2016 Art Music Awards
Winners of the 2016 Art Music Awards across 11 national categories and 8 state / territory categories were announced on Tuesday 16 August at a gala event at the Plaza Ballroom in Melbourne. This was the second time the Art Music Awards have been held in Melbourne, and the year's list of winners featured a diverse group of Australia's established as well as emerging artists.
2016 Winners
Distinguished Services to Australian Music
Helen Gifford OAM
Vocal / Choral Work of the Year
Title: Le Molière Imaginaire, for eight voices
Composer: Andrew Schultz
Text: Timothy Knapman, after the final scene of Molière's 'Le Malade Imaginaire'
Performed by: I Fagiolini
Jazz Work of the Year
Title: Nyilipidgi
Composer: Paul Grabowsky and the Young Wägilak Group
Performed by: Paul Grabowsky, the Young Wägilak Group and the Monash Art Ensemble
Publisher: J Albert & Son
Instrumental Work of the Year
Title: Semaphore
Composer: Kate Neal
Performed by: Semaphore band and dancers
Orchestral Work of the Year
Title: Earth Plays
Composer: Catherine Milliken
Performed by: Bavarian Radio Orchestra, Fiona Campbell, soloist, Peter Rundel, conductor
Performance of the Year
Performer: Semaphore band and dancers
Title: Semaphore
Composer: Kate Neal
Award for Excellence by an Organisation
Ensemble Offspring for 2015 activities and sustained services to Australian music for 20 years
Award for Excellence by an Individual
Claire Edwardes for performance, advocacy and artistic leadership
Award for Excellence in Music Education
Artology for the Fanfare Competition
Award for Excellence in a Regional Area
Moorambilla Voices for the Moorambilla Voices 2015 Tenth Anniversary Season
Award for Excellence in Experimental Music
Speak Percussion for 2015 Music Program
Award for Excellence in Jazz
Australian Jazz Real Book for the Australian Jazz Real Book
State Winners
AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY AWARD
Category: Instrumental Work of the Year
Recipient: Natalie Williams for Saudade
NEW SOUTH WALES STATE AWARD
Category: Performance of the Year
Recipient: Sydney Chamber Opera for Fly Away Peter
Composer: Elliott Gyger
NORTHERN TERRITORY STATE AWARD
Category: Orchestral Work of the Year
Recipient: Darwin Symphony Orchestra for Tracy
Composers: Ross Edwards, Iain Grandage, Lachlan Skipworth and Kat Mcguffie
QUEENSLAND STATE AWARD
Category: Excellence in Jazz
Recipient: Berardi/Foran/Karlen for Hope in my Pocket
SOUTH AUSTRALIAN STATE AWARD
Category: Excellence by an Organisation
Recipient: Zephyr Quartet for Sustained Contribution for over 16 years
TASMANIAN STATE AWARD
Category: Instrumental Work of the Year
Recipient: Michael Kieran Harvey for Patañjali
VICTORIAN STATE AWARD
Category: Orchestral Work of the Year
Recipient: Elliott Gyger for From Joyous Leaves
WESTERN AUSTRALIA STATE AWARD
Category: Performance of the Year
Recipient: Louise Devenish for Electroacoustic Music For One Percussionist
Composers: Warren Burt, James Hullick, Stuart James, Andrián Pertout and Lindsay Vickery
Related coverage on Resonate magazine
• 2016 Art Music Awards: winners
• 2016 Art Music Awards: Genevieve Lacey's speech
• 2016 Art Music Awards finalists - comments by judging panels
• Helen Gifford recipient of the 2016 Distinguished Services to Australian Music Award
Pictured (from top): Paul Grabowsky; Kate Neal; Andrew Schultz; Claire Edwardes and Damien Ricketson (for Ensemble Offspring); Helen Gifford.