Omega Ensemble is launching its 2026 season with a clear statement of intent. The three-city Starburst tour, running February 12-18, balances familiar repertoire with a commissioned world premiere, demonstrating the artistic ambition that has earned the ensemble recognition as one of Australia's most forward-thinking classical groups.
The centrepiece is Lachlan Skipworth's A Turning Sky, a new double concerto for clarinet and trumpet written specifically for Omega's Artistic Director David Rowden and guest artist David Elton, Principal Trumpet of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Commissioning substantial new works represents significant financial and artistic risk for a chamber ensemble, but also creates the distinctive programming that sets Omega apart from more conservative groups.
Skipworth's track record suggests the commission should deliver. His compositional voice moves comfortably between accessible melody and technical complexity, what Rowden describes as shifting "from sweet, singable melodies to dazzling, colourful flourishes." This range makes him an ideal choice for a work pairing two virtuoso soloists, allowing both instruments moments of lyrical beauty alongside displays of technical prowess.
The pairing of Rowden and Elton brings together two artists at the top of their fields. Elton's international experience performing with the London Symphony Orchestra, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, and New York Philharmonic establishes his credentials beyond any doubt, while his dual roles as performer and educator at both the Royal College of Music and Australian National Academy of Music demonstrate commitment to developing the next generation of brass players.
The supporting program frames the new work intelligently. Shostakovich's Concerto No. 1 for Piano, Trumpet and Strings provides explosive energy, the composer's characteristic blend of classical form, jazz influences, and streetwise wit. The concerto's unusual instrumentation, with trumpet and piano as equal soloists, creates a natural thematic connection to Skipworth's new work while showcasing Omega's pianist Vatche Jambazian stepping into the spotlight as soloist.
Gerald Finzi's Clarinet Concerto offers contrasting lyricism and pastoral serenity. This 20th century masterwork gives Rowden the opportunity to demonstrate the expressive possibilities of his instrument in repertoire that demands both technical control and deep musical sensitivity. The concerto's tender beauty provides a necessary respite between the more aggressive works surrounding it.
Jessie Montgomery's Starburst opens the program with a genre-bending approach that combines jazz, folk, and classical elements. The GRAMMY Award-winning composer's work has become increasingly prominent on concert programs internationally, her music offering accessible entry point into contemporary composition without sacrificing artistic substance. The piece's vibrant energy sets an appropriate tone for a concert celebrating new musical directions.
The three-city tour demonstrates Omega's commitment to reaching audiences beyond Sydney's established classical music scene. Performances at Newcastle City Hall and Melbourne Recital Centre alongside Sydney's City Recital Hall ensure the new commission receives multiple hearings in acoustically excellent venues.
Rowden's description of the 2026 season as marking "a bold new direction for Omega Ensemble, one that invites audiences to listen with curiosity and discover beauty in the unexpected" positions the group within ongoing conversations about how classical music remains relevant. The challenge facing all chamber ensembles is balancing the familiar repertoire that sustains subscription audiences with new work that demonstrates living artistic vitality.
Starburst offers the rare opportunity to hear a major new Australian work in its world premiere performances, while experiencing it within a thoughtfully constructed program set inside the broader chamber music tradition.
Dates and venues:
City Recital Hall Sydney, Thursday February 12th, 7:00pm
Newcastle City Hall, Friday February 13th, 7:00pm
Melbourne Recital Centre, Wednesday February 18th, 7:00pm
Tickets and more info: https://www.omegaensemble.com.au/starburst
(Images: Top-Laura Manariti; David Rowden-Jordon Munns; David Elton-Yamaha Instruments)
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