2MBS Fine Music Sydney is thrilled to announce its 2026 Artists in Residence and Scholars, a dynamic cohort of exceptional artists selected for their outstanding creativity, artistic excellence and commitment to advancing Australia’s musical landscape. This year’s group represents the best of emerging and established talent across both classical and jazz performance and composition.
The 2026 Jazz Artist in Residence is acclaimed guitarist and composer Hilary Geddes, one of the most distinctive improvising voices in Australia today. Leader of the celebrated Hilary Geddes Quartet, she is known for her cinematic soundscapes and freewheeling improvisations. “I am truly honoured to be the 2MBS Fine Music Artist in Residence for 2026… I’m really looking forward to developing new work at Fine Music’s dedicated rehearsal and studio space, how thrilling,” she says.
The 2026 Classical Artists in Residence, Hourglass Ensemble, bring over a decade of artistic innovation to the program. Co-founded by clarinetist Andrew Kennedy and flutist Ewa Kowalski, with pianist Anna Rutkowska-Schock as a core member, the ensemble has premiered 49 Australian works and performed nearly 100 concerts, including 25 appearances in the Sydney Opera House Utzon Room. They note: “This residency offers us an invaluable opportunity to expand our reach through live performances, debut broadcasts and recordings of commissioned works.”
Chosen from an impressive field of eight high-calibre applicants, jazz vocalist Steph Russell has been awarded the Ken Weatherley Jazz Scholarship. Russell is a genre-blending musician whose sound fuses soul, folk and contemporary jazz with warmth and originality. A Generations in Jazz Vocal Scholarship winner and Sydney Conservatorium graduate, she has collaborated with renowned Australian and international artists including Kate Ceberano, Vanessa Amorosi, Jazzmeia Horn and Patti Austin. With a new album of original music set for release in 2026, Russell says: “I am absolutely stoked and honoured to receive this scholarship! My ongoing relationship with 2MBS Fine Music will play an important role in supporting the release of my upcoming album and helping to connect my music with engaged Sydney audiences and the wider contemporary jazz community.”
The Stefan Kruger Scholarship is awarded to classical composer Ben Robinson, whose music, described by Limelight as full of “fun and fury”, is known for its thrilling, playful and reflective energy. His works have been commissioned by leading organisations including Omega Ensemble, ANAM and the Sydney Opera House, and performed by major orchestras such as the TSO, AYO and Ensemble Offspring. A sought-after arranger, he has reimagined works for artists including Lime Cordiale and Jess Hitchcock. Robinson shares: “I’m thrilled to receive the Stefan Kruger Scholarship… This project is a chance to share my music more directly and reach new audiences through Fine Music and my first digital release.”
Click HERE for more information about the Stefan Kruger Scholarship.
The Class of 2026 represents a vibrant new chapter for Fine Music Sydney, highlighting the breadth and ambition of Australia’s contemporary musical voices.