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 has evolved to include three streams: the Hatched Composer Intensive, where five emerging Australian composers create a new work, mentored by guest composers and the ensemble, culminating in a week long residency; the Hatched Associate Artist position giving an elite Australian instrumentalist the opportunity to perform alongside the ensemble and create a unique solo project supported by our resources; and the Hatched Mentorship Program offering one-on-one online mentorships for young musicians all over Australia.
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, watch our short video and to get a feel for the experience, read our participant testimonials here.
Read the Hatched Composer Intensive 2023 Info Booklet:
Download PDF
Applications for Hatched Composer Intensive and Hatched Mentorship Program are open from 1-31 March 2023. Apply now!

Streams

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 open from 1-31 March 2023. Applicants must be available 6-11 November 2023 for the Intensive week in Sydney.
Apply now
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 open from 1-31 March 2023.
Apply now
Hatched Associate Artist
Each year an elite Australian instrumentalist who demonstrates a true passion for art music and new chamber music is selected to join Ensemble Offspring as part of our annual concert season. A new addition to the program is the facilitation of the creation of a unique project supported by the ensemble’s industry knowledge and resources. The experience of being Ensemble Offspring’s Hatched Associate Artist provides a unique opportunity to build a successful performance career specialising in living new music and sculpting ones own musical pathway. Our Hatched Associate Artist is paid professional performance fees and all travel costs are covered for interstate artists.

Creative and business mentorship is provided by our core musicians, as well as external mentors selected by the Associate Artist. The program is valued at $10,000. Watch this short video to get a feel for the experience.
“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 will open from 1-31 July 2023.