Art Music Awards return for 2021
APRA AMCOS and the Australian Music Centre (AMC) have announced the return of the Art Music Awards for 2021.
After being held last year as a virtual event, the awards will return to recognise the composition, performance, education and presentation of Australian art music with a physical ceremony, held at North Melbourne’s Meat Market on Tuesday, August 17.
Genres such as contemporary jazz, classical music and sound art will be celebrated at the 2021 awards, with 12 national categories and Luminary Awards for each state or territory honouring individuals and groups who have contributed to their communities.
The ceremony will also see the APRA Board of Directors name the recipient of this year’s Richard Gill Award For Distinguished Services to Australian Music, recognising an individual or group who has made an outstanding contribution to the art music industry over several years.
Melbourne-based composer and pianist Barney McAll will curate live performances for the awards, while Rwandan-British composer Stéphanie Kabanyana Kanyandekwe, soul singer Emma Donovan and violinist Aaron Wyatt being tapped to host the August event.
A full list of award categories for the 2021 Art Music Awards can be viewed below, with finalists being announced on Thursday, July 15.
- Work of the Year: Chamber Music
- Work of the Year: Choral
- Work of the Year: Dramatic
- Work of the Year: Electroacoustic / Sound Art
- Work of the Year: Jazz
- Work of the Year: Large Ensemble
- Performance of the Year: Jazz / Improvised Music
- Performance of the Year: Notated Composition
- Award for Excellence in Experimental Music
- Award for Excellence in Music Education
- Luminary Award – Individual
- Luminary Award – Organisation
- Luminary Awards – State/Territory Awards
- Richard Gill Award for Distinguished Services to Australian Music*
* as determined by the APRA Board of Directors