2025 BackStage Music Internship

BackStage Music is excited to announce the launch of a new internship program, providing an exceptional opportunity for individuals to gain hands-on experience with a leading grassroots experimental art music producer and presenter.

The internship offers valuable exposure to the operations of a successful independent arts organization, including season and production planning, budgeting, artist management, marketing, funding development, community and cultural policy, event production, and stage management. Interns will focus primarily on production tasks, assisting in the planning and execution of events, with responsibilities tailored to their skills and interests.

Additionally, each intern will have the opportunity to develop and present a short experimental music project, as part of BackStage Music’s 2025 season. Under the guidance of Artistic Director Lamorna Nightingale and Creative Producer Damian Barbeler, interns will be mentored through both the creative and practical aspects of producing their work, culminating in a live performance at a BackStage event.

Applicant Attributes

In 2025, BackStage has offered two intern positions. These applicants were sought as they both demonstrated having an enthusiastic energy towards developing and presenting their own independent music work as part of a future professional practice. They are broadly interested in some aspect of experimental music-based art practice which may include exploring new sounds, forms of presentation, new technologies, interarts etc, or have a genuine interest in moving in that direction as one aspect of a future career in music. The applicants have an understanding of spreadsheets and communication skills suitable for client-facing interactions with both artists and audiences and for the creative component of the internship the applicants also have experience in developing creative art ideas.

Introducing…

Aidan Eccleshall

As an emerging composer living in the Inner West, Aidan is excited to participate in the Backstage Music Internship program. He is passionate about new music and experimental composition and fostering creative environments for artists. Aidan is in his final year of a Bachelor of Music, studying composition at the Conservatorium of Music and is a clarinettist and music teacher. His music is inspired by both improvised and classical styles, as well as mixed media art and ‘extramusical elements’. He looks forward to meeting and learning from new composers and performers and supporting the team at Backstage Music.

Imogen Hamer

Imogen is a contemporary music student focusing on composing, recording and producing rock with elements of experimentation and improvisation. Guitar is her main instrument and traditional fingerpicking her preferred playing style, coming from her love of folk music. She believes that wide listening and the appreciation of disparate and distinct musical forms and traditions is the path to making the most interesting and worthwhile work and it's this value that draws her to BackStage Music. Imogen is enthused to learn more about the practical ways innovative and experimental music is supported, curated and developed, as well as contribute to these processes herself. She's also excited by the opportunity to learn from excellent and experienced musicians through the internship program's mentoring aspect, as well as through discussion and collaboration. She hopes to not only develop hands-on skills and experience for her artistic practice, but be inspired through this program, fostering a richer understanding of music-making and creative possibilities that she will carry long-term.