Ros Bandt set for prestigious honour at Art Music Awards

Dr Ros Bandt, the celebrated composer, sound artist and scholar, will receive the Richard Gill Award, one of the Australian music industry’s top honours, during next month’s virtual Art Music Awards.

Ros Bandt is feted for a decades-long career, during which time she has created some 40 major installations, sound sculptures and facilitated a string of intercultural and inter-disciplinary collaborations.

Bandt’s pioneering work “provides us with keys to our own identities, and with tools to understanding culturally complex societies,” reads a statement issued Thursday. “Her aeolian harps sing country in her acoustic sanctuary in Jaara Jaara bushland.” 

The Richard Gill Award for Distinguished Services to Australian Music is named after the late, legendary Australian conductor, teacher and advocate for music education.

“I am honoured and privileged to receive this award,” Bandt says. “It belongs to all Australians, old and new, who have dared to ‘sound spaces’ together in this ancient, sung land.”

Sydney jazz trio The Necks were named as the inaugural recipients of the accolade last year.

Jonathan Biggins on set of 2020 Art Music Awards

The 2020 Art Music Awards will go ahead as a virtual ceremony, hosted by YouTube from 7pm AEST on 8th September.

The performance program will feature music from finalists Robin Fox & Erkki Veltheim (Work of the Year: Electroacoustic/Sound Art), percussionist Louise Devenish (Performance of the Year: Notated Composition) and composer/bassist Linda May Han Oh (Work of the Year: Jazz).

Poetry slam champ Melanie Munuggurr-Williams and producer Beatrice Lewis are the final act on the night, with Barney McAll curating the evening’s entertainment as musical director.

Zela Margossian co-host 2020 Art Music Awards

This year’s event will be hosted by ARIA-nominated pianist Zela Margossian; performer, songwriter and composer Dr Lou Bennett; and comedian Jonathan Biggins

For the full list of finalists visit apraamcos.com.au.

This article originally appeared on The Industry Observer, which is now part of The Music Network.