The work, “Auróra Musis Amíca: Fanfare for Canberra,” is inspired by Canberra’s Lake Burley Griffin and was commissioned by the Combined Canberra Grammar Schools Music Departments for the Festival and the Centenary of Canberra.

The composer is a Bachelor of Music (Jazz) graduate from the ANU School of Music  and the musical director for ConneXion Big Band.

Her work will be premiered on Sunday,  at the “Marion’s Child” concert, which features music by Stephen Leek, Karl Jenkins and  Frank Ticheli performed by The Song Company, skauhachi player Riley Lee, Ji Won Kim and a combined school choir conducted by Craig Woodland, Alpha Gregory, Peter Tregear and Richard Gill.

The title is a reference to Marion Mahoney Griffin’s comment that “we always felt this city was a child.”

Greenaway’s piece opens with a soundscape reminiscent of the dawn bursting over a still lake. It then unfolds into a  hopeful fanfare before fading back into a ‘wash of colour’ for the final bars.

She says she has been influenced  by Gustav Holst, Maria Schneider and Nigel Westlake and that the piece fuses elements of jazz and classical music.

Canberra International Music Festival, concert 26, “Marion’s Child,” at the Canberra Girls’ Grammar Senior School Hall, Melbourne Avenue Deakin, 1pm Sunday, May 19, bookings to 6275 2700 or tickets at the door.