TSO House Launched

The Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra has announced the launch of TSO House, a new publishing venture initiated by the orchestra to take Tasmanian music further afield.

TSO House will showcase works by contemporary Tasmanian composers including Jabra Latham and Maria Grenfell (both familiar names to TSO audiences online and in the concert hall), earlier Tasmanian composers like John Gough, as well as package and market TSO-produced family shows and its extensive library of education and community music resources.  Tasmanian music will be available for hire to orchestras, youth orchestras, community ensembles and schools around the world.

Expected to play a role in nurturing early career composers, TSO House will provide support and encouragement to the Australian Composer’s School – recently recognised with the inaugural ‘Luminary Award’ at the 2020 APRA AMCOS Art Music Awards – as well as work with locally-based composers writing for the TSO as part of its ongoing commissioning program.

Orchestra Librarian and TSO House project team member David Harvey said: “We launch this year with a few works but have over fifty on our release schedule to roll out during 2021-2022.  I believe that TSO House can rescue some Tasmanian works from obscurity as well as promote our established composers who do not have representation from a publishing house.”

The TSO is committed to recognising Tasmanian composers – past and present – and TSO House will provide a platform for international access and exposure.

TSO CEO Caroline Sharpen said: “TSO House is such an exciting venture for us.

It will be a platform for Tasmanian music and showcase the richness and depth of artistry here on our island.

We can’t wait to bring this music forward through TSO House and to be an ambassador for our composers, arrangers and producers to the rest of the world.”

Tasmanian-born and based composer Jabra Latham will be TSO House’s foundation composer, with the release of his work SOLO for clarinet.

Jabra Latham – Graduating with first-class honours in classical saxophone performance in 1999, Jabra’s studies at the Tasmanian Conservatorium of Music, The Australian National Academy of Music and the Rascher Mastercourse in Germany have enabled him to work with a number of exceptional saxophonists. These include Barry Cockcroft, Marie-Bernadette Charrier, Margery Smith and Christine Rall.

Awarded a Churchill Fellowship in 2006, Jabra visited the USA, The Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Switzerland and France investigating practices in classical saxophone teaching and performance. Meeting with a number of world’s leading saxophonists Jabra took the opportunity to perform, observe, attend conferences, participate in masterclasses. He aims to continue working and performing in Tasmania, providing expert support for students and encouraging and presenting accessible Australian music.

Currently Jabra divides his time between performing, instructing in saxophone at the Tasmanian Conservatorium of Music and Friends School.