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21 September 2009

Classical Music Awards 2009 - winners


Gwen Bennett Image: Gwen Bennett  

The Australian contemporary classical music industry celebrated the year's most outstanding achievements in an evening of live performance, speeches and tributes on Monday at the Sydney Opera House Playhouse Theatre. The eclectic list of winners reflects the extremely broad range of artistic innovation and the vibrancy of new Australian music today. The Classical Music Awards were presented by the Australian Music Centre and the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA).

Pianist Michael Kieran Harvey received the award for Distinguished Services to Australian Music for his continuing contribution in the form of performances and recordings of Australian works at home and abroad.

Gwen Bennett's dedication to Australian music was recognised with the presentation of the Long Term Contribution to the Advancement of Australian Music. Founder of the ABC's Australian Music Unit, one of the most significant institutions supporting the production and dissemination of Australian performance and composition, Gwen has achieved visionary and long-term results for Australian music in a career spanning over 50 years.

Georges Lentz received the award for Best Composition by an Australian Composer for his richly orchestrated, moving work Monh. West Australian Symphony Orchestra won the award for the Best Performance of an Australian Composition with the performance of Carl Vine's exquisitely crafted Symphony No.7 Scenes from a Daily Life.

Outstanding Contribution by an Individual was awarded to Riley Lee for his artistic direction of the 2008 World Shakuhachi Festival, its thoughtful and courageous programming and the artistic calibre of the performances.

Tura New Music and the Australian Art Orchestra received the award for Outstanding Contribution to Australian Music in a Regional Area, for the 2008 Crossing Roper Bar Tour, presented by Tura New Music, the Young Wagilak Group from Ngukurr, Arnhem Land, the Australian Art Orchestra, and Paul Grabowsky.

All finalists for Outstanding Contribution by an Organisation were commended for their remarkable achievement in promoting Australian music. The judges however, were unanimous of the exceptional nature of Topology's 2008 Brisbane Powerhouse Series. The series brought together a range of international artists and many nationally recognised Australian composers and performers.

The Southern Cross Soloists took home the award for Outstanding Contribution to Australian Music in Education for the Sunwater and Stanwell Winter Music School. The Southern Cross Soloists were recognised by the judging panel for the considerable time and effort spent in educational activities, particularly for emerging music artists in regional areas of the state.

Tony Gould, David Jones and Imogen Manins were awarded the prestigious Instrumental Work of the Year for their piece The River meets the Sea. Graeme Koehne won Orchestral Work of the Year for Tivoli Dances. Vocal/Choral Work of the Year was presented to Lyn Williams for A Flock of Stars.

Hosted by renowned ABC Sunday Arts presenter Fenella Kernebone, the 2009 Awards featured performances by Sydney Children's Choir, Riley Lee and Marshall McGuire, Michael Keiran Harvey, the Young Wagilak Group and Australian Art Orchestra. Several state awards were announced and eleven national awards were presented by industry luminaries such as The Hon. Peter Garrett, Tony Gould, Tony Grybowski, Richard Letts, Peter Thompson and Nigel Westlake.

2009 Classical Music Awards - winners

Outstanding Contribution to Australian Music in Education
Presented to Southern Cross Soloists for Sunwater and Stanwell Winter Music School

Outstanding Contribution to Australian Music in a Regional Area
Presented to Tura New Music and Australia Art Orchestra for 2008 Crossing Roper Bar Tour

Outstanding Contribution by an Individual
Presented to Riley Lee for 2008 World Shakuhachi Festival

Outstanding Contribution by an Organisation
Presented to Topology for 2008 Brisbane Powerhouse Series

Long-Term Contribution to the Advancement of Australian Music
Presented to Gwen Bennett

Instrumental Work of the Year
Presented to Tony Gould, David Jones and Imogen Manins for The River Meets the Sea

Orchestral Work of the Year
Presented to Graeme Koehne for Tivoli Dances

Vocal or Choral Work of the Year
Presented to Lyn Williams for A Flock of Stars

Best Performance of an Australian Composition
Presented to West Australian Symphony Orchestra
Symphony No. 7 Scenes from Daily Life by Carl Vine

Best Composition by an Australian Composer
Presented to Georges Lentz for Monh

Distinguished Services to Australian Music
Presented to Michael Kieran Harvey.

State Awards

New South Wales State Award
Presented to Georges Lentz for Best Composition by an Australian Composer: Monh

Queensland State Award
Presented to Sunwater and Stanwell Music School by Southern Cross Soloists, for Outstanding Contribution in Education

Tasmania State Award
Presented to Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra for TSO Australian Composers' School for Outstanding Contribution to Australian Music in Education

Victoria State Award
Presented to Richard Mills for Best Composition by an Australian Composer: String Quartet No. 3

Western Australia State Award
Presented to West Australian Symphony Orchestra for Best Performance of an Australian Work: The Madness and Death of King Ludwig by James Ledger

Further links

Classical Music Awards page (AMC) (www.australianmusiccentre.com.au/awards/)
Media release 21 September: Classical Music Awards 2009 (pdf)
APRA Awards page (www.apra-amcos.com.au/apraawards.aspx)
Classical Music Awards 2009: all finalists - article on Resonate


The Australian Music Centre connects people around the world to Australian composers and sound artists. By facilitating the performance, awareness and appreciation of music by these creative artists, it aims to increase their profile and the sustainability of their art form. Established in 1974, the AMC is now the leading provider of information, resources, materials and products relating to Australian new music.


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