ARTIST DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

Sonic Futures

Sonic Futures identifies and presents the next generation of Australian jazz stars. Each highlighted musician received individualized support for their chosen project.

Sam Gill

2022

Sam Gill is a saxophonist, improviser & composer based in Sydney, Australia. He leads the groups Coursed Waters & Scattered, is a member of the composer-performer collectives Mind on Fire & Microfiche, and has duo projects with electric bassist Joseph Franklin and drummer Simon Barker.

Sam was a recipient of SIMA’s Emerging Composers Mentorship in 2022, and has been nominated for the Freedman Jazz Fellowship in 2020 and 2021.

In 2021, SIMA presented Sam’s project ‘Cerulean Plume’ as part of Freedman Jazz Now. He interned at the Orange Winter Jazz Festival, showing distinguished leadership skills.

Microfiche toured regional NSW in July 2022, as part of SIMA’s Regional Touring Program.

Artist Website

Lachlan Hamilton

2021

Hailing from a small community on Scotland Island, Sydney, Lachy Hamilton began playing the piano at the age of four. Taking up the clarinet, and then saxophone soon after, his musical journey has taken him around the world – performing with the likes of James Morrison, Wycliffe Gordon, James Muller, and The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.

In March 2019, He released his debut album ‘Alchemy’, inspired by Paolo Coelho’s novel The Alchemist.

During 2021, SIMA presented and recorded Lachy’s new project JAHL HESHI at Jazz: NOW Winter. The quartet toured NSW in 2022, as part of our Regional Touring Program.

Artist Website

Hilary Geddes

2021

Originally from Griffith, Sydney-based guitarist and composer Hilary Geddes is an emerging star of the Australian scene.

In 2021 SIMA produced her solo project Upstream, Down River – commissioned by TURA New Music’s No Borders program.

The performance was a mixed media exploration of part of Hilary Geddes’ childhood spent growing up on the Murrumbidgee River, and featured field recordings taken from the Nepean River, to create a sonic solo guitar work that reflects on themes of water as a connecting force, and its importance as a precious resource.

In 2022, SIMA toured her all-star quartet through regional NSW, as part of the Regional Touring Program.

Artist Website

Joshua Meader

2019

At 22 years of age and in his final year at the Sydney Conservatorium, virtuosic guitarist Joshua Meader is gaining recognition for his work as a soloist with national big bands such as the SCM Jazz Orchestra, recently featuring on the inaugural Trans-Tasman Youth Orchestra recording directed by Dave Theak and Dave Lisik (NZ). His music draws on range of styles including be-bop, hip-hop, groove-based/funk, contemporary jazz and popular music. His original compositions which are infused with odd-time signature grooves, improvisation and textural explorations.

Josh has an incredible YouTube presence, and has released studio recordings with his trio – featuring Alex Hirlian, and Matt Thomson.

Artist YouTube

Chloe Kim

2019

Chloe Kim’s interest in jazz and improvised music has been growing since she came to Australia in 2012. She developed her strength as a drummer whilst studying Jazz Performance at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music (2016 – 2019) and extended her studies into a Masters by Research (2020 – 2021).

She’s renowned for her work as a soloist.

Featured in the Jazz: NOW Summer program of 2019, SIMA presented KAY KAY DEE, an improvising trio that seeks dynamic language and energy interchange in their musical journey.

In the Winter program of the same year, SIMA presented JACHLO.

Artist Website