As I take on my new role as Director of Ensemble Offspring’s Hatched Academy in 2024, I have been reflecting on the program’s importance to Australia’s music scene at large.

Our Hatched program has been operating now for 10 years and remains EO’s most important development stream, important to both EO performers and external participants alike. The Composer Intensive and Mentorship programs are an essential part of Australia’s new music ecosystem, paving the way for musicians and composers to develop their craft and explore new and creative ideas.

As a performer in the ensemble, it is also an exchange, and an opportunity to witness the next generation of musicians giving birth to their concepts. It has been a pleasure to follow and be a part of many emerging careers including those of Callum G'Froerer, Jeremy Rose, Eliza Shepherd, Solly Frank and Connor d’Netto.

Recently, I caught up with two past participants, Eduardo Ruiz (Guitarist: 2020 Hatched Mentorship Program) and Jessica Lindsay Smith (Composer: 2023 Hatched Composer Intensive) to get their take on their experience of our two Hatched Academy programs which are currently open for applications, closing Friday 29 March.

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What was the best thing about your Hatched experience?

Eduardo: The opportunity to establish connections with high level Australian musicians and gain insights from their years of expertise, which greatly enriched my musical journey.I was pleasantly surprised by the level of support and the quality of interactions, especially during the Zoom sessions amid the pandemic. Engaging with accomplished professionals like Claire Edwardes left me immensely grateful for the enriching experiences.

Jess: As composers, we put so much care and attention into minute notes and details and to be able to hear them played so accurately, and interpreted in such a sensitive and honest way was truly remarkable. I was surprised by how much I learnt from my fellow composers and how quickly we all became close friends. I learnt so much from their pieces and from our late night sessions chatting through music, creative process, Pokemon, and politics. It was a week being part of a workplace, which as composers, we are not used to and personally, I had very much undervalued till Hatched. 

Why would you recommend emerging artists participate in Hatched?

Eduardo: Networking is essential, especially for artists from different countries, and Hatched provides an invaluable platform for this. I highly recommend it to emerging artists seeking to broaden their horizons and connect with peers and mentors in the industry. Utilising the skills and knowledge gained from Hatched, particularly through my interactions with guitarist Andrew Blanch, I've seen significant growth in my performance abilities, leading to successes in competitions and bolstering my confidence in my career.

Jess: In the short time since the Hatched Academy I’ve been so appreciative of the professional relationships I culminated over the program. I feel more supported and connected than ever before! I would wholeheartedly recommend Hatched Academy Composer Intensive to all emerging composers! It is challenging, all good things are, but the challenge and the hard work gave me so many skills, confidence, and a renewed sense of momentum in my practice. 

Check out Eduardo’s favourite piece performed by EO on YouTube: Mesmerism by Paul Mac and Jessica’s favourite: Silva by Mary Finsterer

It’s one of the older pieces on YouTube, but it is well worth the scroll through the archives. Jessica says “I’m so taken by the sound world Mary evokes from the ensemble, it sparkles, it’s dark, it’s dynamic, otherworldly, and beautiful.”

Apply for Hatched now!