Anna Hirst Friedman

Bio

Anna Hirst Friedman is an Australian composer who completed her composition degree in Sydney before relocating to the UK, where she immersed herself in Indian classical music and composition. She studied the tabla and vocal intensively and toured internationally with the Middle Eastern band Rivers of Babylon. In recent years, Anna has returned to composing, creating a diverse body of work across orchestra, string quartet, chamber ensemble, song cycle and vocal music.

In 2024, Anna won the SJM portrait composition prize for the acclaimed classical group Notturno, known for their specialisation in traditional instruments. The commissioned work was premiered in June 2024, further fuelling her creative growth. Among her new compositions that year were The Eyes of a Child in Times of War, a string quartet, and Amidah: A Silent Prayer, a song cycle for tenor and piano.

The year 2025 marked an exciting period for Anna, with four performances, one commission and two grants awarded. Amidah: A Silent Prayer premiered in March at the Goethe Institute. Inspired by Jessica Chapnik Kahn’s poetry book MADRE, Anna created choral arrangements for several poems, which premiered in May 2025 at Sydney’s Poetica, as well as being performed at TEDx Sydney. Anna was a finalist for the Nexas inaugural saxophone competition. 

Anna and Jessica have now embarked on their first collaboration with their commissioned work The Fire Always Says Yes that debuted at the Sydney Opera House in October 2025. The piece was performed by the acclaimed Hourglass Ensemble, marking a significant milestone in Anna’s growing presence in the classical music world. She has been nominated for an Arts APRA award for this work. 

2026 continues Anna’s successes including a recording of her work for saxophone quartet Art of the Scott Sisters, and is shortlisted winner for Chorus Ecclesiae to write a new work based on Catholic Liturgy. Her work 48 Colours of the Full Moon Red.Kama will be premiered in Spain under the tutelage of world renowned  percussionist David Moliner. 

Anna continues to write music including solo works for piano and bassoon and a 2 minute orchestral work for the MSO community project. 

List of works

Chamber Ensemble

48 Colours of the Full Moon Red.Kama & Silver. Avidya
Marimba, Vibraphone, Cello, Violin, Flute, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, hand percussion 

Nino’s Journey
Traditional Flute, Viola, Guitar
Re-transcribed for Piano, Violin, Flute 

Song Cycle

The Fire Always Says Yes

Soprano, Piano, Harp, Cello, French Horn, Clarinet, Flute, Castanets, Snare Drum, Tubular Bells 

  1. The Fire Always Says Yes
  2. I Came To The Fire
  3. How is Your Fire?
  4. Real Hearts
  5. When The Fire Goes Out

Amidah A Silent Prayer

Tenor, Piano & Violin 

  1. A Silent Prayer
  2. If not now, when?
  3. 12 Names
  4. The Six Remembered
  5. A Lullaby of Grief
  6. Have No Say
  7. The Massacre
  8. Where Will We Go?
  9. Shattering,The Broken Shards 
  10. Reimagine

Afterwork

  1. Shiri
  2. Challenged, Complicated, Compromised
  3. 60 Days 

Love Quashes The Flesh

Solo Soprano & String Quartet 

Vocal Ensemble

  1. MADREThe First Seven Poems 
  2. Love Quashes The Flesh
  3. A Burning Bush
  4. Agnus Dei

Vocal Ensemble

  1. MADREThe First Seven Poems 
  2. Love Quashes The Flesh
  3. A Burning Bush
  4. Agnus Dei

String Quartet

  1. Undulating Forces Movement I. II
  2. The Eyes of a Child in Times of War

Saxophone Quartet

The Art of the Scott Sisters

  1. Transformations
  2. The scent of native flowers
  3. Butterflies and Moths
  4. Ash Island

Orchestral

  1. The Birthing