Led by the guiding hand of composer and conductor Evan J Lawson, Forest Collective is a dynamic force, orchestrated by a dedicated team of creative practitioners. We are committed to fostering connections within our artistic community, embracing a multi-disciplinary approach that distils the essence of our elevator pitch: artists who engage with cross-art-form collaborations, creating authentic and unexpected experiences.

Since our inception in 2009, born from the minds of Victorian College of the Arts students, we have metamorphosed from a conventional classical-art-music ensemble, into a dynamic company of artists from a diversity of disciplines. At our core, we celebrate Art Music in all its contemporary, adventurous, and playful forms. 

In 2019, we expanded our horizons by bringing dance to the forefront of our creative tapestry with the appointment of Artistic Associate Ashley Dougan. 

Our journey has been marked by sold-out performances at renowned venues such as the Melbourne Recital Centre, La Mama Court House, National Gallery of Victoria, Abbotsford Convent,  and Burrinja Cultural Centre. We are regulars on the program for the likes of the Metropolis New Music, Midsumma, and Melbourne Fringe Festivals. Since 2013, Forest Collective has had the pleasure of being a company in residence at Abbotsford Convent.

Our diverse repertoire of past seasons includes the world premiere of Evan J Lawson, choreographer Ashley Dougan, and designer Jane Noonan's epic dance-opera Orpheus. We have also delighted audiences with outdoor music spectacles at Heide Museum of Modern Art alongside Diimpa, embarked on intriguing journeys like Kym Alexandra Dillon’s Australian Art Music Award nominated Diapsalmata, Michael Bakrencev's The Virtuous Woman with the Watermelon, and revelled in the pop-music brilliance of Addison's fluttering hearts // thinking machines.

Recent performances also include the world premiere seasons of Evan J Lawson’s Green Room Award-nominated opera The Sea in collaboration with BK Opera and the immersive multi-room dance opera Labyrinth, to a libretto by Daniel Szesiong Todd, with choreography by Ashley Dougan, costumes by Jane Noonan and lighting by Gabe Bethune

From Lisa Illean's mesmerising And the black sea, breaks... to Max Lawrence's chamber-pop gem’s Chlorophyll and Fountain, we embrace the unique and unexpected. Our digital reimagining of Pierrot Lunaire, complete with an electronic reinterpretation by Naarm-Melbourne DJ, Girl Whatever,  gave us an opportunity to re-imagine what we are capable of, and experiment with digital works, separate from archival footage. Alex Turley's Biome, Dan Thorpe's intimate portrait concert Emo Phase including the world premiere of Lampi by Cat Hope, the Naarm-Melbourne premiere of Gerard Grisey’s epic Four Songs to Cross the Threshold, a staging of Benjamin Britten’s opera Curlew River and cabaret queen Danielle Asciak's exploration of rock chanteuse Nico have all showcased our adventurous programming.

We’d like to extend a huge debt of gratitude to the huge number of artists who have contributed to Forest Collective over the years.

You can see a full list here.