Muses Trio Her Australian Songbook: Meet the Composers

MUSES TRIO has announced Her Australian Songbook, a first-of-its-kind project celebrating the rich legacy of Australian women in songwriting and composition, bridging pop with the centuries-old tradition of chamber music through new piano trio arrangements. 

The initiative will commission emerging, mid-career and established Australian women composers to create original piano trio arrangements of classic Australian pop and rock songs written and performed by female artists, including Helen Reddy's "I Am Woman," Sia's "Chandelier," Missy Higgins, and Delta Goodrem's "Born to Try." The newly created works will be curated into a program for national touring in 2027 and recorded for a studio album, bringing new audiences to chamber music while breathing new life into songs already woven into Australia's musical identity.

Following a competitive nationwide callout, five emerging composers were selected to take part: Olivia Diamant, Rachel Hocking, Chiara Minotto, Alexandra Moutevelidis and Sarah Elise Thompson. Each will create an arrangement of a well-known Australian song - among them Kylie Minogue's "Can't Get You Out of My Head," Kate Ceberano's "Brave" and Jessica Mauboy's "Little Things" - under the mentorship of Sydney-based composer Dr Natalie Nicolas, working closely with Muses Trio.

On October 22 at 8pm AEDT (7pm AET in Qld!) Muses Trio will host a free 30-minute online event for AusArt Day 2026, "Meet the Composers," offering the public a rare window into the creative process behind Her Australian Songbook. Hosted by Isabella Gerometta, the session brings together all five emerging composers for a live conversation about their creative process, inspiration, and the stories behind each song choice, along with a personal introduction to who they are as artists. Attendees will get behind-the-scenes access to the project and a first look at the next generation of Australian women composers before they make their mark. Free tickets are available at here.

A preview of the project will have already reached audiences: Rachel Hocking's arrangement of "Brave" and Chiara Minotto's arrangement of "Little Things" premiered at the Bribie Island Nature Festival on October 11 as part of Yarunyung: The Next Wave: Cutting Edge First Nations designers with Muses Trio playing live in the festival finale event.

The public can support the project with a tax-deductible donation through two campaigns hosted by the Australian Cultural Fund (below) or email contact@musestrio.com to make a tax-deductible contribution directly to Muses Inc.’s bank account.

Her Australian Songbook - supporting mentoring, workshops and recording for the five emerging composers

Her Australian Songbook: Isabella Gerometta - supporting Gerometta's commission and recording of her arrangement of Sia's "Chandelier"