As Australia’s largest choral organisation, we feel a huge responsibility to support the creation of new music and, in particular, Australian music. During 2020-2024 alone, we commissioned 23 new works, with all of them composed by Australian composers, making Sydney Philharmonia Choirs one of the most prolific commissioners of new choral music today.
We believe in the vibrancy, relevance and fascination of new music and its power to transport an audience. And music for vocal ensembles in particular seems to have a special ability to move and inspire. By commissioning composers to create original pieces, we are supporting them in enriching the cultural landscape, and offer our audiences unique and transformative musical experiences.
If you would like to commission a new piece on behalf of Sydney Philharmonia Choirs, and have your name (or the name of a loved one) credited at the top of a new artistic work for posterity, please do get in touch with us at [email protected] or call us on 02 8274 6200.
Title Tarimi Nulay – Long time living here
Composer Deborah Cheetham with Gadigal words supplied by Matthew Doyle
Concerts 1 April, 17 April, 17 May, 27 June, 16 August, 13 September, 25 October, 13 December (Bach), 12, 13, 14 December
Commissioned as part of our 100 Minutes of New Australian Music project, 2020. First performed in January 2020
Title A Season to Sing
Composer Joanna Forbes L’Estrange
Concert 1 April, 5 April Bathurst, 12 April Goulburn (Spring & Summer) in I Was Glad; 16 August (Autumn & Winter) in Lost Birds
Co-commissioned by Sydney Philharmonia Choirs and 55 other international choirs. Australian premiere
Title Eternity in an Hour
Composer Eric Whitacre
Concert 27 June, in Eternity in an Hour
Commissioned by the 2024 BBC Proms and Netherlands Radio Choir and Sydney Philharmonia Choirs. Australian premiere
Title New work
Composer Nardi Simpson
Concerts: 16 August, in Lost Birds
Sydney Philharmonia Choirs commission
Title A Plastic Theatre
Composer Joanna Marsh
Concert 13 September, in A Child of Our Time
Australian premiere sponsored by Peter McCreanor
Title New work
Composer Alice Chance
Concert 13 September, in A Child of Our Time
Commissioned for VOX by the SILO Collective
Title New work
Composer Joseph Twist
Concert 12, 13, 14 December, in Carols at the House
Sydney Philharmonia Choirs commission
