Ella Macens is rapidly becoming one of Australia’s most distinctive and celebrated musical voices. Frequently commissioned by major orchestras and ensembles across Australia and abroad, her music fuses the lyricism of her Latvian heritage with the vibrancy of contemporary classical and popular styles. Her deeply evocative sound world has earned her growing recognition for its warmth, clarity and emotional immediacy.
Macens’ works have been performed by the Sydney, Melbourne, Tasmanian and Canberra Symphony Orchestras, the Flinders and Goldner Quartets, the Australian Haydn Ensemble, Omega Ensemble, Ensemble Apex, The Song Company and the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs, among many others. Internationally, her music has been heard with the Ulster Orchestra, State Choir Latvija, Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra and Riga Cathedral Girls’ Choir.
Current commissions include a new work for the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra in celebration of the 50th anniversary of ABC Classic, and a new work for the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Internationally, Macens is preparing to travel to Latvia for the European premiere of her wind symphony ‘Cloud Magic’, and to San Francisco for the performance of her orchestral work ‘The Space Between Stars’ with the San Francisco Symphony, to be conducted by Simone Young AM.
A graduate of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, where she now teaches composition, music theory and aural skills, Macens has been selected for numerous national development programs, including Composing Women (Sydney Conservatorium of Music) and the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra Australian Composers’ School. Her orchestral works have received wide acclaim, with her Sydney Symphony Orchestra commission Release named a finalist in the 2023 APRA AMCOS Art Music Awards (Work of the Year: Large Ensemble).
Drawing inspiration from Baltic choral traditions and Australian soundscapes, Macens’ music celebrates the intersection of cultures and the shared emotional power of song. Her achievements have been recognised by the World Federation of Free Latvians, the Latvian Federation of Australia & New Zealand, and Fine Music FM’s Young Composer Award, affirming her position as one of Australia’s most promising creative voices.
