Winning Composers, Performers and Organisations from the 2005 Classical Music Awards

Distinguished Services to Australian Music

Robert Hughes

Robert Hughes, a significant figure in Australian composition whose works have been awarded many prizes and have been performed by symphony orchestras across Australia as well as overseas, was honoured in this special category for his activities on behalf of his fellow composers.

He was elected to the Board of the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) as a Writer/Director in 1958 and in 1977 became the first composer to hold the position of Chairman of the Board. In 1959 APRA sponsored the establishment of the Fellowship of Australian Composers with Hughes as a foundation member holding the position of Vice-President for 10 years. In 1966, Hughes, together with a delegate from the Fellowship approached the Prime Minister in a successful attempt to establish Government assistance for Australian composers.

Robert Hughes has also served on the Board of the Australian Music Centre and was a Foundation Member of the Music Board of the Australia Council for the Arts.

In 1978 he was awarded an MBE for services to music, and in 1995 he was awarded a Faculty of Music Centennial Award for 'outstanding contribution to music in Australia' by the University of Melbourne. In 1997, he won the Australian Music Centre Award for Long-term Contribution to Australian Music.

Best Composition by an Australian Composer
Richard Meale for Three Miró Pieces

Judges chose Richard Meale's work from 23 nominations, describing Three Miró Pieces as "beautifully written by a master orchestrator, with all the assurance and skill of a mature composer who is clearly in control of his craft.

"His refined impressionist palette is colourful, picturesque and imaginative and is a most enjoyable listening experience. This very polished work has already proved popular with audiences and undoubtedly with performers too. The Three Miró Pieces will prove to be a most significant addition to the body of contemporary Australian orchestral music."

Award for Best Performance of an Australian Composition
Diana Doherty

Judges described Ms Doherty as "a phenomenal performer", noting her superb level of musicianship, and her performance distinguished by its "supreme musicality, lyricism and energy."

"The timbral, technical and breath control over the instrument is at a level rarely heard on the concert platform, as is her ability to manipulate the tone into a wide spectrum of colours at the most extreme dynamic and part of the range. Her musicality is evident in the shaping of every note and phrase. She is a phenomenal performer in every respect. It is a welcome indication of the health of Australian music in the larger dimension, that artists of Diana Doherty's calibre find satisfaction working here and, in turn, inspire compositions that allow the opportunity to fully express her art."

Vocal/Choral Work of the Year
The True Samaritan by Nigel Butterley, performed by The Contemporary Singers

Instrumental Work of the Year
Three Miró Pieces by Richard Meale, performed by Sydney Symphony Orchestra

Orchestral Work of the Year
Drummers of Gilgamesh by David Pye, performed by Nova Ensemble

Award for Long-term Contribution to the advancement of Australian Music
Martin Wright, Move Records

Winner of the Victorian State Award, Martin Wright was also recognised with this national Award for the quality and sustained nature of his contribution to the body of recorded music in Australia.

For more than 30 years his output had provided the public with a huge variety of material, from early music, to contemporary music, and world music, fusion, and experimental music - with a fearless crossing of boundaries.

The judging panel said his philosophical approach - to encourage composers and performers to speak for themselves without imposing his own stamp - had had a significant effect in enhancing their careers.

Most Distinguished Contribution to the Advancement of Australian Music in a Regional Area
NORPA - Northern Rivers Performing Arts

The development and presentation of the music theatre work Mr Barbecue earned this national Award for NORPA. Judges highlighted the high level of professionalism from many distinguished artists including composer Elena Kats-Chernin, librettist Janis Balodis, singer Lyndon Terracini and musicians from the Queensland Orchestra.

The work, based on the great Aussie icon, the backyard barbie, has already proved popular with audiences. The panel enjoyed the clever text spiced with substantial elements of irony and black humour.

Mr Barbecue was the result of an innovative program - the Creative Laboratory, Northern Rivers Performing Arts - whose philosophy is to produce and present contemporary work, relevant to local and national audiences.

Most Distinguished Contribution to the Presentation of Australian Music by an Organisation
Sydney Symphony Education Program for its 2002 concert series, Adult Themes

The judging panel said that this program had clearly aimed at establishing an audience and creating a future for Australian music through well targeted marketing and interesting programming, which juxtaposed standard repertoire works alongside Australian music.

The program also created a learning medium where young players of the Sydney Sinfonia were mentored by established orchestral musicians.

Calling on other orchestras to implement similar series around the country, the panel made particular mention of the commissioning of three new pieces for the program which it hoped would stimulate similar commissions in the future.

Most Distinguished Contribution to the Presentation of Australian Music by an Individual
Julian Burnside

Julian Burnside was recognised for the fine example he had set in private sponsorship of Australian music and musicians. His generosity in commissioning young composers and ensuring exposure for their music demonstrated the valuable nature of individual philanthropy. The panel paid tribute to Mr Burnside's patronage of various arts bodies, his close involvement with Musica Viva and his regular hosting of concerts at his home to support Australian music and music making.

"At a time when governments and music institutions are continually cutting back on funds for creative endeavour, it is all the more imperative that encouragement is given to private patronage", judges said.

Most Distinguished Contribution to the Advancement of Australian Music in Education
MLC School, Burwood & Ars Musica Australis

Winners of the NSW/ACT State Award, MLC School, Burwood & Ars Musica Australis also achieved national honours in this category. The two organisations combined for a project that culminated in 2002 in two Federation Concerts and an Education Seminar. The Panel felt that this substantial undertaking, which involved many people and which would have an ongoing value into the future, was exemplary.
Judges made special mention of Ars Musica Australis, a performing arts organisation founded by Fr Arthur Bridge, which commissioned five young composers to write new works suitable for performance by young people, in addition to funding venues in western Sydney for the concerts, which were performed by students from MLC Burwood and Trinity Grammar Schools and conducted by educator Richard Gill.

The project saw months of rehearsing and coordination by MLC staff, a seminar run by Richard Gill at which he de-constructed the five new works for pupils from some 32 schools, and the development of teaching resources including CDs, booklets and videos. This ensured a longer life for the project which the panel described as "inspired and inspiring, with considerable social impact for participants and audiences, and a model of what can happen in an educational environment."

NSW/Australian Capital Territory Award
MLC School, Burwood & Ars Musica Australis

Queensland State Award
John Curro

The panel chose John Curro, John Curro has made an extraordinary contribution to Australia as artist, educator and mentor - a commitment which has been sustained over an extremely long period, and one which has benefited individuals, institutions and organisations. Inspired and supported by Curro, many young musicians have achieved outstanding careers in music, nationally and internationally.

South Australian State Award
Raymond Chapman-Smith for his composition Piano Trio No. 4

Victorian State Award
Martin Wright

Western Australian State Award
The Keys Press