Resonate Magazine | Australian Music Centre

Image: William Barton  
© Keith Saunders

The Australian Music Centre (AMC) Board of Directors announce the appointment of William Barton as its newest member.

Marshall McGuire, Chair of the AMC Board, says, "We are thrilled to welcome William Barton to our Board. He is a true visionary with immense experience as a performer and composer. We are fortunate to have his inspirational thought leadership in steering the organisation in the support of contemporary Australian art music and its creators."

A proud Kalkadunga man, William Barton is widely regarded as Australia's leading didgeridoo player, composer, instrumentalist, and vocalist. Throughout this diverse career, he has forged a path in the classical music world from his first journey touring the world with the Doonooch Dancers from Nowra, as a 17-year-old soloist with the QSO, to opening of the new Sydney Opera House Concert Hall with the premiere of his new work "Of the Earth" with the SSO. He has performed with the London, Berlin, and Bremer Philharmonic Orchestras, and at historic events such as Commonwealth Day 2019 at Westminster Abbey, and the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

Most recently, he was named Queensland Australian of the Year 2023 and was an Australian of the Year nominee. In 2022, he was recognised for his work with the Australian Chamber Orchestra for the film soundtrack, River, earning two APRA AMCOS Screen Awards (Best Soundtrack Album and Best Original Song Composed for the Screen), an AACTA Award (Best Original Score in a Documentary), and an ARIA Award (Best Original Score).

Barton was granted full artist representation with the AMC in August 2017, and has 35 original works catalogued, including five on which he is a collaborating artist.

"My invitation to the board of AMC comes at a historically pivotal time in Australia's musical and cultural landscape. We need to focus our energy on building a stronger, more valued musical community," Barton says on his appointment.

"The AMC have the ethos of all the strengths that I wish to be part of, a community of thinkers, creatives and those who have the reach to influence policy change. As my journey continues with a growing awareness of being present and acknowledging the memories and skills passed onto me from my elders, I look forward to contributing to this engine room of change. Let's continue to be the change we want to see in our cultural and music policies."

Barton's appointment sees increased representation of Australian creators within the AMC Board, following an artist-centered approach to its advocacy and services for the Australian music community.