Work TBA
Composed for Braden Simm
Commissioned by the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM) as part of the ANAM Set 2027 and written for Braden Simm, to be premiered during ANAM’s 2027 recital season.
The 2027 ANAM Set commissions are supported by the Anthony and Sharon Lee Foundation.
About the composer:
Sophie Van Dijk is an emerging Sydney-based composer who writes music to offer reflection on the world around her, inspired by community, nature, friendship, and faith.
Sophie has been selected for mentoring programs including Omega Ensemble’s CoLAB, ICEBERG New Music Institute (USA), AYO NMC Composers Stream, Ku-ring-gai Philharmonic Orchestra Composer Workshop, Gondwana National Choral School and Coro Innominata Women Composers’ Development Program. She has also partnered with visual artists, most notably on the short film, Merge.
Sophie’s works have been performed in Australia and internationally by Omega Ensemble, the Rhythm Method, TOPS Orchestra, Penrith Symphony Orchestra, Ensemble MUSE, Ensemble Terra, Radford College, Queenwood School, Trinity Grammar, Coro Innominata, and The Resonants.
In 2025, Sophie received the Jenny Bounds Young Composer Prize from Penrith Symphony Orchestra to commission and perform her new work Sunset Edge. Her new choral work The Whisper of the Dying Stream was premiered at the National Museum of Australia at the Australian River Restoration Centre’s “Riversong” Concert.
Sophie also has extensive experience in copying and orchestration, development, music administration and curation, and composition teaching. Sophie is currently composer-in-residence at Monte Sant’ Angelo Mercy College. She also works as an orchestrator, copyist and music librarian with Jigsaw Music. Sophie has contributed to a variety of live, film and television projects including “Strictly Baz Luhrmann” (Opera Australia), “Butterfly Effect” (Jessica Wells, WA Ballet), “The Cape” (Michael Yezerski, STAN), “The Artful Dodger” (Antony Partos, Disney+), “In The Mood For Love In Concert” (Extent Entertainment, Sydney Opera House).
Sophie holds a Bachelor of Music (Composition) with first class honours from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.
Photo credit: Esther Maria Lukins, supplied by composer.