Sydney-based composer and Sonar Music co-founder Jono Ma has been commissioned to create the 12-minute soundtrack for Sydney’s New Year’s Eve fireworks, designed for a global audience of up to half a billion.

The project signals momentum for Sonar, with RUN’s release and several feature film developments suggesting a strong studio pipeline into 2026.

The composition blends acid house, gospel, rave, and electro with a full orchestral arrangement, featuring over 100 musicians and creatives and broadcast globally by ABC.

Higher Together underwent 17 drafts and blends genres to sustain peak energy from the opening moment through the 12-minute score.

The track title draws on the lyric “Higher Together,” reflecting themes of unity and resilience that Ma sees as increasingly resonant.

Key collaborators and production partners include Sophie Haydon as Executive Producer and names like David McCormack, Matteo Zingales, Andrew Lancaster, and Antony Partos, highlighting Sonar’s versatility across commercial and cinematic work.

The commission spotlights Ma on the world’s biggest stage, with the score guiding the fireworks design and broadcast to roughly one million on the harbour foreshore and about 425 million globally.

Sonar’s recent and upcoming projects include RUN for Binge (scored by Ma and Jackson Milas) and Antony Partos’ score for the film Christy, with other notable credits in Disney+ projects and Oscar-nominated work.

Sonar’s influence spans over 250 TV series and 100 films, with more than 150 million Spotify streams, illustrating its broad reach in Australian media.

Ma’s background includes work for Animal Kingdom and DJing with acts like Tame Impala and Four Tet, and he co-founded Sonar Music, specializing in film and TV scoring.

Ma aims for an immediate, high-impact experience, starting with a glorious acid house burst and maintaining intensity throughout the performance.

The piece, titled Higher Together, will synchronize with the Sydney Harbour display and will be supported by a diverse sonic palette, blending acid house, gospel, rave, and orchestral elements.