The Canberra Symphony Orchestra has created something special with its Australian Series concerts, receiving a Luminary Award in the state and territory category at the recent 2022 Art Music Awards.

Members of the Djinama Yilaga choir. Photo © Martin Ollman

In the introduction to the night, the orchestra’s CEO Rachel Thomas spoke about why the series had been recognised with this honour. Since 2017, the CSO has performed over 90 Australian works and commissioned 30, proving the vital role the orchestra plays for Australian composers and the public who wants to hear new works. This sold-out concert by the CSO Chamber Ensemble was a great example of this.

Titled Hearing the Land, it was performed in the Atrium of the National Museum of Australia, and showed how the vibrancy of Australian landscapes is captured in music. The immense biodiversity in our country has inspired artworks in every form, and you could hear our ecological diversity expressed so poignantly in these Australian compositions.

The CSO Chamber Ensemble comprised Doreen Cumming on violin, Patrick Suthers on cello, Kiri Sollis on flute, Ben Hoadley on bassoon, Veronica Bailey on percussion and Edward Neeman on...