Australian Classical Music Awards announced

Colin Bright's The Last Whale was named Best Composition by an Australian Composer. The piece combines scientific reports on whale extinction with liturgical text from the Requiem Mass, accompanied by recorded whale voices and a live instrumental and vocal ensemble.

Work of the Year awards were claimed by Ross Edwards and Fred Watson in the vocal/choral category, for their fourth symphony, and Stuart Greenbaum, who won the orchestral category with 90 Minutes Circling the Earth, a work inspired by observations made by astronauts looking at Earth from outer space.

Best Performance went to clarinettist Catherine McCorkill and the Australian Ensemble for their recital of Nigel Westlake's Rare Sugar. Tura New Music claimed Outstanding Contribution by an Organisation Award - its 2007 festival included 52 premieres and 89 Australian works in 45 concerts over a 17-day period.

Jazz was also prominent at the awards: pioneer Judy Bailey received the award for Distinguished Services to Australian Music while jazz composer Mark Isaacs scooped Instrumental Work of the Year for Walk A Golden Mile.

'Even people who are classical aficionados tend to see classical music as a heritage thing that is not of this time,' John Davis, the chief executive of the Australian Music Centre, told the Sydney Morning Herald. 'In fact, composers have been working with many different forces. We're seeing more and more use of technology and an expansion in areas like improvisation and jazz.'

The 2008 Australian Classical Music Awards were presented by the Australasian Performing Right Association and the Australian Music Centre at The Playhouse, Sydney Opera House, on 22 July.

http://www.amcoz.com.au

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