Melbourne Recital Centre unveils 2025 composer commission recipients

Melbourne Recital Centre has announced two significant composer commissions for 2025, continuing its commitment to supporting Australian musical talent and the development of new works. The Merlyn Myer Music Commission and Marshall McGuire Emerging Composer Commission facilitate meaningful performance opportunities for composers at diff erent stages of their artistic journeys.

Merlyn Myer Music Commission

The sixth Merlyn Myer Music Commission, established in memory of Dame Merlyn Myer (1900-1982), has been awarded to composers Alice Chance and Chloe Kim 김예지. The initiative supports female composers in Australia by providing them with the creative freedom to develop new musical works. Not only fostering artistic growth, the commission also ensures their compositions are performed, heard, and recorded.

Alice Chance and Chloe Kim will collaborate on a new work to be performed by the acclaimed Syzygy Ensemble, featuring piano, violin, cello, flute, and clarinet. The commission provides $12,000 to the composers, with Melbourne Recital Centre covering the fee and all other costs associated with the presentation and documentation of the performance.

'It is a huge honour to be a recipient of the Merlyn Myer Commission and to have the opportunity to collaborate with artists I deeply respect,' said Alice Chance. 'Chloe and I have cooked up a project involving improvisation and joy-led composition methods from our unique musical backgrounds to create a work that refl ects on how we might distill joy in music.'

'One of life's greatest blessings is being a full-time musician. To now embark on a new work with the brilliant Alice Chance, whose every artistic decision sparks excitement, is a privilege beyond words.' – Chloe Kim

Their composition will premiere on Wednesday, 1 October 2025, in the Primrose Potter Salon at Melbourne Recital Centre. Prior to the performance, the composers will participate in several compositional workshops with Syzygy Ensemble throughout June and July 2025.

Previous winners of this commission include Sally Greenaway (2015), Andrea Keller (2017), Deborah Cheetham Fraillon AO (2019), Nat Bartsch (2021), and Brenda Giff ord (2023).

The Merlyn Myer Music Commission is generously supported by The Aranday Foundation and The Yulgilbar Foundation, who have said 'We are very excited to be supporting this next instalment of the Merlyn Myer Commissions at the Melbourne Recital Centre. The timing has never been more apt for a new work that is inspired by joy in music. Born 125 years ago, Merlyn Myer was always keen to support innovation and new ideas. She would have been delighted to be remembered through this collaborative project between two outstanding artists.'

Inaugural Marshall McGuire Emerging Composer Commission

Melbourne Recital Centre has also announced the inaugural Marshall McGuire Emerging Composer Commission, established in honour of outgoing Director of Programming Marshall McGuire. This initiative aims to nurture the next generation of young Australian composers at the beginning of their careers.

Presented in partnership with the University of Melbourne, the program has selected two promising composers from the university's graduating class: Moses Kington-Walberg and Lilijana Matičevska.

Both composers will receive their first paid commissions to write new works and benefit from creative development sessions at Melbourne Recital Centre. Their compositions will be performed by Rubiks Collective, featuring percussion, piano, cello, and fl ute and will be premiered on Wednesday, 22 October 2025, in the Primrose Potter Salon.

Moses Kington-Walberg shared his appreciation for the new initiative: 'It's really exciting to have the space and support to develop something new, especially in a setting that genuinely values experimentation. Opportunities like this are rare but crucial for young composers, and I'm honoured to be selected.'

Lilijana Matičevska described her excitement about her upcoming collaboration with Rubiks Collective 'They're extremely good at making sounds, especially when performing together. Electrifying.'

The Marshall McGuire Emerging Composer Commission has been made possible through the generous support of founding donors including Peter Armstrong, Debbie Brady, Mary Bram, Richard and Susan Bunting, George and Kathy Deutsch, Paul Donnelly and Brigitte Treutenaere, Susan Eldridge, Kingsley Gee, The Hon. Justice Michelle Gordon AC KC and The Hon. Kenneth Hayne AC KC, Richard Gubbins, Barry Jones AC and Rachel Faggetter, Angela Kayser, Sandra Robertson, and Joy Selby Smith.

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