The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra has announced that Mark Holdsworth is its Cybec Young Composer in Residence for 2019. Over 12 months, Holdsworth will work closely with MSO musicians and staff to create two new orchestral compositions, to be workshopped and performed by the Orchestra in 2019. He will also gain practical experience with venue acoustics, scoring and program development.

Mark Holdsworth

“The MSO is a remarkably skilled and regarded orchestra,” Holdsworth told Limelight. “Not only are they of the highest performance calibre, comprising the nation’s finest musicians, they are also passionate proponents of new music. I am so thrilled to be given this remarkable opportunity. It was already a huge honour to have been selected for the Cybec Program – the appointment as Young Composer in Residence is altogether indescribable… I feel hugely privileged to have the MSO confer that trust to me.”

A recent graduate of the University of Western Australia’s Conservatorium of Music, Holdsworth studied composition with James Ledger and Christopher Tonkin, both distinguished Australian composers.

“The MSO is committed to identifying and supporting the next generation of Australian composers,” said Managing Director Sophie Galaise, who describes the Cybec Young Composer in Residence Program...