Emerging Concert Artist Series
High-impact performance opportunities for early-career musicians.
Launched in August 2022, the Emerging Concert Artist Series offers a platform for young musicians to develop their artistry through live performance. In partnership with St. Jude’s Bowral and Wollongong Art Gallery, this monthly series connects emerging artists with engaged audiences, fostering growth, exposure, and a vibrant future for Australian music.
The Emerging Concert Artists Series provides young musicians with the freedom to curate a concert without boundaries, encouraging innovative programming that includes the creation of new compositions and musical collaborations. Audiences are consistently surprised by the outstanding performances, often virtuosic, and by the depth and range of musicianship. The Emerging Concert Artists program fosters social connectivity and brings the shared joy of music to life in the broader community while supporting the journeys of young musicians.
What is the reason for programming these concerts? Is there a need?
To create more live performance opportunities for ECA.
To create more accessible concerts for the community, allowing them to discover and share the journey of Australia’s amazing young musicians, many of whom are world-class.
Connecting with local communities and performing to audiences who are going out to be entertained - young musicians are often performing for critical audiences and peers – to go into an environment where sharing the joy of music is the emphasis creates a different performance experience.
To connect ECA and the community. Our audiences are often surprised by the depth and range of musicianship and creativity they experience at our concerts. Young people are excited to present new music and or discover and present lesser-known composers, which expands the range of what audiences hear. This is particularly valuable in regional communities where access to innovative programming is limited.
Stepping stones to independent staging of concerts or invitations to further performances.
We program jazz and have also programmed contemporary folk and musical theatre; however a large focus is on young classical musicians, who may get experience performing in collective situations, such as orchestra, but lack the opportunities to curate concerts that represent and grow their artistic journey within the community.
Stay up-to-date
Event Information
St Jude’s Anglican Church, 38 Bendooley Street, Bowral NSW
When: First Wednesday of the month - February to December
Time: 1:15pm - 2pm
Entry: Donation
Wollongong Art Gallery, 46 Burelli St, Wollongong
When: First Thursday of the month (unless Thursday is the 1st) - February to December
Time: 11 am -12:30 pm
Entry: Free. Donations to cover artist fees are greatly appreciated.
Statistics
75
Emerging Concert Artists
(including the Verbugen Virtuoso, a String chamber ensemble of 15)
28
Young Artists,
7 were returning artists
26
Mentor Artists,
6 returned artists and a number performed more than twice
CollAb: Connecting Emerging Artists with Opportunities
As interest in our series grows, we’re increasingly asked to produce concerts and recommend emerging artists for performance opportunities. CollAb is our response to this demand, building on our mentoring model to help emerging musicians gain business experience and more performing opportunities.
We can help you find the right musician for your event, or we can assist an emerging artist in accessing performance opportunities.
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Since 2022, our connections and commitment have resulted in a significant number of engagements for emerging artists, including:
Opening of the Bowral Memorial Hall, 2023: Secured performances for two emerging artists.
Tulips After Dark, Bowral 2023 / 2024: Fielded four emerging artists each year to present a night of classical music in Corbett Gardens.
Highlands FM107.2 Artist of the Month: Featured one artist in 2023 and five artists (including one trio) in 2024.
Berima Vivace, 2024 / 2025: Secured one annual concert for emerging artists.
Angels in our Town Concert, Bowral 2024: Featured four emerging artists.
Sold-Out Concert at the Wesley Centre, Canberra - Birth and Rebirth: An Inspire-programmed concert (viola, harp, & cello) that highlighted artists with roots in Canberra.
Festival of Architecture and Design Partnership: Engaged three young jazz musicians in 2024 and the Alma Moodie Quartet for 2025.
Wollongong Friends of Community Music: Secured engagements for young artists to play for Council Functions, 2025 Awards Presentation Ceremony.
The View Club, Fundraiser to Support Smith Family Children (2025): Featured one emerging artist.
Horizontal Festival, Centennial Wines 2025: Secured performance for one emerging artist alongside one established artist.
Naidoc Week: Fostering Understanding and Reconciliation Through Music.
Music plays a deep and meaningful role in Indigenous culture in Australia. Our monthly Emerging Concert Artist Series coincides with NAIDOC Week, which aims to foster national understanding and reconciliation. We therefore dedicate our July concert to First Nation Artists.
It is an opportunity to connect with and share the aims of NAIDOC Week, and to celebrate culture through listening to stories shared through music.
