Music's night of nights
ON MONDAY evening (July 21) the Australian music industry celebrated the year’s outstanding Australian classical music achievements at the Classical Music Awards. They were presented by APRA and the Australian Music Centre, in the Playhouse Theatre of the Sydney Opera House.
Hosted by ABC Classic FM’s velvet-voiced Julia Lester, the awards featured performances by Mark Isaacs, The Song Company and Windstrokes William Barton, Claire Edwardes, Iain Grandage and Mel Robinson.
Most notably, from the point of view of artists in other fields, part of the music awards is a section devoted to State and Territory winners, chosen by a representative panel from each state and territory. A novel idea that the Helpmann awards organisers might like to consider.
The major award for Distinguished Services to Australian Music went to jazz great Judy Bailey (pictured here) in a citation that “recognises her enormous contribution to Australian new music through her role as a mentor, composer and educator.” Her non-profit youth outfit Jazz Connection played two of her works to close the night.
The full list of winners follows:
Vocal or Choral Work of the Year
Symphony No.4 Star Chant by Ross Edwards and Fred Watson, performed by Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, Richard Mills (conductor); Adelaide Chamber Singers, Carl Crossin (director); Adelaide Philharmonia Chorus, Timothy Seton (director).
Orchestral Work of the Year
90 Minutes Circling the Earth by Stuart Greenbaum, performed by Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Brett Kelly (conductor)
Instrumental Work of the Year
Walk a Golden Mile by Mark Isaacs, performed by Mark Isaacs (piano), James Muller (electric & acoustic guitars), Jay Anderson (acoustic bass), Vinni Colaiuta (drums), Bob Sheppard (soprano, alto & tenor saxophones).
Best Performance of an Australian Composition
Rare Sugar by Nigel Westlake; performed by The Australia Ensemble and soloist Catherine McCorkill (clarinetist).
Best Composition by an Australia Composer
The Last Whale by Colin Bright.
Outstanding Contribution to Australian Music in Education
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra’s Community Outreach program, Artplay and music theatre project Hunger.
Outstanding Contribution to Australian Music in a regional Area
Australian Voices Festival in 2007 held in Kenilworth, Queensland.
Outstanding Contribution by an Individual
Ian Munro for his contribution to Australian performance and composition in 2007.
Outstanding Contribution by an Organisation
Tura New Music for its 2007 festival and touring program, and its advocacy and support in Western Australia.
Long-Term Contribution to the Advancement of Australian Music
Richard Letts
Distinguished Service to Australian Music
Judy Bailey.
