Recording the next generation of Australian wind band music — for everyone

Australian Sounds is an initiative of the Castle Hill Wind Orchestras North West Wind Ensemble (NWWE) to record newly commissioned and existing Australian wind band repertoire, and release it freely for any band to use as a reference.

New Australian works usually only exist as computer-generated MIDI mock-ups — a poor substitute for hearing how a piece actually sounds with a full ensemble. That gap makes conductors hesitant to program new Australian music, and makes it harder for these works to even be considered as competition set pieces in the first place. Australian Sounds exists to close that gap: professional, ensemble-recorded references that let composers' work be heard properly, and let bands across Australia prepare with confidence.

Because professional recording is a significant undertaking, we run the initiative once every two to three years, with our next cycle scheduled for 2027.

Why it matters

For composers — a professional recording gives your work real presence: something conductors, panels, and audiences can actually hear, not just read on a page.

For bands — free, high-quality reference recordings of contemporary Australian repertoire, ready to use for programming and rehearsal preparation.

For the wider band community — more Australian music entering the competition and concert repertoire, and a growing, freely accessible library of recordings.

 

2022 - Australian Sounds Live

Recorded live at Knox Grammar School's Wenkart Theatre, our first cycle brought three brand-new works to the stage as world premieres:

  • Beyond the Lucent Portal — Jack Hwang

  • Primal — Jared McCunnie

  • Symphony #1 – H2O — Matt Klohs

It was our first attempt at bringing professional recording to new Australian repertoire — and the response from composers and bands alike told us we were onto something worth continuing.

 

2023 — A Celebration of Australian Publishers

Our second endeavour turned the spotlight onto three Australian music publishers, recording 21 compositions and arrangements graded 0.5–3.0 — repertoire written specifically for young and developing bands:

  • Thorp Music — 8 original compositions and arrangements

  • Tim Ferrier Music — 6 original compositions

  • Matt Klohs Music — 7 original compositions

 
 
 

2025 — A Showcase of Australian Composers

Our third endeavour brought together seven works spanning Grades 2.5 to 5 — from concert openers to challenging showcase pieces:

  • Rising From The Ashes: An Australian Elegy — Alan Lourens (Grade 2.5)

  • Abide With Me — Monk, arr. Mark Ford (Grade 3.5)

  • The Dark Ages — Mark Ford (Grade 3–3.5)

  • A Call For Celebration — Jack Raudys (Grade 2.5)

  • Vita Brevis (Life Is Short) — Matt Klohs (Grade 4)

  • A Most Phantastic Journey — Kara Williams (Grade 4)

  • In Darkness & Night — Daniel Dinh (Grade 5)