Ngarra-Burria: First Peoples Composers
Ngarra-Burria are Dharug words meaning to hear, to sing.
Ngarra-Burria: First Peoples Composers is an initiative intended for First Peoples skills development and industry connections in the new music/classical composition arena.
The program was developed by Aboriginal composer Dr Chris Sainsbury, and started in 2016 with partners including the School of Music at the Australian National University, Ensemble Offspring, the ABC and the Australian Music Centre. In 2017 Moogahlin Performing Arts also joined and served with valuable administrative assistance and in producing the composers cultural expressions through new music until 2022. From 2023 and going forward partners include the School of Music and also the Yil Lull First Nations Studio at the Australian National University, Ensemble Offspring, the ABC and the Australian Music Centre.
We pride ourselves on achieving an Indigenous-led impact on the Australian art music sector which has resulted in one national award (the 2020 Art Music Awards: National Luminary Award for director Dr Christopher Sainsbury) and one international award (2022 Classical:NEXT Innovation Award for the program and all partners) for effecting positive change, namely introducing the missing voices of First Nations composers, some of whom now have careers in this field.
First Nations voices through music always were, and always will be present.
Past participants of the Ngarra-Burria program include: Shauntai Sheree Abdul-Raman, Eric Avery, Rhyan Clapham, Marlene Cummins, Gabe Fromyhr, Brenda Gifford, Tim Gray, James Henry, Will Kepa, Adam Manning, Mark 'Munk' Ross, Troy Russell, Elizabeth Sheppard, Nardi Simpson, Nicole Smede, Gary Watling, and Aaron Wyatt.
Ngarra-Burria 2025
Mentor Christopher Sainsbury welcomes seven returning Ngarra-Burria composers in the development of new works. Participating composers will each write a new work for Ensemble Offspring (a configuration of a piano, bass clarinet/clarinet and percussion trio), in addition to several individual collaborations with Melbourne String Ensemble, Wollongong Steel City Strings, Canberra Symphony Orchestra, and Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. The program continues to support composers developing new techniques and skills in instrumental composition and notation, as well as industry knowledge and relationships, and will culminate in a showcase concert in October 2025 in Sydney.The Ngarra-Burria program provides for its participants:
- The opportunity to write work/s for recording and performance by Ensemble Offspring, one of Australia’s leading new music ensembles.
- Periodic face-to-face and online mentoring sessions with program facilitators, developing their work/s
- Workshops with the performers during the year, developing and refining the work/s
- Involvement in ANU School of Music sessions
- Rehearsals, recording, and a final performance in Sydney
- A modest honorarium, along with travel costs to attend workshops/recording session.
Mentor
Dr Chris Sainsbury
Chris Sainsbury is the founder, mentor and champion of the Ngarra-Burria First Nations Composers Initiative. Chris is an established composer and musician, having produced orchestral music, chamber music, folk songs, choral music, and solo instrumental pieces, mostly focusing on his main instrument, guitar, since the 1980s. A Dharug composer, Chris has been at the forefront of Indigenous art music in Australia.
Dr Christopher Sainsbury - biography
Participants
Gabe Fromyhr
Brenda Gifford
James Henry
Mark 'Munk' Ross
Troy Russell
Nicole Smede
Associate Artist profileGary Watling
Associate Artist profile.Enquiries
If you have further questions about this program, please with the subject 'Ngarra-Burria'.
Program partners
