The Offcast: Conversations with musical mavericks

Ensemble Offspring•ensembleoffspring.com

Ensemble Offspring's Artistic Director Claire Edwardes chats to the musical mavericks and pioneers from close to home and across the globe. Often perceived as the outcasts in the world of classical music, it is these people who have brought much needed diversity to our musical landscape. In these punchy and upbeat interviews Claire finds out what makes her guests tick, asking them about their roots, inspiration to do things differently and innovative plans for the future.

Last refreshed: May 30th, 2026 at 11:03 AM ⓘ

Follow this podcast in the Metacast mobile app to refresh it and see new episodes.

Follow on

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

RSS

Podcasts are better in Metacast mobile app

Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more

Episodes

Kyla Matsuura-Miller: You can’t be what you can’t see

Tokyo-born and Melbourne-raised violinist Kyla Matsuura-Miller talks about winning the 2021 Freedman Classical Fellowship, BIPOC representation in music and those necessary awkward moments... Since graduating from the ANAM in 2018, violinist Kyla Matsuura-Miller has more than established her place at the table in the Australian cultural scene. Kyla is the 2021 Freedman Classical Fellowship recipient and has won awards including the Homophonic Pride Prize. She is currently collaborating with Inve...

May 23, 2022•37 min

Catherine Haridy: The new Australian Music Centre CEO

Newly appointed CEO of the Australian Music Centre, Catherine Haridy talks about publishing rights, giving music a longer lifespan and being more ‘popular’. Cath manages and has been A&R for some of Australia's most successful artists. Prior to being CEO at the Australian Music Centre, she has actively advocated for managers and their artists as the Executive Director of the Association of Artist Managers (AAM), as well as being a former Board Member and Chairperson. She is currently a Board...

May 23, 2022•35 min

Eliza Shephard: Hatched Associate Artist 2022

Emerging flautist, educator and researcher Eliza Shephard talks about growing up regionally, the extended flute, her bold recording project and being Ensemble Offspring’s 2022 Hatched Associate Artist. Eliza Shephard is a vibrant performer and fervent contemporary musician in Melbourne. She is a specialist on the Glissando Headjoint, and a highly sought-after chamber musician. She is a semi-finalist for the ABC Young Performers Award and a finalist of the Freedman Fellowship 2021. Eliza is passi...

May 16, 2022•41 min

Julian Day: Infamous broadcaster speaks from abroad

UK-based Australian composer, artist, and writer/broadcaster Julian day talks about reconsidering classical music traditions, interactive music and his studies overseas. Julian Day treats sound as a powerful socio-political agent. Since 2007 they have co-facilitated Super Critical Mass, a radically inclusive orchestra project in which temporary communities of untrained participants develop sonic actions in civic spaces, drawing on aspects of emergence and game theory. Julian Day: https://www.jul...

May 16, 2022•45 min

Daniella Strasfogel: New music trends

Berlin violinist, performer and music mediator Daniella Strasfogel talks about musical identities, music for children and international new music trends. Through her years of development as an artist, Daniella has consistently sought to deepen her understanding of her body as a vessel for interpretation, through the instrument and the voice as well as through physicality of movement and gesture. She is a founding member of the Solistenensemble Kaleidoskop Berlin and was artistic director of the ...

May 09, 2022•41 min

Jane Sheldon: Soprano turns composer

Treasured Australian-American soprano and composer Jane Sheldon talks about transitioning from performer to composer and NOT composing a masterpiece. As both soprano and composer, Jane Sheldon creates and performs exploratory chamber music, and has established an international reputation for highly specialised contemporary opera and art music for voice. She has worked extensively with composers to create new works for voice. Described as “riveting” (New York Times), Jane’s compositions focus on ...

May 09, 2022•38 min

Nardi Simpson: Inspiring First Nations voice

Yuwaalaraay storyteller, performer and composer Nardi Simpson talks about First Nations voices and musical perspectives, and being Ensemble Offspring's 2021 composer in residence. Nardi Simpson's early music training at the Eora Centre in Redfern saw her begin a career as a musician, songwriter and performer with vocal duo Stiff Gins. She started composing for the Ngarra-Burria: First Nations Composers program, most recently creating -barra for Sydney Festival 2021. Her 2020 debut novel Song of ...

May 01, 2022•42 min

Jodie Blackshaw: Gender equity & colourful concert bands

Specialist windband composer, music educator and equality advocate Jodie Blackshaw talks about growing up as a female composer and her mission to share diverse wind band programs. Jodie grew up in the south-east of rural Australia and formed a very personal relationship with music early in life. Today, she continues to seek creative experiences for students so they, too, may enjoy the personal relationship she discovered in her formative years. In addition to composing and presenting music educa...

May 01, 2022•43 min

Introducing The Offcast

The Offcast is a podcast by Sydney's new music group Ensemble Offspring, and hosted by Artistic Director and international percussion powerhouse Claire Edwardes. In these punchy and upbeat interviews, Claire chats to musical pioneers from close to home (Australia) and across the globe to find out what makes them tick, asking them about their roots, their inspiration to change our musical landscape and their innovative plans for the future. Season 1 guests are: Jodie Blackshaw, Nardi Simpson, Jan...

Mar 15, 2022•4 min

Hosted on Spotify for Creators (Anchor)

For the best experience, listen in Metacast app for iOS or Android