The Australian Festival of Chamber Music has announced the expansion of its Pathways Program with the support of $96,000 from Creative Australia over two years.

The program will now offer the AFCM Pathways Emerging Composers Initiative, which will provide young Australian composers with immersive residencies in northern Queensland, mentorship by senior composers from the Festival program, and the opportunity to compose for and collaborate with the AFCM Fellowship Ensemble.

Elizabeth Younan and Sam Wu. Photos courtesy of AFCM

The chosen composers will also see their works performed on the AFCM main stage and toured, recorded and digitally released.

The 2025 and 2026 Emerging Composers are Elizabeth Younan and Sam Wu.

Younan is currently a doctoral candidate at The Juilliard School in New York City. Her work … your heart dreams of spring was recorded on Jennifer Koh’s album Alone Together, which won a Grammy for Best Classical Instrumental Solo. Her music has been performed by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, principal players of the Philadelphia Orchestra, Ensemble Offspring and the Goldner String Quartet, among others.

Wu holds degrees from Harvard University, The Juilliard School and Rice University. His music has been performed by major orchestras...