2024 Hatched Composers Announced

From over 30 applicants across the country with a great diversity of ages, genders and backgrounds, we’re thrilled to announce the four emerging composers selected for Ensemble Offspring’s 2024 Hatched Composer Intensive: Klearhos Murphy (VIC), Alexander Maltas (NSW), Courtney Cousins (NSW) and Katia Geha (NSW). 

Chosen by Ensemble Offspring’s Artistic Director/percussionist Claire Edwardes and new Hatched Academy Director/clarinettist Jason Noble, these composers will participate in various mentorship and information sessions with lead composition mentor Jack Symonds, before the week-long intensive at The Church, Alexandria in November. 

The works will be performed at The Utzon Room, Sydney Opera House by Claire Edwardes (Artistic Director/percussion), Lamorna Nightingale (flutes), Jason Noble (Hatched Academy Director/clarinet, bass clarinet), Alice Morgan (2024 Hatched Associate Artist/saxophones) and Jack Symonds (Lead Mentor, piano). 

Now celebrating its 10th year, the Hatched Academy continues to nurture the future of Australian new music with the support of our esteemed international mentors including Hatched Academy Ambassador Brett Dean, Laura Bowler, Christopher Fox, Lisa Illean, Cathy Milliken, Sarah Nemstov, Gemma Peacocke and Seung-Won Oh. 

The week culminates with Future Classics, EO’s concert premiering all four works alongside commissions by Holly Harrison and Kirsten Milenko at The Utzon Room, Sydney Opera House on November 23. Get your tickets now to hear the next generation of musical voices!

Klearhos Murphy
VIC

Klearhos Murphy is a Greek-Australian composer who specialises in composing and arranging music for symphonic and chamber music settings, drawing from Western Art, Byzantine chant and Greek-folk traditions. He has worked with national and international ensembles such as the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, West Australia Symphony Orchestra, Perth Symphony Orchestra, Vienna Pops Orchestra and Willoughby Symphony Orchestra. Klearhos is also interested in music education and research, regularly holding workshops, consultations and tutorials for secondary and tertiary students.

Alexander Maltas
NSW

Alexander Maltas is a Sydney based composer and conductor currently in his third year of study at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. His compositions have featured throughout the Conservatorium's annual concert programming, as well as being played internationally in America, Korea and Japan. In addition to the Conservatorium, Alexander has written for and conducted the Sydney Youth Orchestras throughout much of his early career. Alexander has had the privilege of studying composition with Carl Vine, Paul Stanhope, Bree van Reyk and Jack Symonds.

Courtney Cousins
NSW

Courtney Cousins is an emerging composer and musician based in Sydney. In 2022 she graduated from the Sydney Conservatorium with a Bachelor of Music (Composition) with First Class Honours. She has a great love for literature, and is particularly interested in music as a form of story-telling. She thinks music can communicate challenging ideas and promote new ways of thinking in an audience. Courtney has written for a variety of media, including choral and vocal works, instrumental and electroacoustic. 

Katia Geha
NSW

Katia Geha is an Australian-Lebanese composer based in Sydney (Eora) who composes experimental performance art music often with a conceptually grounded political framework, aimed in prompting both the performers and the audience in rethinking social and political ideas. Katia recently received first class Honours as part of her Bachelor of Music (Composition) at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. A recipient of the Myron Kantor Bequest, Katia studied under Dr Damien Ricketson, Dr Paul Stanhope, Dr Benjamin Carey and Professor Liza Lim AM. She has written for all ensembles including choral, orchestral, solo and chamber, as well as scores for a number of short films.