Lachlan learnt clarinet from Jack Harrison in the early 1990’s.
Hailed as having perhaps “the most immediately attractive composing voice in Australian music,” Lachlan Skipworth blends an evocative harmonic palette with the intricacy and sophistication of classical tradition. Skipworth’s distinctive oeuvre draws on a breadth of musical influences, including several formative years spent in Japan studying the shakuhachi — an experience that continues to shape his compositional voice. Marked by technical finesse and an inquisitive spirit, his music resonates with performers and audiences alike, securing his place as a leading voice in Australian composition.
Winning the prestigious 2016 Paul Lowin Prize for his Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra firmly established Skipworth’s reputation and marked broader industry recognition. His orchestral work Spiritus won the 2017 Albert H. Maggs Award from the University of Melbourne and the highly competitive New England Philharmonic annual call for scores. Pine Chant, created in collaboration with dendrochronologists at the University of Arizona’s Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research, received the 2023 APRA Art Music Award for Chamber Work of the Year. Skipworth’s recordings draw critical acclaim, including a five-star Limelight review for his debut album, an ARIA nomination for his second, and a feature on ABC Classic for his latest release Altiora Peto.
Skipworth’s music is heard widely across Australia and beyond, propelled by close partnerships with the country’s major symphony orchestras and celebrated soloists including Diana Doherty, David Elton, Genevieve Lacey, and Andrew Nicholson. He has appeared as a guest artist with both the Australian Youth Orchestra and the Australian National Academy of Music, working closely with emerging performers and composers. Recent large-scale projects have involved the West Australian Symphony Orchestra, West Australian Opera, and St George’s Cathedral Consort, with the season ahead featuring new commissions for the Australia Ensemble, Arcadia Winds, and Omega Ensemble.