Missy Mazzoli and Maxime Bibeau.

New Works

Commissions take us on journeys that can challenge the way we listen to music. They pave the way for future music makers, whether instrumentalists, composers or appreciators.

2025 features five exciting world premieres for our anniversary year by composers Nigel Westlake, Holly Harrison, David Lang, Valentyn Sylvestrov and Patricia Kopatchinskaja, plus an ambitious cross artform collaboration with Co3 contemporary dance company and a brand-new family show commission.

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How To Catch A Star Family Show at Pier 2/3

How to Catch a Star

Award-winning Australian composer Elena Kats-Chernin discusses creating new music for the ACO Family Show How to Catch a Star, based on Oliver Jeffers' beloved children's book and premiered in 2022.

Elena Kats-Chernin

Sea in My Bedroom

There's a Sea in My Bedroom

Go behind the scenes and learn about the ACO's first family concert series based on the beloved children's book by Margaret Wild, There's a Sea in My Bedroom.

There's a Sea in My Bedroom

Composer Samuel Adams

Samuel Adams

Composer Samuel Adams shares his thoughts on the creative process behind his new work Echo Transcriptions - a concerto for electric violin which made its world premiere as part of the ACO's 2022 concert series.

Samuel Adams

Heather Shannon playing piano.

Heather Shannon

Composer and keyboardist in The Jezabels, Heather Shannon, takes us behind-the-scenes in her home studio ahead to discuss the creation of ‘Ricochet’ and ‘Ricochet from a Distance’, commissioned by the ACO and performed by ACO Collective in 2019.

Heather Shannon

Max & Missy

Explore the creative collaboration between ACO Principal Bass Maxime Bibeau and New York composer Missy Mazzoli that led to ‘Dark with Excessive Bright.’

Max & Missy

We are committed to bringing new music to our audiences.

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To find out how you can be involved in bringing new works to life, contact Jill Colvin on (02) 8274 3835 or email [email protected].