Lachlan Skipworth, Katy Abbott Kvasnica and Andrew Aronowicz showcased at International Composers Rostrum.

ABC Classic FM has selected the three composers who will represent Australia at the 2016 International Rostrum of Composers. Award-winning Perth-based composer Lachlan Skipworth, Melbourne’s Katy Abbott Kvasnica and Limelight contributor and CD critic Andrew Aronowicz have been chosen from a shortlist of 35 talented candidates. The three Australian artists will each have a single work showcased at the Rostrum, which this year will be hosted by Polish Radio and the National Forum of Music in Wroclaw, Poland.

Representatives of 30 national radio networks from across the world will also present the best new music from their respective countries, with around 60 pieces in total on show. An adjudication process will then focus in on the most impressive works, dividing the best of the submissions into two categories: “general” and “young composers”. The works that make it through to this stage in the process will then receive broadcasts on participating international radio networks, as well as performances by major ensembles.

The three works selected – Skipworth’s Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra, performed by Ashley Smith and WASO, Abbott Kvasnica’s Re-echo, performed by cellist Julian Smiles and percussionist Claire Edwardes, and Aronowicz’s Strange Alchemy, performed by MSO – have all been recorded by the ABC and broadcast by Classic FM over the past year. Aronowicz said of the announcement: “It’s a huge honour that my music has been chosen to represent Australia at such an internationally regarded event. I’m so grateful for the opportunity, particularly when there’s so much exciting and interesting music being written in this country. It doesn’t really matter if my piece happens to make it onto the Rostrum’s final shortlist: it’s still an amazing opportunity, and a fantastic forum for others to hear my music.”

Classic FM will broadcast highlights from the 2016 International Rostrum of Composers from June 1 until June 4, with all broadcasts also available as downloads through the ABC’s New Waves Podcast series.