Rafael Karlen, Gabriella Smart and Kate Moore have been announced as the recipients of the Prelude Composers Residency at the annual Peggy Glanville-Hicks Address last night at Sydney’s Carriageworks. Prelude is a national network of residencies for Australian composers, housed in historic buildings and affording recipients the time and space to create new work or conduct research and development. Beneficiaries of the programme also receive financial support throughout the 12 months of the residency.

Prelude prides itself on being open to Australian composers from all genres, of any age (from 18 years) and any career stage. This year the programme builds on the established residency at Peggy Glanville-Hicks’ home in Sydney and at Gallop House in Perth by expanding to include Beaumont College in Adelaide, owned by the National Trust of South Australia. Past recipients include Andrew Batt-Rawden (publisher of Limelight), Natasha Anderson, and Mace Francis, current Western Australian composer in residence.

Dutch-Australian composer Kate Moore

“The Prelude residency at Gallop House has provided me a sanctuary to create with no creative or financial pressures,” said Francis. “The year-long residency shows that there is understanding that creativity needs time and is a long term investment....