As well as being one of Australia’s finest performing chamber groups, Omega Ensemble also does important work to encourage young creatives through its CoLAB Composer Accelerator program. Among its mentors is “Brooklyn’s post-millennial Mozart”, Missy Mazzoli.

Her works often appear on Omega’s programs, and her solo for viola and electronics, Tooth and Nail, opens the program for their latest tour, featuring violist Neil Thompson, who is celebrating his 10th season with the ensemble.

Omega Ensemble: Howl. Photo © Gxbriellemxry

The piece references jaw harp music in Uzbekistan, where the player plucks the instrument and changes the shape of their mouth to create overtones and melodies. Thompson’s amped viola plays folk-influenced fragments against a pre-recorded track, which recreates the rhythmic pulse of the mouth harp, the tape adding harmonies and textures over a synthesiser bass line.

Thompson is joined by violinists Mark Ingwersen and Asmira Woodward Page, and cellist Paul Stender, for the next two works, both of which are Australian premieres and also feature amped instruments and taped soundtracks.

Scottish composer and...