestras shouldn’t underestimate just how rapturously new Australian pieces are often received by general concertgoers.
Read next: Ella Macens shares her TSO Australian Composers’ School experience.
Images by Brad Harris.
