Presented each year by APRA AMCOS and the Australian Music Centre, the Awards recognise achievement in the composition, performance, education and presentation of Australian art music. Art music covers activity across contemporary classical music, contemporary jazz and improvised music, experimental music and sound art.
The 2008 Art Music Awards were held in July 2008.
| Distinguished Services to Australian Music |
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Winner |
Judy Bailey |
| Long-Term Contribution to the Advancement of Australian Music |
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Winner |
Richard Letts |
Finalists |
| Gwen Bennett |
| Sally Mays |
| Sonic Art Ensemble (formerly The Seymour Group) |
| The Song Company |
| Outstanding Contribution to Australian Music in Education |
|---|
Winner |
Community Outreach project, ArtPlay and music theatre project, the Hunger |
Finalists |
| Melbourne Symphony Orchestra’s Community Outreach project, ArtPlay and music theatre project, the Hunger |
| Griffyn Mentoring Ensemble for its activities in 2007 |
| Sydney Symphony Education Program for the 2007 Sinfonietta Project |
| Outstanding Contribution to Australian Music in a Regional Area |
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Winner |
Australian Voices Festival in 2007 held in Kenilworth, Queensland |
Finalists |
| Peter Lynch and the Murray Conservatorium at Albury Wodonga for their inspired commitment to Australian Music |
| Outstanding Contribution by an Individual |
|---|
Winner |
Ian Munro for his contribution to Australian performance and composition in 2007 |
Finalists |
| Andrew Ford for his work as a composer, writer, educator and broadcaster in Australia and overseas |
| Outstanding Contribution by an Organisation |
|---|
Winner |
Tura New Music for the 2007 festival and touring program and its advocacy and support in Western Australia |
Finalists |
| Halcyon, Synergy Percussion and Ensemble Offspring for their collaboration in Tehillim |
| International Association of Music Libraries (IAML)for the concerts presented at the 2007 international conference hosted in Sydney |
| Canberra International Chamber Music Festival in 2007, Artistic Director Nicole Canham and Pro Musica Inc. |
| Vocal or Choral Work of the Year |
|---|
Winner |
Ross Edwards and Fred Watson Symphony No.4 ‘Star Chant’ |
Finalists |
| Becky Llewellyn for Carol of the Font from "Soul Architechture " Cycle |
| Instrumental Work of the Year | |
|---|---|
Winner | |
| Title: | Walk a Golden Mile |
| Composers: | Mark Isaacs |
Finalists | |
| Title: | More Marimba Dances |
| Composer: | Ross Edwards |
| Title: | Waltz for Melanie |
| Composer: | Mark Isaacs |
| Orchestral Work of the Year | |
|---|---|
Winner | |
| Title: | 90 Minutes Circling the Earth |
| Composer: | Stuart Greenbaum |
Finalists | |
| Title: | Cantilena Pacifica |
| Composer: | Richard Meale |
| Title: | Glass Soldier Suite |
| Composer: | Nigel Westlake |
| Title: | Musaic |
| Composer: | Anne Cawrse |
| Title: | Oboe Concertante |
| Composer: | Margaret Sutherland |
| Title: | Trumpet Concerto |
| Composer: | James Ledger |
| Best Performance of an Australian Composition | |
|---|---|
Winner | |
| Title: | Rare Sugar by Nigel Westlake |
| Performer: | Performed by The Australia Ensemble and soloist Catherine McCorkill (clarinet) |
Finalists | |
| Title: | Sonatina for Solo Violin |
| Perfomer: | Jennifer Pike |
| Title: | Piano Sonata No. 3 |
| Performer: | Elizabeth Schumann |
| Title: | O Antiphons |
| Performer: | The Song Company |
| Title: | The Lost Art of Letter Writing |
| Performer: | Frank Peter Zimmermann (violinist), Munich Philharmonic, Jonathan Nott (conductor) |
| Best Composition by an Australian Composer | |
|---|---|
Winner | |
| Title: | The Last Whale |
| Composer: | Colin Bright |
Finalists | |
| Title: | So We Begin Afresh |
| Composer: | Damien Ricketson |
| Title: | Micrographia |
| Performer: | Michael Smetanin |
| Title: | Piano Sonata No.3 |
| Composer: | Carl Vine |
| Title: | The Love of the Nightingale |
| Composer: | Richard Mills |
| State Award Winners |
|---|
ACT |
Pro Musica Inc. and Nicole Canham Artistic Director for Canberra International Chamber Music Festival |
New South Wales |
Damien Ricketson For Best Composition by an Australian Composer for So We Begin Afresh |
Queensland |
Stephen Leek For Best Composition by an Australian Composer for Cries and Whispers |
Victoria |
Mark Pollard For Long-Term Contribution to the Advancement of Australian Music |
West Australia |
Tura New Music for the 2007 festival and touring program and advocacy and support in Western Australia |