Composition Project

WASO’s Composition Project offers young and emerging Western Australian composers the opportunity to develop their skills in a professional environment. Through a series of individual lessons, workshops and rehearsals, participants will compose a new work for a 14-piece chamber ensemble, performed by WASO musicians in front of a live audience. Participants are mentored both by James Ledger (Artistic Director), Olivia Davies (WASO Composer-in-Residence) and WASO musicians.

Throughout the project composers will develop their work in close collaboration with WASO musicians, building knowledge of the professional commissioning process of working with a chamber ensemble and building skills in the live compositional workshop process. This project has helped previous participants successfully gain placement in national and international composition programs, post-graduate studies and secure professional commissions and residencies.

The 2025 Composition Project participants’ original works were premiered at the State Theatre Centre of WA on Tuesday 24 June. A panel identified the most outstanding composition with the composer being presented the Bendat Family Foundation (WASO) Scholarship. This scholarship provides the recipient an opportunity to compose a new 3 to 5-minute piece of orchestral music to be premiered by WASO in 2026.

The participants for the 2025 Composition Project were:
Somayeh Heidarvand
Domenic Lamattina
Darcy Lewis
Lucas Tomkins