Bold, brave and fearless, Ensemble Offspring is poised to navigate uncharted musical territories in 2023. Our daring season features over twenty world premieres which traverse themes of the human psyche, nature and the cosmos. With a fierce commitment to emerging, female-identifying and First Nations voices, our trusted brand of musical trailblazing burns bright in 2023.
This year we’re taking the best Australian music around the country and overseas with tours to Berlin and Helsinki in addition to hometown performances at Sydney’s Carriageworks, The Neilson, Casula Powerhouse and Sydney Opera House. Come with us on a journey of “visceral, joyous music at its most elemental” (Sydney Morning Herald) and become an Ensemble Offspring Subscriber today.
2023 highlights include the return of our beloved Avant Gardens series, taking music out of the concert hall and into the fresh air with house concerts in Ashfield, Alexandria, Glebe and Woollahra; Incredible Floridas at Carriageworks, reviving a brooding and complex masterpiece by the great Australian modernist Richard Meale, with new contemporary tributes from young Australian composers; Still Life with Avalanche at the Sydney Opera House, featuring a world premiere by in-demand Australian clarinetist and composer Paul Dean; a regional tour of The Surge, delivering poignant social revelations and shameless ’90s nostalgia; the Hatched Composer Showcase, celebrating the next generation of musical thinkers in our debut performance at The Neilson; and Lone Hemispheres, where our world-renowned instrumentalists step into the spotlight as soloists.
On curating the action-packed 2023 season, Artistic Director and percussionist Claire Edwardes OAM writes, “Ensemble Offspring stands at the intersection of open-mindedness, inclusivity and excellence, and our purpose is to champion new Australian music from this exciting perspective. Our 2023 season represents this more than ever:
“We’ve commissioned original works from composers at every stage of a thriving career, including emerging composers Josephine Macken and Courtney Cousins, rising stars Lachlan Skipworth and Holly Harrison, and established Australians Paul Dean and Ensemble Offspring’s founding Artistic Director, Damien Ricketson. Artistically, we’re embracing minimalism, modernism, pop and folk fusions, First Nations music and much more.
“We welcome our 2023 resident artists through our various development programs: Hatched
Associate Artist Abbey Felton (Perth guitarist), First Nations Composer in Residence James Henry (Melbourne), and Noisy Women Commission recipient May Lyon (Melbourne). All three musicians have exceptionally strong artistic voices which resonate with the values of Ensemble Offspring. We’re incredibly excited to collaborate with them all and bring their unique creative visions to life.
“Finally, we’re introducing three new audience initiatives which invite younger generations to get involved in the music of today and connect with our community of passionate listeners. We are offering $35 tickets for audiences under 35, discounted season subscriptions and a free new concert series ‘Mondays @ The Church’ to help ensure that Australian art music is accessible for everyone.
“It’s an action-packed year focussed on big ideas and untrodden paths. We can’t wait to share it with you.”
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2023 PROGRAMS
- Avant Gardens 1 at private homes in Ashfield (Feb 25) & Alexandria (Feb 26) • Avant Gardens 2 at private homes in Glebe (Mar 18) & Woollahra (Mar 19) • Echoes and Orbits at Tempo Rubato, Melbourne (May 10), Monash University, Melbourne (May 11), Orange Conservatorium, Orange (May 12) & St George’s Anglican Church, Mount Wilson (May 13)
- Incredible Floridas at Carriageworks, Sydney – Jun 23 & 24
- Still Life with Avalanche at Sydney Opera House, Sydney – Aug 26
- The Surge at New Annual Festival, Newcastle (Sep 29 – Oct 1), Malachi Gilmore Hall, Oberon (Oct 7), Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre, Shoalhaven (Oct 8), Central Coast Conservatorium, Gosford (Oct 13) & Riverside Theatres, Parramatta (Oct 15)
- Hatched Composer Showcase at The Neilson, Sydney – Nov 11
- Lone Hemispheres at Melbourne Recital Centre, Melbourne (Dec 8) & Casula Powerhouse, Sydney (Dec 9)
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UNDER 35 DISCOUNTS
We’re passionate about making contemporary art music accessible and affordable for all ages, so listeners under 35 can now enjoy $35 tickets in Ensemble Offspring’s 2023 season.
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SUBSCRIPTIONS
Another new initiative in 2023, Ensemble Offspring Subscribers receive a 15% discount for our five major programs in stunning Sydney venues. Subscribers under 35 enjoy a further 15% off the discounted $35 tickets as an Ensemble Offspring Young Subscriber.
Subscription costs:
- Ensemble Offspring Subscriber (over 35 as of Dec 31, 2023) – $255
- Ensemble Offspring Young Subscriber (under 35 as of Dec 31, 2023) – $150
The programs included in the 2023 subscription are:
- Avant Gardens 1 in Alexandria
- Incredible Floridas
- Still Life with Avalanche
- Hatched Composer Showcase
- Lone Hemispheres in Sydney
All subscriptions must be purchased by February 1, 2023.
Explore Ensemble Offspring’s entire 2023 season at https://www.ensembleoffspring.com
