Lead composition mentor: Jack Symonds

International mentors:

• Cathy Milliken (AU/GER)

• Christopher Fox (UK)

• Lisa Illean (AU/UK)

• Gemma Peacocke (NZ/US)

• Seung Won Oh (KOR/NL)

• David T. Little (US)

Performer mentors: 

• Claire Edwardes (Artistic Director/percussion)

• Lamorna Nightingale (flutes)

• Jason Noble (Hatched Academy Director/clarinets)

• Arkie Moore (Hatched Emerging Performer/Trumpet)

• Niki Johnson (percussion)

• Ronan Apcar (piano)

Industry Guests:

• Catherine Haridy (AMC CEO)

• Mary Jo Capps (Strategic Arts Consultant)

• Kaleena Smith (EO’s First Nations Director & Music NSW)

• November 22: Applications open.

• March 9: Applications close.

• March 30: Applicants will be notified of their outcome.

• May - September: Multiple online sessions including; a group meet and greet with instrumental presentations from EO performers and two sessions with industry professionals.

• July - October: Two online sessions with your chosen international composition mentor and sessions with lead mentor Jack Symonds.

• September 18: Draft scores are submitted for feedback from EO musicians and mentors.

• November 1: Final pre-workshop scores due.

• November 16 - 20: Hatched Composer Intensive week at The Church, Alexandria.

• November 21: Future Classics concert at the Utzon Room, Sydney Opera House.

Applicants are expected to be in attendance and participate in all online sessions as well as the entire residency week. This includes engaging with the lead mentor and international mentors to arrange individual sessions.

Throughout the year long program, participants will develop an original chamber work for Ensemble Offspring with the following brief: 

• 8-10 minutes duration

• Your piece must use the full quintet lineup:

  • flute (doubling alto flute & bass flute)

  • Bb clarinet (doubling bass clarinet)

  • trumpet

  • percussion (exact set up to be determined)

  • piano

• Acoustic works are strongly preferred, though electronics and backing tracks are possible by discussion

• Six (6) day in-person residency featuring workshops of your piece as well as industry sessions and three online sessions with industry specialists throughout the year.

• Two (2) individual sessions throughout the year with the lead mentor.

• Two (2) individual online sessions with your chosen international composition mentor. 

• Travel costs and accommodation for all interstate participants. 

• Informal musician feedback on drafts throughout the process

• Professional performance and video documentation of your new work for portfolio inclusion. 

• The chance to connect with Ensemble Offspring's rich network of passionate arts collaborators.

• Support in developing your new work prior to premiere by Hatched Academy Director and lead mentor and support in finalising the score after premiere. 

• Lunch provided each day for all participants and other meal per diems provided for interstate participants.

• VIP invitations to Ensemble Offspring concerts throughout the year and in the future!

Applications are now closed for 2026. If you’d like to join the Ensemble Offspring mailing list and be notified about future programs, please sign up here.

Applicants are required to:

• Outline your musical education background (250 words);

• List musical influences, mentors and favourite composers/musical styles;

• Explain why you want to participate in Hatched Composer Intensive and how it will further your career and skills development (300 words);

• Submit at least one (1), and maximum five (5), examples of your work. You must submit a score and recording for each example. Examples must be no more than thirty (30) minutes total in duration.

• Submit a short biography (150-250 words);

• Supply links to online profiles (e.g. personal website, Soundcloud, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook);

• Submit at least one (1) high-resolution photo/headshot;

• Provide two (2) musical/professional referee details (name, relation, contact details) to be contacted if you are shortlisted.

Applicants with individual access needs are encouraged to apply. You can contact our team via admin@ensembleoffspring.com for more information and assistance.

• This program is open to composers of all ages who identify as 'emerging' artists, this means composers who have recently graduated from a music degree or who have some industry experience (though tertiary qualifications are not required).

• Composers must be Australian citizens and/or an Australian resident.

Applications will be reviewed by Artistic Director Claire Edwardes, Hatched Academy Director Jason Noble and 2026 lead mentor Jack Symonds. 

We are seeking:

• To represent a broad spectrum of compositional voices;

• Diversity across states, genders, backgrounds and musical approaches;

• Evidence of a solid foundational skillset in notation;

• Original and distinctive artistic voices;

• A clear sense of creative vision within a chamber music context;

• And primarily acoustic compositions.

Your example works don’t need to be a direct match to the instrumentation of Ensemble Offspring. However, it is helpful if you are able to submit at least one work for a mixed instrumental ensemble.

Shortlisted applicants may be asked to attend a short face to face interview.

Is there an upper or lower age limit for this program?

No. This program is open to composers of all ages who identify as 'emerging' artists, so as to cater for people such as parents whose careers have been compromised by having children, people who got into composition late and people from under privileged backgrounds.

For applicants younger than 21, we encourage you to review your support material to ensure it is serving you well - sometimes it’s better to wait.

I only have a midi recording of my composition. Can I submit this?

Applicants are encouraged to submit majority live recordings of their work where possible.

We completely understand that for emerging composers having your work/s recorded can be difficult/inaccessible. However, if you ONLY have midi versions of your work, we encourage you to develop your application portfolio and apply in future years.

I have a long-form work that I would like to submit as an example. Is this okay?

Examples must be no more than thirty (30) minutes total in duration. If you are submitting a long-form work as an example, please provide exact timestamps for us to listen to. Applicants can submit as little as ten (10) minutes of music.

Is there a cash component to this program?

Participants are not remunerated in cash for this program. However, the Hatched Academy Composer Intensive is valued in-kind at $3,500 per participant. We believe that the experiences provided throughout the year and during this week-long intensive are invaluable to building life-long careers for young Australian composers.

Will Ensemble Offspring cover my expenses during the Hatched Composer Intensive?

Lunch is provided each day for all participants. Travel costs as well as accommodation and per diems for other meals are provided for interstate participants only.

I am not able to attend all the workshop dates and/or the intensive week. Should I still apply? 

Successful applicants must make all efforts to participate in online workshops but we do record these sessions so in exceptional circumstances they can be accessed later. All in person activities must be attended in person.

We encourage applicants with access requirements to apply and if in-person attendance presents challenges, we can discuss appropriate support or adjustments to enable full participation should your application be successful.

I didn’t study music in high school/university. Can I still apply?

Tertiary music qualifications are not required to apply. We encourage composers of all education backgrounds to apply for this program! However, all applicants are required to demonstrate their craft and prior work in a tangible way (e.g. scores, recordings).

I am not based in Australia. Can I still apply?

The program is for Australian citizens and permanent Australian residents. If you are based overseas but can attend the online workshops and the in person Intensive week you can apply, however international travel costs will not be covered.

Every two years, one Hatched Composer Intensive participant will be selected from the previous two cohorts (e.g. 2024–25, 2026–27).

A committee of Ensemble Offspring musicians and lead mentors will make the selection. The chosen composer will receive a $4,000 Hatched Alumni Commission, supported by the Amici Syndicate, to be featured in a future Ensemble Offspring mainstage concert.

2025 Hatched Alumni Commission: Klearhos Murphy - Thy Mystical Names