PAST COMMISSIONS
100 Women 100 Stories is an uplifting choral celebration of women's stories. Sung by 100 local women, it was written by 6 female Australian composers: Jessica O’Donoghue, Olivia Bryant, Pru Montin, Audrey Ormella, Leahannah Ceff, Aija Draguns
During the 2020 lockdowns, The House That Dan Built spoke to 100 women from around Australia. They shared stories of resilience, connection to community, and reflections on their lives.
The recorded interviews were given to six award-winning Australian female composers who wove those stories into a one-hour moving and poignant choral experience.
100 Women is touring in Victoria and NSW in 2025, and to Queensland in 2026.
100 WOMEN
REVERENCE
REVERENCE, the 2022 House Commission, is a Requiem for Piano and Voice, is a story of grief told through song. REVERENCE is part Requiem, part modern opera; and something entirely new. Performed in the round, this singular and intense debut work combines piano, percussion, six solo voices and a chorus to create an emotionally charged, bold and layered work. REVERENCE is the first major work by Rose Riebl, one of Australia’s most exciting pianists and composers, and is currently in talks for touring in 2026.
BAGATELLE
Inspired by experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic and the huge challenges that isolation brought to musicians, The House presents BAGATELLE. This project was a 2021 House Commission to showcase a series of micro-compositions written by The House ensemble in collaboration with celebrated composer and pianist Sally Whitwell. This work celebrates choral voice, the return to live music, and the human connection of singing together.
BAGATELLE scores are used as music educational resources.
EMERGENCE
Emergence is the 2024 House Commission, composed by Dr Felicity Wilcox and in collaboration with librettist Alana Valentine, featuring vocal performances from The House ensemble.
Emergence draws inspiration from Dr Wilcox’s research into the experiences of women and/or gender diverse music creators, then translates and metabolizes these authentic voices into a dynamic work of musical art using sonic experimentation, text manipulation, and narrative dramaturgy.
Emergence has received ARC funding, and is in its 3rd of 5 years of development.
FEMINATA CONTROLLATA MACHINA
The House Commission for 2023, Feminata Controllata Machina is an electronic opera exploring the possibilities, fears and potential threats surrounding the emerging epoch of artificial intelligence, deep-fake technology and the potentially omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent algorithms of global social-media and technology companies.
Six emerging artists collaborated with Donna Hewitt and Danielle O’Keefe to build skills, interrogate a concept and create two contrasting vocal works that harness the creative possibilities of emerging-technologies.
THE HOUSE THAT DAN BUILT
The House that Dan Built is a not-for-profit, female focussed Australian Arts association, with the mission to raise girls voices and advance women's careers.
The House is a visionary force that creates unique experiences to change the world and advance the culture of the Australian arts scene.
OUR SUPPORT
RESEARCH
Publishing while Female. Are women held to higher standards. Evidence from peer review.
Erin Hengel. November 2019
The future is female? Examining the prevalence and portrayal of girls and teens in popular movies.
Dr. Stacy L. Smith. Dr Katherine Pierper. Marc Choueiti, Artur Tofan, Anne-marie Depauw and Ariana Case.
November 2017.
How women undersell their work.
Marc J. Lerchenmueller, Olay Sorenson, Anupan B. Jena. December 2019.
LETTERS OF SUPPORT
Letters of support from past commissioned composers on the impact of the commission on their practice and careers, and from partner organisations
SUPPORT
