The Composers' House

The Australian composer, Peggy Glanville-Hicks (1912 - 1990) gave her house to the nation as a residence for Australian and visiting overseas composers. She lived in the house from 1976 to 1990. The house was restored by the Peggy Glanville-Hicks Composers' Trust with assistance from Arts NSW, the Australia Council for the Arts and sponsors and was opened by The Hon. Peter Collins, QC, MP, NSW Minister for the Arts, on 11 October 1993.

Can you help?

The Trust exists solely to support Peggy’s dream of a fellowship program for emerging composers. With every residence there are the ongoing costs associated with maintenance and upkeep of the property. The House is currently being restored with a new kitchen and a workshop and performance area and is expected to be completed in December 2011. While the Trust reaches out to all forms of funding – federal, state governments, corporations and philanthropic foundations – it is especially indebted to the support from donors. With your help we have managed to reach 85% towards our target with still some way to go. Make a donation today at GiveNow.com and help us reach our goal.

James Murdoch (1930-2010)

Pianist, author, arts administrator, friend and advocate of composers and musicians all over the world. Few have done more for Australian composers and their music. James died peacefully in his beloved Bali where he has lived since 1990. Read the obituary from The Australian

13th Peggy Glanville-Hicks Address
Lyndon Terracini : Populism as Art and the Art of Populism

Each year the New Music Network presents the Peggy Glanville-Hicks Address , an annual forum for ideas relating to the creation and performance of Australian music. In 2011 the guest speaker is Lyndon Terracini, Artistic Director of Opera Australia and an operatic baritone. His topic for discussion is Populism as Art and the Art of Populism. In this time of extraordinary change where major art galleries present fashion designers in major exhibitions, digital ‘art’ is everywhere, and the populism of art as a government imperative is ubiquitous, how does a ‘heritage’ artist relate to our ‘fast food, quick fix’ society. Before taking up his post at Opera Australia, Lyndon was Artistic Director of the 2001, 2003 and 2005 Queensland Music Festivals as well as Artistic Director/CEO of the 2006, 2008 and 2009 Brisbane Festivals.

SYDNEY: 6pm, Wednesday 2 November 2011, The Mint.
MELBOURNE: 7.30pm, Friday 11 November 2011, BMW Edge
Free event bookings essential phone to reserve: 0411 606 077

FILM: Owl Song : with dreams there are no choices

Owl Song is the true story of Peggy Glanville-Hicks, a precocious young antipoedian who defies the conservative social conventions of the early 20th century by daring to follow her dream of becoming a great composer. "Owl Song" a heroic journey about an extraordinary woman making it, against all the odds. It wrestles with universal themes about the nature of success, the power of dreams, the quality of life and the responsibilities of friendship.
Produced by Music Art Dance - 2011/12