Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra’s Cybec Young Composers program offers a rare path upwards for four emerging composers. 

Supported by the Cybec Foundation, the program offers a commission to write a 10-minute work for the internationally-acclaimed orchestra, under the mentorship of a collection of Australia’s leading composers. From the four participating composers, one will be selected as the Cybec Young Composer in Residence for 2024.

Last year’s Composer in Residence was Melissa Douglas, the first female composer to receive the position since the award’s inauguration in 2003.

Cybec Young Composers

Christopher Healey, Julia Potter, Joseph Franklin and Naomi Dodd.

This year’s participants are Naomi Dodd, Joseph Franklin, Christopher Healey and Julia Potter. Alongside workshops with musicians from the orchestra, they also receive “invaluable” feedback from Cybec Assistant Conductor Carlo Antonioli. 

Ahead of the concert streamed live on 28 January, Limelight asks each composer about their works and their experiences within the program.

“Opportunities to write for orchestra are few...