top of page

Biography

Sebastian ‘Bas’ Allen (they/them) is a young aspiring musician based in nipaluna/Hobart. Bas performs regularly as a singer, clarinettist or conductor with several choral, orchestral and chamber ensemble at local, state and national levels. In 2025, Bas was a founding member and curator for Sonus Lux in their debut concerts ‘Resounding Light’ and for Dark Mofo’s ‘Sonus Lux x John Smeathers @ Night Mass’, and has curated several programmes for the Tasmanian Student Music Collective in their 2024/25 performances. Bas has worked as a freelance musician in several contexts, including as an instrumental soloist with JESSA Chorus, Singers of Southern Tasmania and Hobart Orpheus Choir, and has been commissioned as a composer by the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, VOX Collective, and Festival of Voices. Bas was Staff Choir Coach for the University of Tasmania’s ‘Uni Tunes’ choir in 2024/25, and has conducted the Hedberg Ensemble, SMC Chamber Players and Christ the King Cathedral Occasional Choir. At the University of Tasmania, Bas has completed a Bachelor of Music in Classical Performance (Clarinet) and Composition, and is undertaking Composition Honours in 2026

Full Artist Biography

Sebastian ‘Bas’ Allen (they/them) is an aspiring multi-field musician based in nipaluna/Hobart, engaging with several areas of the music industry as a clarinetist, composer, choral singer, and administrator. Across their practice, Bas strives to create an safe and inclusive environment whilst delivering upper calibre performances to a range of audiences. They aim to deliver meaningful performances and clear curations, with a desire to make contemporary music accessible to all.​

​

Bas has been involved with several ensembles across Tasmania as both a performing member and freelance musician including Allegri Ensemble, Hobart Chamber Orchestra, Hobart Wind Symphony, JESSA Chorus, Singers of Southern Tasmania, St. David’s Cathedral Choir, and the Tasmanian Youth Orchestra. Bas was also founding member of the Secret Orchestral Society and the Student Music Collective in 2023, an organisation that strives to provide orchestral and chamber performance opportunities to students at the University of Tasmania, of which they are now President.

​​

Bas has a particular passion for choral music. Their love of singing with others has led Bas to be engaged at a national level with the National Youth Choir of Australia and Gondwana Chorale, and was the founding curator and administrator of Hobart’s new professional vocal ensemble, Sonus Lux, in their inaugural season in May 2025. Bas also holds the position of Choral Scholar at St. David’s Cathedral in Hobart, and sang with the Christ the King Cathedral Choir (Ballarat) for 13 years.

​​

In their compositions, Bas strives to write music for the people they know and love, taking inspiration from a musician or ensembles favourite pieces to play or listen to, but also from their personality and Bas’ relationship to them. Bas’ music takes influence from minimalism, and contemporary choral music from around Australia and the world, with favourite composers including Ivo Antognini, Sally Whitwell, Joseph Twist, and Tõnu Kõrvits. Bas’ works has been performed by Allegri Ensemble, the Hedberg Ensemble, and the Secret Orchestral Society, they have been commissioned by the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, VOX Collective and Festival of Voices, and they are the 2026 Oriana Chorale Emerging Composer in Residence. Bas has recently entered the world of theatrical scoring, completing live, improvised and electronically produced compositions for UTAS’ 2025 production of ‘Letters from Animals by Kit Lazaroo, and Bad Theatre Company’s 2026 Season of ‘WITCH’ by Jen Silverman.

Professional Background

Bas' early career has been a flurry of activity across several areas of the music industry. This one-page snapshot aims to provide an overarching view of their experience with links to further detail about each area found below. â€‹â€‹

Performances

Bas has been engaged as a freelance performer in a variety of different contexts, including as a clarinetist, choral singer, vocal soloist, and scholar. 

​

Recent highlights include:

  • JESSA Chorus Instrumental Soloist (2023)

  • HM Studios Session musician (2025)

  • Sonus Lux Curator 'Resounding Light (2025)

  • SOST Guest Musician (2025)

  • St. David's Music Scholar (2025-present)

  • 'Uni Tunes' Choir Coach (2024-25)​

​

Bas' current ensemble engagements include:

  • Allegri Ensemble (TAS)

  • Gondwana Chorale (AUS)

  • Hedberg Ensemble (TAS)

  • National Youth Choir of Australia (AUS)

  • ​Sonus Lux (TAS)

  • St. David's Cathedral Choir ​(TAS)

  • Student Music Collective (TAS)

  • Tasmanian Youth Orchestra (TAS)

  • TYO Youth Chorale (TAS)

  • UTAS Wind Ensemble (TAS)

​

35_bas_is_happy_edited.jpg

Commissions

In recent years, Bas has been sought out by a number of community and professional ensembles to fill arrangement or composition commissions. Bas is the 2026 Emerging Composer in Residence for Oriana Chorale, completing three works across the year under the guidance of Musical Director and Composer Dan Walker. In 2025, Bas entered the sphere of Theatrical Sound Design, and has been engaged by the University of Tasmania and Bad Theatre Company for their original scores. 

​​

Composition commissions include: 

  • 'All Shall Be Well' - VOX Collective (2026)

  • 'The Black Book of Colour' - TSO (2024)

  • 'The Perfect Chord' - Oriana Chorale (2026)

​​

Arrangement commissions include:

  • ​'Alleluia' - Festival of Voices (2024)

  • 'A Christmas Medley' - TSO (2025)​

​

Productions worked on include: 

  • 'Letters from Animals' by Kit Lazaroo (2025)

  • 'WITCH' by Jen Silverman (2026)

​

Education

In 2025, Bas graduated with a Bachelor of Music in Dual Practice, majoring in Classical Performance (Clarinet) and Composition from the University of Tasmania Conservatorium of Music. They studied with TSO principal Clarinet Andrew Seymour, and pioneer of Australian composition Dr. Maria Grenfell. 

 

Accolades achieved in this degree include: â€‹

  • 2023 Hedberg Scholarship

  • 2024 Sir Victor Burley Prize in Music

  • 2025 Roll of Excellence

  • 2026 Conservatorium Honours Scholarship

​

In 2026, Bas continues their studies at UTAS with a Composition-focused Honours year, which they are completing under the guidance of Dr. Maria Grenfell, Damien Kingston, and Dr. Anne-Marie Forbes.

​

Past tutors include: 

  • Heather George (clarinet)

  • John Netherway (clarinet) 

  • Dr. Tim Dargaville (composition)

  • Heath Brown (composition)

Administration 

Over the course of their degree and early career, Bas has become an accomplished arts administrator. Their portfolio spans roles across various departments and responsibility levels for both community and professional organisations.

​

Bas' formal roles include:

  • Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra (2024 ongoing)

    • Production Casual

    • Customer Service Consultant

  • University of Tasmania Staff Choir Coach (2024-25)

    • Musical Leadership and Vision​​

    • Organisational administration ​

​

Current volunteer/project based engagements include:

  • Allegri Ensemble - Publicity Officer (2025-26)

  • Sonus Lux - President/Administrator (2025/-26)

  • Student Music Collective 

    • Treasurer (2024)​

    • Financial Director - Mahler 2 (2024)

    • President (2025-26)

bottom of page