Sydney-based chamber group Omega Ensemble has announced the participants chosen for its inaugural CoLAB: Composer Accelerator Program. The five composers – Angus Davison, Chloe Sinclair, Alex Turley, William Gardiner and Lauren McCormick – will work with the ensemble over the next nine months, in a program that includes intensive rehearsals, professional development workshops and industry exposure events, while developing a substantial new chamber work to be premiered at Sydney Opera House in November.

Composer Chloe SinclairChloe Sinclair is one of the participants in the Omega Ensemble’s inaugural CoLAB: Composer Accelerator Program. Photo © Julia Faragher

“Selecting only five composers from an impressive list of applicants was incredibly difficult,” said Omega Ensemble Artistic Director David Rowden. “The successful participants in this year’s program are all immensely talented, each with highly-developed compositional techniques and a unique musical voice. But just as importantly, these five young composers stood apart in their ambition and determination to further their professional careers – ultimately, that is what we were looking for.”

For CoLAB participant Alex Turley, from Melbourne, creating a new work for the ensemble is “an absolute dream”.

“We have so much time with the Ensemble – something that can be...