News

50 Australian composers commissioned by Sydney Symphony Orchestra

Composers from almost every state and territory, half of them women, have been commissioned to create works across a broad range of styles and lengths.

26 Feb 2020

Richard Watts

Performing Arts

SSO CEO Emma Dunch, Director of Artistic Planning Raff Wilson, Concertmaster Andrew Haveron, Principal Double Bass Kees Boersma, and Tutti Viola Rosemary Curtin are joined by 21 of the 50 composers commissioned as part of 50 Fanfares. Photo: Jay Patel.

Funded entirely through philanthropic support, a major commissioning project designed to support the future of Australian music has been announced by Sydney Symphony Orchestra (SSO).

50 Fanfares will see a range of works by 50 Australian composers – including 25 women, who have traditionally been under-represented in the orchestral sector – premiered over the next three years.

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Richard Watts

Richard Watts is ArtsHub's National Performing Arts Editor; he also presents the weekly program SmartArts on Three Triple R FM, and serves as the Chair of La Mama Theatre's volunteer Committee of Management. Richard is a life member of the Melbourne Queer Film Festival, and was awarded the status of Melbourne Fringe Living Legend in 2017. In 2020 he was awarded the Sidney Myer Performing Arts Awards' Facilitator's Prize. Most recently, Richard was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Green Room Awards Association in June 2021. Follow him on Twitter: @richardthewatts