Image by Meghan Scerri

Image by Gem Scerri

 

Hello, I am Evan J Lawson, a composer, conductor, and artistic leader dedicated to creating new and unique musical experiences.

My work aims to push the art form's boundaries, fostering joy and wonder, while building diverse and inclusive communities. Through my unique blend of ancient and modern influences, I strive to bring in new audiences and keep classical music vibrant and relevant.

My practice encompasses a Western art music composition focus alongside a performance-led conducting and curation practice.

I aim for my music to be idiomatic and approachable for the performer while still pushing the sonic possibilities and potential of the instrument and musical material.

I am particularly interested in presenting a flow and transfer of energy and emotion in my music. To achieve this I focus on contrasting movement between static and hyperactive textures; often with intricate polyphony and timbers alongside motionless, slow-changing textures.

I am most interested in exploring how humanity has tried to make sense of itself. I have explored this idea through a series of works that investigate the myths and social practices of the ancient world in works such as Labyrinth, Orpheus, Calypso, Peane from Hyacinth, series of works titled Sikinnis, Himeros & Threnoi, and the delicate ballet we all perform in contemporary life in works such as Vois and The Sea.

 
 

labyrinth

The sea

pierrot

vois

orpheus

calypso

orchestra, concertante & large ensemble music

chamber music

 

acousmatic

 

PERFORMANCE archive

conducting repertoire

 

collaborators

Writers Samuel Yeo; Jie Eccles; Nicole Butcher; Bridget Mackey; Christopher Bryant; Deborah Cheetham; Daniel Szesiong Todd;

Designers Jane Noonan; Candice MacAllister; Rachel Horgan; Gabe Bethune;

Stage Directors Greg Eldridge; Stephanie Osztreicher; Geordie Brookman; Kate Millett; Gail Edwards;

Dancers & choreographers Ashley Dougan; Jesse Matthews;

Visual artists Anne Lawson; Lucy Fekete, Katherine Phillimore; Fiona Lawson; Geoff Lawson;

Cabaret sensation Danielle Asciak;

Singer-song-writers Addison; Max Lawrence; Holcombe Waller; Girl Whatever;

Composers May Lyon; Alex Turley; Julie Herndon; Caroline Louise Miller; Yair Klartag; Samuel Smith; Andrew Aronowicz; William Cooper; Elliott Gyger; Micah Thompson; Luke Paulding; Dan Thorpe; Lisa Illean; Brett Dean; Kym Alexandra Dillon; Dylan Lardelli; Cat Hope; Philip Venables;

Conductors Patrick Burns; Sam Weller; Jacinta Ewers; Nicole Marshall; Andrew Groch; Gloria Gamboz; Brett Dean;

Companies Forest Collective, Australia; Monash University Choral Society, Australia; Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, France; Density512, USA; Prismatx Ensemble, USA; Midsumma Festival, Australia; Play On, Australia; Bendigo Festival of Exploratory Music, Australia; Victorian Opera, Australia; Abbotsford Convent, Australia; Tacet(i) Ensemble, Thailand; BK Opera, Australia; Homophonic, Australia; Melbourne Baroque Orchestra, Australia; Stonnington Symphony, Australia.

Repetiteurs Dean Skye Lucas; Phillipa Safey;

Pianist Danaë Killian;

Singers Lotte Betts-Dean; Aleise Bright; Justine Anderson; Daniel Szesiong Todd; Jill Suzanne Morgan; Deborah Cheetham; Teresa Ingrilli; Dimity Shepherd; Amanda Windred;

Harpists Jacinta Dennett; Jessica Fotinos; Catherine Ashley, Samantha Ramirez; Marshall Maguire; Hannah Lane;

Percussionists Crystal Chu; Peter Neville; Zela Papageorgiou;

Violinists Helen Bower; Isabel Hede; Sara Saraski;

Cellists Rosanne Hunt;

Double Bassists Rebecca Scully; Ian Crossfield;

Flutists Naomi Johnson; Kim Tan;

Recorder Ryan Williams;

Clarinettists Vilan Mai; Ashley Smith; Ryan Lynch;

Saxophonists Sarah Hetrick; Ali Fyffe; Nicholas Yates; Jesse Dean; Jessica Voigt-Page; Ryan Lynch;

Trombonist Trea Hindley;

Horn Phoebe Smithies;

Publications CutCommon; Classikon; Limelight; Music Makers for the Australian National Academy of Music; Victorian Opera.