Layton Emerging Composer Fellowship

The Australia Ensemble UNSW aims to foster greater engagement in and recognition of composition and chamber music activities at UNSW. Support from Emeritus Professor Roger Layton AM (pictured below) and Merrilyn Layton have facilitated a UNSW composition fellowship to again be offered valued at $10,000 for one year, for an Emerging Composer to write chamber music works as part of the Australia Ensemble’s outreach program.

Professor Roger Layron AM and Geoffrey Collins

About the Fellowship

The Fellowship will engage a selected emerging composer to write two works across the course of a 12-month period – inclusive of one piece for a small ensemble and one piece for a large ensemble, through a competitive selection process determined by UNSW. The $10,000 Fellowship will be paid as a stipend to the winning applicant.

The Emerging Composer will also be eligible for mentoring sessions with a Composition staff member from the UNSW School of the Arts and Media, member/s of the Australia Ensemble, and an external composition mentor. The Emerging Composer’s works will feature in at least one workshop that will be made available to current UNSW students, UNSW staff and members of the public.


2022-2023 Layton Fellow

We are pleased to announce Angus Davison as the 2022-2023 Layton Emerging Composition Fellow.

Angus Davison composes music with 'bright energy' (Limelight), 'considerable poignancy' (The Mercury), and 'a respect for sound in itself' (Cut Common). His music often explores human relationships with nature, inviting listeners to deepen their fascination for the world around them.

Angus's music has been performed in Australia, Europe, and the US. He has worked with leading performers and ensembles including the Melbourne and Tasmanian Symphony Orchestras, Ensemble Offspring, Omega Ensemble, and Michael Kieran Harvey. Originally from Tasmania, Angus is currently based in Sydney where he teaches at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.


Applications have closed for 2022-23. Please check back later for 2023-24 Fellowship plans and announcements.

Who can apply

The Fellowship will be appointed to a permanent resident or Australian citizen and still in an early career stage (defined as being within the first 7 years of creative practice).

Before Applying

  1.  Please read the Conditions of Entry
  2.  Select a portfolio of least three pieces (scores and audio) to submit as representative of your work. Two works of the portfolio must be purely instrumental (ie, no voices), one must be for chamber ensemble (up to 6 players), and one must be from the last three years.
  3. Save your pdf scores and audio files to a location where you can share the URL. This can be using a file sharing service (Google Drive, DropBox, We Transfer, CloudShare, etc), or web-hosted services (YouTube, Soundcloud, etc). Please make sure that these links remain active until the adjudication process is complete on 20 May 2022.

How the winner is chosen

The 2022-23 Layton Emerging Composer Fellowship winner will be decided upon by a selection panel including

  • Artistic Chair of Australia Ensemble UNSW, or nominee of the Australia Ensemble UNSW.
  • Invited external Composition expert.
  • Head of Culture of UNSW, or nominee.

The panel will select a shortlist of up to five applicants, who will be required to respond to some short questions relating to their experience and suitability for the Fellowship. Applicants selected for the shortlist will be notified by Friday 22 April 2022, and the successful 2022-23 Layton Emerging Composer Fellowship recipient will be decided and announced by Friday 20 May 2022.The selection panel may decline to apply money if it considers that there are no candidates who are suitable or of sufficient merit.


If you need help

Please contact us if you have any queries about the process, or are having trouble applying:

Australia Ensemble UNSW
Music Performance Unit
UNSW Sydney NSW 2052
Australia

Phone: 02 9385 4874

Email: australia.ensemble@unsw.edu.au

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9
Jun
2022

Through a partnership with the International Alliance of Women in Music, UNSW presented an online concert for its 2022 conference, hosted in Oregon USA.

Angus Davison Headshot 2
27
Apr
2022

The winner of the 2022-23 Layton Emerging Composer Fellowship is Sydney-based composer Angus Davison. 

Elizabeth Younan Headshot
21
Apr
2022

Multi award winning composer Elizabeth Younan is the 2021- 2022 Layton Emerging Composer Fellow.

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29
Mar
2022

For many in our community the Choral program is more than a cerebral experience. It is a place of expression, creativity, a space of social engagement and belonging.

Whitney Sdraulig Stanhope
3
Mar
2022

The Layton Emerging Composer Fellowship is now in its fourth year, established in 2018 with support from the late Emeritus Professor Roger Layton AM and Merrilyn Layton.

DC6092_8842_Aust Ensemble_foto Keith Saunders
9
Jul
2021

We are sorry to share with you the sad news that long time supporter of the Australia Ensemble UNSW, Emeritus Professor Roger Layton, died peacefully on Saturday 5 June, surrounded by his family.

Elizabeth Younan Headshot
17
May
2021

The winner of the 2021-22 Layton Emerging Composer Fellowship is Sydney-based composer Elizabeth Younan.

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1
May
2020

Following a highly competitive application process, the Australia Ensemble UNSW is thrilled to announce the winner of the Layton Emerging Composer Fellowship for 2020-21 is ...

16 HOLLY HARRISON
24
Feb
2020

The Australia Ensemble has a demonstrated commitment to the development of new Australian music and this International Women’s’ Day, Artistic Chair of the Australia Ensemble...

Murphy Exchange premiere
5
Jun
2019

A very loyal audience braved the inclement Sydney weather on Tuesday 4 June to join the Australia Ensemble for a free lunchtime concert in the Tyree Room of UNSW's John Niland Scientia Building.

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15
Apr
2019

The final adjudication for the 2019 Layton Emerging Composer Fellowship took place on Friday, 12 April 2019.

DC6092_9550_Aust Ensemble_foto Keith Saunders
17
Dec
2018

Monday December 3 was a day full of new music at UNSW, with members of the Australia Ensemble and guest artists working on two brand new pieces by emerging composers for our first ever Composer Workshop celebration.

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20
Aug
2018

Our congratulations to composer Nicole Murphy, who was awarded the Australia Ensemble Emerging Composer Fellowship for 2018!

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30
Apr
2018

We are excited to announce Nicole Murphy as the first recipient of the Australia Ensemble Emerging Composer Fellowship!