The 2020 Art Music Awards have been celebrated in a virtual ceremony fit for a creative nation, with winning artists and organisations spanning the country.
Presented annually by APRA AMCOS and the Australian Music Centre (AMC), the Awards acknowledge the achievements of composers, performers and educators in the genres of contemporary classical music, jazz, improvisation, sound art and experimental music. The 2020 Awards included several new and restructured categories, in tune with the constantly evolving art music landscape.
The inaugural National Luminary Award for an Individual, for sustained contribution over several years, was presented to Dharug composer Chris Sainsbury for initiating and driving the Ngarra-Burria: First Nations Composers program, a critically important project. According to the judging panel: “Chris’ work over the past five years has had a national impact in both training emerging First Nations composers and redefining their role and future within Australian art music.”
The 10th annual Art Music Awards were co-hosted by Jonathan Biggins, Dr Lou Bennett AM and Zela Margossian, with performances by Robin Fox & Erkki Veltheim, Louise Devenish & Thea Rossen, Linda May Han Oh with Fabian Almazan & Ben Vanderwal, Melanie Mununggurr-Williams and Beatri
2020 ART MUSIC AWARDS WINNERS
Richard Gill Award for Distinguished Services to Australian Music
Dr Ros Bandt
Award for Excellence in Music Education
Netanela Mizrahi and Guwanbal Gurruwiwi for the Djari Project
Award for Excellence in a Regional Area
Gillian Howell and Tura New Music for the Fitzroy Valley New Music Project
Award for Excellence in Experimental Music
The Music Box Project for Shallow Listening
Work of the Year: Choral
Title: I am Martuwarra
Composer: Paul Stanhope, text by Steve Hawke
Performer: Gondwana Choirs, Luminescence Chamber Singers, Valla Voices,
Hunter Singers, and Resonance and Lyn Williams, conductor
Work of the Year: Chamber Music
Title: passing bells: day
Composer: Chris Dench
Performer: Alex Raineri
Work of the Year: Large Ensemble
Title: Viola Concerto
Composer: James Ledger
Performer: Brett Dean, West Australian Symphony Orchestra
and Fabien Gabel, conductor
Work of the Year: Electroacoustic/Sound Art
Title: Everywhen
Composer: Matthias Schack-Arnott
Performer: Matthias Schack-Arnott
Work of the Year: Dramatic
Title: Oscar and Lucinda
Composer: Elliott Gyger, librettist Pierce Wilcox
Performer: Sydney Chamber Opera and Jack Symonds, conductor
Title: Speechless
Composer: Cat Hope
Performer: Judith Dodsworth, Karina Utomo, Caitlin Cassidy,
Sage Pbbbt (soloists), with Australian Bass Orchestra,
Decibel New Music Ensemble and Aaron Wyatt, conductor
Work of the Year: Jazz
Title: Aventurine
Composer: Linda May Han Oh
Performer: Linda May Han Oh, Greg Ward, Matt Mitchell,
Ches Smith, Fung Chern Hwei, Sara Caswell, Benni von Gutzeit,
Jeremy Harman, Invenio with Gian Slater, director
Performance of the Year: Notated Composition
Performer: Louise Devenish
Title: Sheets of Sound
Composers: Annie Hui-Hsin Hsieh, Matthias Schack-Arnott,
Louise Devenish and Stuart James
Performance of the Year: Jazz/Improvised Music
Performer: Sandy Evans, Shubha Mudgal, Aneesh Pradhan
and Sirens Big Band
Title: Bridge of Dreams
Composer: Sandy Evans, Shubha Mudgal and Aneesh Pradhan
Luminary Awards: National
Individual
Chris Sainsbury for initiating and driving Ngarra-Burria: First Peoples Composers program
Organisation
Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra for Australian Composers School, Australian Conducting Academy, and professional development opportunities for Australian musicians
Luminary Awards: State/Territory
Australian Capital Territory
Canberra International Music Festival for their record-breaking 2019 event and ongoing reputation for high quality and innovative programming
New South Wales
Joanna Drimatis for sustained contribution to the performance, programming and advocacy of Australian works, and string music education
South Australia
Ross McHenry for trailblazing global pathways through artistic practice for South Australian musicians
Northern Territory
David Wilfred & Daniel Wilfred for cultural leadership and sustained creative contributions in Australia and beyond
Western Australia
Louise Devenish for her ongoing advocacy, commissioning and performance of new percussion music in Western Australia
Victoria
Making Waves for breaking down perceived state barriers and connecting a new generation of Australian musicians
Tasmania
Michael Kieran Harvey for supporting the Tasmanian new music community through teaching, performance and recording
Queensland
Katie Noonan for The Glad Tomorrow and furthering the future of Queensland musicians