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Quartet of WA composers line up for national Art Music Awards

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Simon CollinsThe West Australian
Perth-born musician Cat Hope is among the nominees at this year’s Art Music Awards.
Camera IconPerth-born musician Cat Hope is among the nominees at this year’s Art Music Awards.

West Australian composers star in the 2020 Art Music Awards, which unveiled their shortlist for the annual gongs on Monday night.

Written for the WA Symphony Orchestra, James Ledger’s Viola Concerto is nominated for work of the year in the large ensemble category, while Cat Hope is among the finalists for the dramatic work of the year award.

WA composter James Ledger is nominated for work of the year - large ensemble for his Viola Concerto, written for the WA Symphony Orchestra.
Camera IconWA composter James Ledger is nominated for work of the year - large ensemble for his Viola Concerto, written for the WA Symphony Orchestra.

Meanwhile Malaysian-born, Perth-based and internationally renown bassist Linda May Han Oh’s Aventurine joins a diverse range of emerging and experienced artists, including award-winning pianist Aaron Choulai in the shortlist for jazz work of the year.

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Tura New Music’s Fitzroy Valley New Music Project concocted with Fitzroy Crossing-based music educator, performer and composer Gillian Howell scored a nod in the excellence in regional area shortlist.

Perth-based bassist Linda May Han Oh is a finalist in the 2020 Art Music Awards, to be announced in September.
Camera IconPerth-based bassist Linda May Han Oh is a finalist in the 2020 Art Music Awards, to be announced in September.

The Healthway-backed project saw Howell work with local schools, agencies and Indigenous corporations to devise, perform and record new music compositions.

Despite the coronavirus pandemic hitting right as entries were about to close, a record 278 nominations were received across 13 national categories in this year’s Art Music Awards.

The Fitzroy Valley New Music Project is nominated for an award for excellence in a regional area at this year’s Art Music Awards.
Camera IconThe Fitzroy Valley New Music Project is nominated for an award for excellence in a regional area at this year’s Art Music Awards.

Other notable and diverse finalists include Paul Stanhope and Steven Hawke’s I am Martuwarra which was performed by five youth choirs as part of the last year’s Gondwana World Choral Festival, Ekrem Eli Phoenix’s soundtrack to circus company Gravity and Other Myth’s production Out of Chaos and the Sydney Chamber Orchestra’s production of Oscar and Lucinda, which also earned a nod for composers Elliott Gyger and Pierce Wilcox.

The 2020 Art Music Awards will be streamed as a virtual event on APRA AMCOS’ YouTube channel on September 8 from 5pm Perth time.

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