2007 Classical Music Awards
The Australian music industry celebrated the success of this year’s most outstanding Australian contemporary classical music achievements at the 2007 Classical Music Awards. The Awards were presented by APRA and the Australian Music Centre, at the Sydney Theatre, Walsh Bay.
Music entrepreneur, Belinda Webster (pictured) was the recipient of the prestigious award for Distinguished Services to Australian Music. Roger Smalley picked up the prestigious Best Composition by an Australian Composer award for his string orchestral work, Birthday Tango. The work was commissioned by Barbara Blackman to celebrate the Australian Chamber Orchestra's 30th birthday. Percussionist, Rebecca Lagos collected the Best Performance of an Australian Composition award for her performance of Nigel Westlake's When The Clock Strikes Me, performed with the Sydney Symphony conducted by Richard Gill and commissioned by Symphony Australia. The Outstanding Contribution by an Organisation award went to the 2006 Aurora Festival of New Music - an inspiring cultural event staged in Western Sydney, which included music by more than 34 Australian and international composers with concerts, presentations and forums, an academic conference and national broadcasts.
Percussionist Claire Edwardes collected the Outstanding Contribution by an Individual award for her sustained commitment to Australian composition. Inspirational artistic director and one of Australia's best-known percussionists, Ian Cleworth was acknowledged for his lifetime of distinguished achievement and commitment to Australian music when he accepted the Long-Term Contribution to the Advancement of Australian Music award. The winners for the three prestigious Work of the Year awards (choral/vocal, orchestral, instrumental) were Sarah Hopkins, for her work May You Dance, recounting the tragic events in Childers in 2000; Liza, Lim for Flying Banner (After Wang To); and Ross Edwards for Piano Trio.
APRA and the Australian Music Centre proudly announce the following national winners for the 2007 Classical Music Awards.
Works of the Year
Vocal/Choral Work of the Year
Sarah Hopkins for May You Dance
Performed by The People of Childers
Orchestral Work of the Year
Liza Lim for Flying Banner (After Wang To)
Performed by the Sydney Symphony; Conducted by Gianluigi Gelmetti
Published by Universal Music Publishing Group on behalf of G Ricordi & Co (London) Ltd
Instrumental Work of the Year
Ross Edwards for Piano Trio
Performed by The Australian Trio
Published by Universal Music Publishing Group on behalf of G Ricordi & Co (London) Ltd
Best Composition/Performance Award
Best Composition by an Australian Composer
Roger Smalley for Birthday Tango
Award for Best Performance of an Australian Composition
Rebecca Lagos (soloist) for her performance of When The Clock Strikes Me by Nigel Westlake with the Sydney Symphony.
Contribution Awards
Outstanding Contribution to Australian Music in Education
Australian Youth Orchestra and the Australian Ballet for the 2006 National Music Camp Composition Program BodyTorque
Outstanding Contribution to Australian Music in a Regional Area
2006 Camden Haven Music Festival
Outstanding Contribution by an Individual
Claire Edwardes/Duo Vertigo for the Duyfken Project
Outstanding Contribution by an Organisation
2006 Aurora Festival of New Music
Long-Term Contribution to the Advancement of Australian Music
Ian Cleworth
Distinguished Services to Australian Music
Belinda Webster
A special thank you to ABC Radio National's program The Music Show for providing the transcript of Andrew Ford's interview with Belinda, which was used in the Distinguished Service Award audio-visual presentation.
State Awards
State Award for New South Wales
The inspiring and dedicated artistic director and performer, Ian Cleworth, for his superb long-term contribution to Australian music.
State Award for South Australia
Tristram Cary for his long-term contribution to Australian music. Tristram’s outstanding career as an innovator in electronic music, composer and educator, has profoundly influenced the development of electronic music in Britain, Australia and the USA. He has received numerous awards for his outstanding contributions, including the prestigious Prix Italia.
State Award for Victoria
Holland 's Utrecht String Quartet performing Gordon Kerry Variations for String quartet for Musica Viva Australia tour in Melbourne.
State Award for Queensland
Queensland Youth Symphony performing Carl Vine’s Symphony No. 2. The QYO set itself a difficult challenge in choosing to perform this work, however the final performance was hailed as ‘amazing’ by the composer himself and was impressed by the incredible care taken with the music.
State Award for Western Australia
Iain Grandage for his composition The Silence written for the West Australian Symphony Orchestra. The work explores the theme of the loss of the parent, with brilliant use of musical quotations and parody; it captivated its intended young audience from beginning to end.
State Award for Tasmania
David Malone for his individual contribution though the Fretsongs CD Project. David has made an outstanding contribution in bringing to life the works of six composers for the classical guitar. The CD is adventurous in its programming, confidently presented and serves Tasmania well by showcasing the creativity in the State. The collaboration bewteen guitarist and composer was an essential element of the project which has made a significant contribution to the repertoire for the instrument and has already encouraged the performance of these works elsewhere.
News Archives and Press Releases
New Music Celebrations! - an article about the 2007 Awards on Resonate magazine
