The 2020 Art Music Awards were presented virtually on 8 September due to the COVID-19 pandemic
We warmly welcome you to our 2020 Virtual Art Music Awards.
While we all miss the opportunity of coming together under one roof, never has it been more important to recognise and celebrate the breadth and diversity of Australian music, and to invite a wider virtual audience to join us in celebrating our art music creators, performers, educators, and the supporting creative industry.
It’s the 10th anniversary of the Awards, and we have introduced new and reworked categories in support of inclusivity, and reflecting the diversity of the art music sector. The result has seen the highest number of nominations ever received.
Thank you to our music curator extraordinaire Barney McAll for bringing heart and soul to the performances in our socially-distanced awards.
Music will play a lead role in Australia’s social, cultural and economic COVID recovery. APRA AMCOS and the Australian Music Centre will continue to advocate for the breadth and depth of the Art music community, and the wider creative and cultural industries.
The challenges facing the creative community are enormous, and we hope tonight’s awards can play a part in supporting and reinforcing the strength of the Art Music community. Thank you for your spirit, your stories and your music.
We hope you enjoy tonight’s awards, and we look forward to being back together soon.
Dean Ormston, Chief Executive, APRA AMCOS, John Davis, CEO, Australian Music Centre
| Richard Gill Award for Distinguished Services to Australian Music |
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Winner |
Ros Bandt |
| Award for Excellence in Music Education |
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Winner |
Netanela Mizrahi and Guwanbal Gurruwiwi for the Djari Project |
Finalists |
| Australian Art Orchestra for its Creative Music Intensive |
| Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra for the Australian Composers’ School |
| Speak Percussion for Sounds Unheard Education Program |
| Award for Excellence in a Regional Area |
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Winner |
Gillian Howell and Tura New Music for the Fitzroy Valley New Music Project |
Finalists |
| Bangalow Music Festival for its 2019 festival |
| Netanela Mizrahi and Guwanbal Gurruwiwi for the Djari Project |
| Rae Howell for Bee-Sharp Honeybee |
| Award for Excellence in Experimental Music |
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Winner |
The Music Box Project for Shallow Listening |
Finalists |
| Gelareh Pour for Garden Quartet |
| Nat Grant for FEED |
| Zubin Kanga for 2019 Performances of Ballast by Jon Rose |
| Work of the Year: Choral | |
|---|---|
Winner | |
| Title: | I am Martuwarra |
| Composer: | Paul Stanhope, text by Steve Hawke |
| Performer: | Gondwana Choirs, Luminescence Chamber Singers, Valla Voices, Hunter Singers, and Resonance and Lyn Williams, conductor |
Finalists | |
| Title: | A Civic Space |
| Composer: | Julian Day |
| Performer: | Musicians from the Barossa region |
| Title: | Requiem-Recomposed |
| Composer: | Gordon Hamilton |
| Performer: | Omega Ensemble and The Australian Voices and Gordon Hamilton, conductor |
| Title: | Singing the Love |
| Composer: | Ross Edwards |
| Performer: | Choir of King’s College, Cambridge and Daniel Hyde, conductor |
| Publisher: | BMG AM |
| Work of the Year: Chamber Music | |
|---|---|
Winner | |
| Title: | passing bells: day |
| Composer: | Chris Dench |
| Performer: | Alex Raineri |
Finalists | |
| Title: | Cleave |
| Composer: | Natasha Anderson |
| Performer: | Ensemble Offspring, International Contemporary Ensemble and Ensemble Adapter |
| Title: | String Quartet no. 3: Hidden Agendas |
| Composer: | Brett Dean |
| Performer: | Doric String Quartet |
| Publisher: | Hal Leonard/Boosey & Hawkes Group |
| Title: | Where The Quiet Rests |
| Composer: | John Pax |
| Performer: | WasteLAnd |
| Work of the Year: Large Ensemble | |
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Winner | |
| Title: | Viola Concerto |
| Composer: | James Ledger |
| Performer: | Brett Dean, West Australian Symphony Orchestra and Fabien Gabel, conductor |
Finalists | |
| Title: | Beatrice: Piano Concerto |
| Composer: | Julian Day |
| Performer: | Vivian Choi, piano, Willoughby Symphony, and Fabian Russell, conductor |
| Publisher: | Donemus Publishing BV |
| Title: | Flinders and Trim |
| Composer: | Maria Grenfell |
| Performer: | Tasmania Symphony Orchestra, and Eivind Aadland, conductor |
| Title: | Icarus |
| Composer: | Harry Sdraulig |
| Performer: | Lloyd Hudson, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, and Elena Schwarz, conductor |
| Work of the Year: Electroacoustic/Sound Art | |
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Winner | |
| Title: | Everywhen |
| Composer: | Matthias Schack-Arnott |
| Performer: | Matthias Schack-Arnott |
Finalists | |
| Title: | Coronal Mass |
| Composer: | Amanda Cole |
| Title: | Diaspora |
| Composer: | Robin Fox and Erkki Veltheim in a Chamber Made Production |
| Performer: | Robin Fox, Erkki Veltheim, Madeleine Flynn, Georgie Darvidis, Tamara Saulwick (co-direction/dramaturgy) and Nick Roux (video artist) |
| Title: | Imago |
| Composer: | Fiona Hill |
| Performer: | Lamorna Nightingale, Jane Sheldon and Fiona Hill |
| Work of the Year: Dramatic | |
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Winner | |
| Title: | Oscar and Lucinda |
| Composer: | Elliott Gyger, librettist Pierce Wilcox |
| Performer: | ydney Chamber Opera |
Winner | |
| Title: | Speechless |
| Composer: | Cat Hope |
| Performer: | Judith Dodsworth, Karina Utomo, Caitlin Cassidy, Sage Pbbbt (soloists), with Australian Bass Orchestra, Decibel New Music Ensemble and conductor Aaron Wyatt |
Finalists | |
| Title: | Ned Kelly |
| Composer: | Luke Styles, librettist Peter Goldsworthy |
| Performer: | Lost and Found Opera and Chris van Tuinen, conductor |
| Publisher: | G Schirmer Australia |
| Title: | Out of Chaos |
| Composer: | Ekrem Eli Phoenix |
| Performer: | Gravity and Other Myths |
| Work of the Year: Jazz | |
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Winner | |
| Title: | Aventurine |
| Composer: | Linda May Han Oh |
| Performer: | Linda May Han Oh, Greg Ward, Matt Mitchell, Ches Smith, Fung Chern Hwei, Sara Caswell, Benni von Gutzeit, Jeremy Harman, Invenio with Gian Slater, director |
Finalists | |
| Title: | Beatrice: Piano Concerto |
| Composer: | Josh Kelly |
| Performer: | Josh Kelly, Niran Dasika, Aviva Endean, Mary Rapp, Jacques Emery and Maria Moles |
| Title: | The Colours of Grief |
| Composer: | Adam Page |
| Performer: | The Adam Page Ensemble |
| Title: | Umi No Uzu |
| Composer: | Aaron Choulai |
| Performer: | Australian Art Orchestra, Aaron Choulai, Miyama McQueen-Tokita and Kojoe |
| Performance of the Year: Notated Composition | |
|---|---|
Winner | |
| Performer: | Louise Devenish |
| Title: | Sheets of Sound |
| Composer: | Annie Hui-Hsin Hsieh, Matthias Schack-Arnott, Louise Devenish & Stuart James |
Finalists | |
| Performer: | Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, and Douglas Boyd, conductor |
| Title: | Weave |
| Composer: | Cathy Milliken |
| Performer: | Sydney Chamber Opera |
| Title: | Oscar and Lucinda |
| Composer: | Elliott Gyger, librettist Pierce Wilcox |
| Performer: | Zubin Kanga |
| Title: | Rhythm City |
| Composer: | Tristan Coelho |
| Performance of the Year: Jazz/Improvised Music | |
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Winner | |
| Performer: | Sandy Evans, Shubha Mudgal, Aneesh Pradhan and Sirens Big Band |
| Title: | Bridge of Dreams |
| Composer: | Sandy Evans, Shubha Mudgal and Aneesh Pradhan |
Finalists | |
| Performer: | Australian Art Orchestra |
| Title: | The Plains |
| Composer: | Peter Knight |
| Performer: | Joseph Franklin |
| Title: | Amen |
| Composer: | Joseph Franklin |
| Performer: | Phil Slater Quintet |
| Title: | The Cordeaux Mirror |
| Composer: | Phil Slater |
| National Luminary Award - Organisation |
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Winner |
Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra for Australian Composer’s School, Australian Conducting Academy, and professional development opportunities for Australian classical musicians |
| National Luminary Award - Individual |
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Winner |
Chris Sainsbury for initiating and driving Ngarra-Burria: First Peoples Composers program |
| State Luminary Awards - Individual |
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Australian Capital Territory |
Canberra International Music Festival for their record breaking 2019 event and ongoing reputation for high quality and innovative programming |
New South Wales |
Joanna Drimatis for sustained contribution to the performance, programming, and advocacy of Australian works, and string music education |
South Australia |
Ross McHenry for trailblazing global pathways through artistic practice for South Australian musicians |
Northern Territory |
David Wilfred & Daniel Wilfred for cultural leadership and sustained creative contributions within Australia and beyond |
Western Australia |
Louise Devenish for her ongoing advocacy, commissioning and performance of new percussion music in Western Australia |
Victoria |
Making Waves for breaking down perceived state barriers and connecting a new generation of Australian musicians |
Tasmania |
Michael Kieran Harvey for supporting the Tasmanian new music community through teaching, performance and recording |
Queensland |
Katie Noonan for The Glad Tomorrow and furthering the future of Queensland musicians |
The Art Music Awards consist of eleven annual awards, and up to ten luminary awards.
An additional award is presented at the discretion of the Board of Publisher and Writer Directors of APRA for Distinguished Services to Australian Music.
Work of the Year: Choral
Accompanied or unaccompanied works for massed voices (more than 1 singer per part).
Work of the Year: Chamber Music
Works for between 1 and 12 players, with or without vocal parts, and with or without electronics.
Work of the Year: Large Ensemble
Works for more than 12 players, with or without vocal parts, and with or without electronics. This may include works for orchestra, concert band, wind band, string orchestra.
Work of the Year: Dramatic
Music primarily intended for theatre and dance, such as opera, music theatre and ballet.
Work of the Year: Electroacoustic / Sound Art
Works which utilise and manipulate analogue and/or digital sound as the primary medium. This may include interdisciplinary work. It also includes, but is not limited to, electronics, noise music, environmental sound, installations, soundscapes and electroacoustic music.
Work of the Year: Jazz
Original Jazz works of any instrumentation, including improvisatory composition.
Performance of the Year: Notated Composition
For the performance of a single Australian work, showcasing the performer(s)’ success in revealing the nature and intention of the work.
Performance of the Year: Jazz / Improvised Music
For the performance of a single Australian work, showcasing the performer(s)’ success in improvisatory creation or collaboration. This may entail entirely improvised work or significant improvisatory input such as solo passages.
Award for Excellence in Music Education
For pedagogical, creative or professional development activities that champion Australian repertoire, including specific projects, recordings or recording projects, or events undertaken by an individual or organisation.
Award for Excellence in a Regional Area
For work undertaken in a regional area, utilising Australian repertoire to create a positive impact for the local community.
Award for Excellence in Experimental Music
For works, people or events that interrogate, extend, or challenge standard artistic practice within the Australian repertoire.
Luminary Awards – National Awards (Individual)
The Luminary Awards seek to honour individuals who, through sustained contribution (demonstrated over a period 3-5 years prior), have impacted our community on a national scale through visionary leadership, fearless trailblazing, high-level artistic practice, and championing of Australian repertoire.No finalists are announced in the Luminary categories. Winners will be announced at the event.
Luminary Awards – National Awards (Organisation)
The Luminary Awards seek to honour organisations who through sustained contribution (demonstrated over a period 3-5 years prior), have impacted our community on a national scale through visionary leadership, fearless trailblazing, high-level artistic practice, and championing of Australian repertoire.No finalists are announced in the Luminary categories. Winners will be announced at the event.
Luminary Awards – State/Territory Awards
The Luminary Awards seek to honour individuals and organisations who through sustained contribution (demonstrated over a period 3-5 years prior), have impacted their communities on a State/territory level through visionary leadership, fearless trailblazing, and engagement with their Australian art music. repertoire. No finalists are announced in the Luminary categories. Winners will be announced at the event.
Thank you to our incredible Judges for the time and effort that they have put into recognising our finalists
Peta Williams (Chair)