Lullabies for a modern world

About the concert

The performance on 24 October will feature 30 short works by 17 Australian composers, ranging from personal lullabies written for family to pieces commissioned specially for this project.

'Several, like those written by Don Kay for my own children, were composed to mark a birth and hold profound personal meaning. For some families, this concert will be the very first time they hear their child’s lullaby performed,' Vanessa says.

A long-time champion of Australian music whose career has taken her from Tasmania to Paris and beyond, Vanessa has relished this rare chance to work closely with the composers of the works she'll be performing.

‘Do they like the speed I have chosen, how did they want a particular phrase or indeed what is the feeling behind the piece? Usually as a classical musician we don’t get this chance to chat with our composer,’ she says.

Book now for The Australian Lullaby Project performed by Vanessa Sharman in the TSO Studio on 24 October 2025.

‘At a time when the world seems in need of comfort, the lullaby feels like the perfect vessel for solace,’ Vanessa says.

‘The music ranges from dreamy to improvisatory, but always carries a sense of tenderness and love. My wish is that listeners feel a deep sense of peace – an alignment with nature, a quiet moment of rest.’

‘In a busy world, these lullabies offer a chance for the soul to be calmed and the mind to dream,’ Vanessa adds.