Pathfinders Music Leadership Program
Sofia Carbonara - 2023/24 Associate Artist. Photo Credit: Matt Lima Films
Sofia Carbonara announced as the
2023/2024 Pathfinder Associate Artist
Naarm-based percussionist Sofia Carbonara is a performance-maker across mediums. Their debut EP for solo vibraphone, On Names, was released on Alien Passengers in July 2023. Sofia designs collaborative, interdisciplinary works with artists in their community, including their mixed-chamber ensemble Virago, which have been presented by the Detroit Institute of Art, Great Lakes Chambers Music Festival, and University Music Society (UMS). Their short film Flight (2022) with Matt Lima Films interweaves their father discussing pleasure, culture, addiction, and a reoccurring dream of flying, with Sofia’s own music and actions.
Sofia is grant-writing professional, and previously served as Institutional Giving Associate for ArtOps, where they worked with small to medium sized arts nonprofits in Southeastern Michigan in grant-writing, reporting, and stewardship. With Virago they have co-facilitated free improvisation workshops for k-12 students.
Sofia received their Bachelor of Music in percussion from the University of Michigan, and is currently pursuing graduate studies at the University of Melbourne, Australia. Other studies include: AAO Creative Music Intensive, Banff Workshop for Jazz and Creative Music, Trinity Laban Colab Immersion, Bowdoin International Music Festival, and study of yoga and Carnatic music in Mysore, India.
Sofia is an Ecuadorian/Venezuelan American of Italian/German/Swiss descent born and raised in Buffalo, New York. They have previously lived in Ann Arbor and Detroit, Michigan.
AAO’s Artistic Director Aaron Choulai:
“Sofia is an immensely talented musician. Their depth of artistry and command of music, inspires in every musical gesture. Sofia’s connection to and understanding of the diverse and individual artistic languages in Australian creative music, and their enthusiasm to join our community and culture, is demonstrated by their recent move to Melbourne from Detroit. In addition, Sofia has a wealth of experience and knowledge working in arts organisations and possesses creative administrative skills well beyond their years. I, our team and board are delighted and energised to welcome Sofia to the Australian Art Orchestra as this year’s Associate Artist.”
AAO’s Executive Director Jasmine Moseley: “We are delighted at Sofia’s appointment. Over the past five years, the AAO’s Pathfinders Music Leadership Program has celebrated and nurtured a talented group of artists to enrich their practice and leadership potential. We look forward to working with Sofia and seeing them grow their multi-dimensional practice at the AAO, and are extremely proud of our program alumni who are testament to the pivotal nature of this opportunity.”
2023/24 Pathfinder Sofia Carbonara: “I am grateful to have the opportunity to make and think alongside Aaron, Jasmine, Jem, Helen and Jo -- along with the wider AAO community in and outside of Melbourne. Learning from and with the AAO, I hope to build new bonds with music I love in celebrating improvisation as a transcultural practice, and the creative music community as a global one.”
Sofia’s appointment commences October 2023. They are the fifth recipient of the Pathfinders Music Leadership program. Previous recipients are: Jasmin Wing-Yin Leung, Aviva Endean, Reuben Lewis, and Helen Svoboda.
More about Sofia Carbonara: sofiacarbonara.com.
Read the full press release here.
The Pathfinders Music Leadership Program is generously supported by The Ian Potter Foundation.
About the Pathfinder Program
The Pathfinders Music Leadership program offers a one-year, part-time Associate Artist role for an exceptionally talented emerging musician and future music leader with a practice in contemporary art music and improvisation.
The program provides an opportunity to gain insight into what is required to run a successful music ensemble, and to gain experience and skills to prepare the Associate Artist for future artistic leadership roles. Under the guidance of the Executive Producer, Artistic Director and other members of the AAO staff, the Associate Artist will be able to develop their artistic skills as a performer, ensemble director, arranger, composer and curator, whilst at the same time gaining experience as a producer and arts administrator.
The Pathfinders program was conceived first and foremost to assist talented musicians in their development as emerging leaders, yet the program also functions as an instrument for the AAO to increase its capacity to deliver its artistic program.
Helen Svoboda, Associate Artist 2020/2021: “The Associate Artist residency has propelled me towards a more sustainable and diverse career path in the arts. The opportunity to work closely as a part of this vibrant team during a time of great uncertainty has offered me a sense of resilience, security and long-term engagement in Australia’s leading contemporary arts organisation. My skill base has significantly expanded to include administrational knowledge in the areas of marketing and production, teamed with the opportunity to contribute to and perform in a variety of large-scale performances with master musicians. This engagement has launched me into new professional territory with a deeper perspective on what it means to be a successful Australian artist in the 21st Century.”
Reuben Lewis, Associate Artist 2019/2020: "The Pathfinders Program has been an invaluable opportunity to build lastings relationships, gain critical perspectives and hone new skills that will empower my artistic practice. The chance to work extensively with an arts organisation at the scale of the AAO both as a performing artist and active member of their organisation provided a uniquely supportive context that has guided me toward a new exciting phase in my career."
Aviva Endean, Associate Artist 2018/2019: “The Associate Artist role with the AAO has provided me with a rare offer of a long-term, supported engagement with a high-profile arts organisation and this experience has allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of the inner workings of an arts organisation, develop meaningful artistic relationships with other artists, and equip me with the skills I will require in future artistic leadership roles.”
Pathfinder Alumni
Watch AAO Associate Artists Aviva Endean (2018/19), Reuben Lewis (2019/20) and Helen Svoboda (2020/21) come together to discuss their experiences through the Pathfinders Music Leadership Program, the impact of the pandemic on the arts, and their current career trajectories ongoing. A conversation facilitated by Prof. Cat Hope, and proudly supported by The Ian Potter Foundation.