18 July 2003

From back-street warehouses to community halls to main-stage concert halls nationwide, new classical Australian music is alive, well and flourishing.

Across the country composers, solo performers, ensembles, choirs and arts companies are creating a rich spectrum of new musical expression enjoyed and appreciated by a diversity of enthusiastic audiences.

On Saturday 16 August, the creators and performers of new Australian music will be recognised and celebrated when APRA and the Australian Music Centre present the 2003 Classical Music Awards at Sydney’s Conservatorium of Music.

Hosted by composer and presenter of ABC Radio National’s The Music Show, Andrew Ford, and featuring performances by some of this country’s leading musical talents, including Simone Young, Michael Kieran Harvey and Slava Grigoryan, the Awards will recognise the outstanding achievements of the past year by individuals and organisations in the area of contemporary classical music.

Ten national awards, judged by a panel of leading composers, performers, musicologists, educators and critics will be presented for the:

• Instrumental Work of the Year
• Orchestral Work of the Year
• Vocal/Choral Work of the Year
• Best Composition by an Australian Composer
• Best Performance of an Australian Composition
• Most Distinguished Contribution to the Presentation of Australian Composition by an Organisation
• Most Distinguished Contribution to the Presentation of Australian Composition by an Individual
• Most Distinguished Contribution to the Advancement of Australian Music in Education
• Most Distinguished Contribution to the Advancement of Australian Music in a Regional Area
• Long Term Contribution to the Advancement of Australian Music

In addition, a special Award will be given for Distinguished Services to Australian Music. State-based Awards for outstanding achievement in the field during 2002 will also be announced.

Among the dozens of previous recipients of the Australian Classical Music Awards are Carl Vine, Liza Lim, Elena Kats-Chernin, Richard Meale, Synergy, Miriam Hyde, Brett Dean and Richard Gill.

General Manager of the Australian Music Centre, John Davis, said today the Awards were a celebration of “the rich variety and high quality that exists across the Australian musical landscape.”

“New Australian music strongly reflects the scope and concerns of the diverse community that is contemporary Australia, with composers influenced and inspired by geography and landscape, politics and social issues, the intensely personal and the universal.

“We enjoy music that truly reflects this time and place”, he said.

For more information or to arrange interviews with performers or with AMC General Manager,
John Davis or APRA Chief Executive, Brett Cottle, please contact:

Sue Couttie - Phone 03 9389 7733 or 0419 522 064; email scouttie@bigpond.net.au