After settling into the new year and having time to properly reflect, I can undoubtedly say professionally and personally, 2022 was a year of GROWTH! I have so much and many people to be thankful and grateful for, with some key highlights of the year in no determinative order:
1: Composing in the Wilderness 2022 - I went to freaking Alaska!! It is crazy to think that already 6months ago I undertook my first solo travel trip ever, and to the other side of the world, and got to compose a new work for an elite ensemble, alongside 7 incredible composers - notably meeting a new best friend Christine Pan Music this mind-blowing experience will be a memory for life and no doubt inspire many more compositions to come
2: I am a recipient of a 2022/23 Wattle Fellowship from The University of Melbourne (more to come about this!!), undertaking a 9-month Global Leaders Sustainability Program in a diverse university-wide cohort, and will soon present a legal-composition fused action project, commission and curated concert this 2023 with Solstice Piano Trio and Bridgette Kelsey (soprano)
3: I excitingly received some international and local recognition, having won the No Divide KC International Art Song Competition (USA), received 2nd prize in the Luna Nova Composition Contest (USA), and most recently awarded the 2022 David Henkels Composition Award by the Musical Society of Victoria I also gained Associate Representation from the Australian Music Centre, which has been a particular goal of mine
4: this year was also a year of premieres having 9 world premieres and 1 Australian premiere in some very busy, compact periods!! Having commissions and collaborations with Collide Trio, Jasper Ly - Oboist, Corvus Ensemble (USA), Joseph Lallo (Lallo.norfolk.) and the Melbourne Conservatorium Sax Ensemble, Leading Edge Guitar Ensemble (Guitar Perspectives), Victorian Youth Symphony Orchestra, Laila Engle & Homophonic, Our Lady of Sion College Wind Band and a 3MBS Melbourne 103.5FM makeshift Mixed Quartet has made a thrilling and enriching year to say the least - with some performances years in the making
5: I also had my debut on Spotify/Apple and stream on ABC Classic, having my Compose Queer commission with Divisi Chamber Singers and Coady Green featured on their debut Album ‘Spectrum’ now being a part of history on Australia 1st-ever fully LGBTQIA+ classical music album
6: Walking my first red carpet at the APRA AMCOS AMC 2022 Art Music Awards and mingling with colleagues, mentors and artists who all greatly inspire me closely and from afar, in such a diverse and inclusive environment, was also such a joyful 2022 moment
7: I proudly got through another year of my JD alongside my artistic career, continually deepening my compositional voice and worldview in general
8: I also FINALLY got my driver’s license
I could go on, but this is a LONG post already so hugs to any and all who made it this far thank you infinitely to my beautiful family and partner, friends, colleagues, mentors and more for your continual support some new projects are already in the works and wings for this 2023 and I cannot wait to share it all with you xx much love and cheers to this 2023!!
