ANBOC 2026

This presentation explores ensemble direction and rehearsal technique with a central focus on the psychological component of group music-making. Drawing on years of practical experience, it aims to equip educators and conductors with strategies to foster cohesive ensemble culture, draw out individual student strengths, and — most importantly — ensure that every rehearsal is meaningful and worth attending.
At some stage, most musicians will step into a conducting role with an ensemble. Yet despite our musical training, the highly specialised skills required to rehearse effectively, motivate students, and manage the group dynamic are rarely part of formal education. The result? Rehearsals that lack impact, disengaged students, and missed musical potential.
This session offers practical, research-informed strategies to:

• Create a strong ensemble culture built on trust and accountability
  
  
  
• Harness the individual strengths of each student
  
  
  
• Structure rehearsals that students genuinely look forward to
  
  
  
• Navigate the growing pressures on student time and wellbeing
  
  
  
• Develop habits that lead to consistent musical growth
  
  
  

These tools are adaptable across all ensemble types and age groups, and are particularly relevant in today’s time-poor climate, where every minute of every rehearsal must count.

TBA

When young musicians first encounter the concept of dynamics, it’s usually presented in very simple terms: piano means quiet, and forte means loud. While that definition is technically correct, it barely scratches the surface of what dynamics are actually for. If we stop there, we’re missing an opportunity to help students discover one of the most expressive elements in music.


Dynamics aren’t just about volume. They’re about energy, character, atmosphere, and emotion. They help shape the music’s message—its personality—and they’re essential to building meaningful performances. The earlier we shift away from a black-and-white view of dynamics and explore their expressive possibilities, the more confident and artistic our students will become.

Developing a distinctive musical voice is one of the most exciting—and often the most challenging—parts of being a young composer. Many emerging writers find themselves caught between imitation and originality, unsure how to balance the music they love with the music they want to create. This session explores practical, accessible ways for young composers to discover and shape their individual style, while giving educators the tools to better support the next generation of creative musicians.


Presented from the perspective of an 19-year-old emerging Australian composer, this workshop-style session examines the processes, habits, influences, and experiences that contribute to the development of a personal compositional identity. Participants will explore the “building blocks” of voice—including harmony, melody, rhythm, colour, and emotional intention—and learn how patterns in a composer’s early works can reveal the beginnings of their unique sound.


The session also addresses the common challenges young composers face: navigating strong influences, resisting self-comparison, taking creative risks, and writing authentically within their technical abilities. It will also cover practical strategies that can be used in classrooms, composition lessons, ensemble programs, and independent creative work.


Drawing on examples from contemporary band, orchestral, film, and game music, this presentation highlights the strengths young composers naturally bring to their writing—fearlessness, emotional honesty, technological fluency, and fresh stylistic perspectives. Educators will gain insights into how to nurture these traits, while young composers will walk away with a clearer understanding of how to identify, refine, and confidently express their own musical voice.


Ideal for music teachers, ensemble directors, composition tutors, and emerging composers, this session provides a positive, supportive, and inspiring roadmap for helping young musicians turn creativity into identity.