Classical Music Awards
The Classical Music Awards are presented each year by APRA and the Australian Music Centre to recognise achievement in the composition, performance, education and presentation of Australian music.
2009 Classical Music Awards
In September 2009, the music industry again celebrated the year's most outstanding achievements at the Sydney Opera House Playhouse Theatre with a list of winners that aptly reflects the broad range of artistic practice of the contemporary Australian classical music today.
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. Gwen Bennett’s dedication to Australian music was recognised with the presentation of the Long Term Contribution to the Advancement of Australian Music. Georges Lentz received the award for Best Composition by an Australian Composer for his work Monh, while West Australian Symphony Orchestra won the award for the Best Performance of an Australian Composition with the performance of Carl Vine's Symphony No.7.
Outstanding Contribution by an Individual was awarded to Riley Lee for his artistic direction of the 2008 World Shakuhachi Festival. 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 (pictured) from Ngukurr, Arnhem Land, the AAO and Paul Grabowsky. Outstanding Contribution by an Organisation was awarded to Topology for their 2008 Brisbane Powerhouse Series. The Southern Cross Soloists took home the award for Outstanding Contribution to Australian Music in Education for the Sunwater and Stanwell Winter Music School. Tony Gould, David Jones and Imogen Manins were awarded the 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.
Media release 21 September: 2009 Classical Music Awards (pdf)
Full list of the eleven national and five State Awards is available on the 2009 Classical Music Awards page.
About the Awards
The yearly Classical Music Awards consist of eleven national Awards and a varying number of State Awards. The national awards are presented in categories covering composition, performance, music education and regional music. The awards also recognise outstanding contributions by individuals and organisations. Any financial member of the Australian Music Centre and/or APRA is eligible to make a nomination.
The following pdf documents are available for information purposes only:
> 2009 Classical Music Awards application guidelines
> 2009 Classical Music Awards nomination form
National Awards
Seven national Australian Music Centre Awards are open for nominations from members of the Australian Music Centre and APRA:
Best Composition by an Australian Composer
Previous winners include Lawrence Whiffin for murchitt: a daydream, Elena Kats-Chernin for Cadences, Deviations and Scarlatti, Brett Dean for Beggars and Angels and Gordon Kerry for Vigil.
Best Performance of an Australian Composition
Previous winners include the Goldner String Quartet for their performance of Carl Vine’s String Quartet No.3 and Ten-Part Invention for their performance of Roger Frampton’s Separate Reality and Australian Virtuosi for their performance of Nigel Westlake’s Oscillations.
Outstanding Contribution by an Organisation
Previous winners include Marina Marsden for the CD recording of music of Margaret Sutherland, the Sydney Opera House Trust for the opening season of The Studio, Tall Poppies and The Listening Room (ABC Classic FM).
Outstanding Contribution by an Individual
Previous winners include John McCaughey, Musical Director of the Astra Chamber Music Society and Marshall McGuire and Richard Gill.
Outstanding Contribution to Australian Music in Education
Previous winners include Philippa Paige for editing Australian Violin Music: Concert Pieces, published by Currency press; the Australian Youth Orchestra for their ‘New Music Now - Interrogating the Instrument’ program, MLC School, Burwood and the NSW Board of Studies.
Outstanding Contribution to Australian Music in a Regional Are
This award was made for the first time in 2002 and was won by the Queensland Biennial Festival of Music.
Long-term Contribution to the Advancement of Australian Music
Previous winners include composer Robert Hughes, Synergy Percussion Ensemble, Emeritus Professor Peter Platt and Kenneth Tribe.
State/Territory Awards
For each State or Territory, one Australian Music Centre Award will be given from one of the following six categories:
- Best Composition by a Composer of that State or Territory
- Best Performance of an Australian Composition in that State or Territory
- Outstanding Contribution by an Organisation in that State or Territory
- Outstanding Contribution by an Individual in that State or Territory
- Outstanding Contribution to Australian Music in Education in that State or Territory
- Outstanding Contribution to Australian Music in a Regional Area in that State or Territory
