Nurturing Australian Artists
Hatched Academy
What is Hatched Academy?
Established in 2014 to support exceptional young Australian performers and composers, Ensemble Offspring’s Hatched Academy offers three streams: Hatched Composer Intensive, Hatched Associate Artist and the Hatched Mentorship Program.
In 2022, acclaimed Berlin-based Australian composer Brett Dean became the Hatched Academy Ambassador and a composer mentor for the Hatched Composer Intensive. To learn more about Hatched Academy, watch the 2022 showreel and read some testimonials from our Hatched alumni.
Applications for Hatched Associate Artist 2024 closed on 31 July 2023.

Streams

Hatched Associate Artist
Each year an elite Australian instrumentalist with a passion for new music is selected as Ensemble Offspring’s Hatched Associate Artist.
In an annual residency the Associate Artist will commission, premiere and professionally record a new work for their instrument, which is funded by Ensemble Offspring and supported by the ensemble’s industry knowledge and resources. The Associate Artist will also perform as part of the Hatched Composer Intensive ensemble, developing and premiering five new works by emerging Australian composers.
Throughout the year, creative and business mentorship is provided by Artistic Director and percussionist Claire Edwardes to guide the Associate Artist in sculpting a successful performance career.

All travel costs are covered for interstate artists, and the program is valued at $10,000.
“Hatched Academy was a great opportunity to experience a comprehensive overview of what it’s like to be a freelance artist in an ensemble setting – basically synthesising that knowledge into a package to take back with me when I pursue my own things.” – Jacob Abela (piano), 2015 Hatched Associate Artist
Applications for Hatched Associate Artist 2024 closed on 31 July 2023

Hatched Composer Intensive
The 2023 Hatched Composer Intensive provides a one-of-a-kind opportunity for five emerging composers from around Australia to be mentored throughout the year by their chosen international mentor on a new work for Ensemble Offspring. This culminates in an intensive week of workshops with Ensemble Offspring, industry specialists and a lead composer mentor, culminating in a professionally documented showcase of the composers’ new works. The Hatched Composer Intensive offers composers the opportunity to have their music workshopped by some of Australia’s finest chamber musicians with years of experience in new music. Feedback is delivered in a warm, honest and constructive manner and composers are supported in their plight to create the most idiomatic and effective chamber work possible.

Throughout the week the participants are given the opportunity to discuss and share ideas throughout informative industry sessions on programming, funding, marketing, audience engagement, and First Nations protocols. The participants will be connected with important industry contacts and provided with a professional recording of their new work for their portfolio, helping to constructively build their early careers. All participant costs are covered for the program and participation is valued at $4000 per participant.
Watch the 2022 showreel, read the testimonials and download the 2023 Info Booklet to get a feel for the experience.
Applications for the 2023 Hatched Composer Intensive are now closed.

Hatched Mentorship Program
Our Hatched Mentorship Program consists of up to two one-on-one Zoom sessions with a mentor chosen from among Ensemble Offspring’s experienced core musicians and collaborating composers/performers. These artists generously share their experience through instrumental or composition lessons, as well as offering industry, marketing and grant writing advice. The Hatched Mentorship Program occurs throughout the month of July 2023 and is open to participants from the age of 16 upwards. The program supports artists of diverse backgrounds, hailing from metropolitan and regional areas and a range of experience levels.

In 2023, the mentors are Claire Edwardes (percussion/Artistic Director, Ensemble Offspring), Lamorna Nightingale (flute/Artistic Director, Backstage Music), Jason Noble (clarinet), Véronique Serret (violin), Blair Harris (cello), Benjamin Kopp (piano/composition), Roland Peelman (piano/conducting/Artistic Director, Canberra International Music Festival), Mindy Meng Wang (guzheng/composition), Bree van Reyk (drums & percussion/composition) and James Henry (guitarist/composer).
Applications for the 2023 Hatched Mentorship Program are now closed.