Finalists announced for 2016 Art Music Awards

Image: Art Music Award finalist Speak Percussion

The finalists for the 2016 Art Music Awards have been unveiled by organisers APRA AMCOS and the Australian Music Centre. 

Taking place on Tuesday August 16 at the Plaza Ballroom in Melbourne, the Awards’ eleven categories cover jazz, classical and experimental works created and recorded over 2015.

Finalists in multiple categories include composers Elliott Gyger, Paul Grabowsky and Andrew Schultz. They join other major names as Paul Stanhope, Ensemble Offspring, Speak Percussion, Claire Edwardes and Moorambilla Voices.

A number of first-time finalists have been commended this year. They include Catherine Milliken, Louise Devenish, Kate Neal, Tristan Coelho, Laurence Pike and Mike Nock, Natalie Williams, Erik Griswold, Semaphore band and dancers, Goldner String Quartet, Andrée Greenwell, and SCEGGS Darlinghurst.

“The people included in these lists, and indeed across all the nominations lodged, represent our champions, and those who champion our champions,” said AMC CEO John Davis. “The names of those established and emerging, in cities and in regional areas, show that we have much to celebrate in the Australian art music sector.”

For full list of genre finalists, go to apraamcos.com.au or australianmusiccentre.com.au.

The APRA board will announce the recipient of Distinguished Services to Australian Music shortly.

Finalists for Award for Excellence in Jazz:

Alister Spence Trio for the CD Alister Spence Trio: Live

Australian Jazz Real Book for the Australian Jazz Real Book

Mark Isaacs for sustained contribution over four decades and 2015 Queensland Regional Tour

WA Youth Jazz Orchestra for an outstanding 2015 annual program

Finalists for Award for Excellence by an Organisation:

Arcko Symphonic Ensemble for presenting From Sorrowing Earth, a celebration of Nigel Butterley

Ensemble Offspring for 2015 activities and sustained services to Australian music for 20 years 

Speak Percussion for their 2015 Program: Performance, Commissions, Collaborations and Education 

The Music Show (ABC Radio National) for promotion, discussion and analysis of Australian music over 25 years

Finalists for Award for Excellence by an Individual: 

Andrée Greenwell for her work as composer and Artistic Director of Green Room Music

Claire Edwardes for performance, advocacy and artistic leadership

Peter Knight for sustained contribution through composition, performance and leadership 

Ros Dunlop for her sustained contribution to Australian music for over 30 years

Finalists for Award for Excellence in Music Education: 

Artology for The Fanfare Competition 

Australian Art Orchestra for the Creative Music Intensive residency project

Queensland Music Festival for the Cape York Instrumental Program

SCEGGS Darlinghurst for the Compose 120 Projects

Finalists for Award for Excellence in a Regional Area:

Moorambilla Voices for the Moorambilla Voices 2015 Tenth Anniversary Season

Queensland Music Festival for Under This Sky, a large scale production in the community of Logan

TURA New Music for the 2015 Reflection Tour to regional, remote and very remote Australia 

Tyalgum Music Festival for the 2015 Tyalgum Music Festival 

Finalists for Award for Excellence in Experimental Music: 

Clan Analogue for Intone: Voice Abstractions 

Decibel for After Julia program

Leah Barclay for WIRA River Listening

Speak Percussion for 2015 Music Program

The 2016 Art Music Awards are hosted by Jonathan Biggins and with a live performance program curated by Gabriella Smart.