Australian Art Orchestra and TarraWarra Museum of Art announce new Composer in Residence commission
Australian Art Orchestra (AAO) announces a new Composer in Residence commission in partnership with TarraWarra Museum of Art, supporting the creation of a new work that brings together contemporary composition and improvisation.
Through this initiative, a selected composer will be commissioned to develop a new 20-minute work for Australian Art Orchestra string quartet, incorporating elements of improvisation and drawing inspiration from TarraWarra’s exhibited and archived collections by some of Australia’s leading contemporary visual artists.
The residency emphasises process, reflection and deep engagement with place, offering time and space for creative development within TarraWarra’s unique natural and cultural setting. The selected composer will have guided access to works at the Museum and the opportunity to stay in on-site accommodation on Wurundjeri Country for up to two weeks in September.
Alongside the residency, this $5,000 commission also includes creative mentoring with AAO Artistic Director Aaron Choulai and rehearsal/development with the quartet.
The new work will be premiered by the Australian Art Orchestra at TarraWarra’s Eva and Marc Besen Centre in November 2026, closely linking the development process with its public presentation.
Expressions of Interest are open until Sunday 24 May 2026, 11.59pm.
The Composer In Residence 2026 Program is made possible through the support of Tarawarra Museum of Art, The Robert Salzer Foundation, and an anonymous donor.
Image credit Andrew Paoli, AAO musicians perform around the TarraWarra Museum of Art site.
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