Deborah Cheetham will be the new curator of the Canberra Symphony Orchestra’s Australian Series, held at the National Portrait Gallery. The award-winning Yorta Yorta soprano and composer – who was voted Australian Artist of the Year 2019 by Limelight‘s critics – will take over from the Australian Series’ inaugural curator Matthew Hindson.

“I cannot wait to welcome audience members back to this series,” Cheetham told Limelight. “Australian chamber music has a style all of its own and this series provides an intense and intimate experience for players and audience members alike. With four new commissions, we will uncover hidden gems from the ever-growing cannon of Australian art music, as well as revisiting works of historical significance.”

Deborah Cheetham. Photo © Wayne Quilliam

“The CSO’s Australian Series is such an important vehicle for the amplification of the Australian narrative,” Cheetham said. “The arts, music in particular, are the most powerful way by which we may know and understand our belonging. For that reason, it is vital that our stories are told and that our composers have the freedom, opportunity and support to refine their own musical expression of what it is...