Award celebrates upbeat career of music icon

Eminent music educator and conductor Richard Gill OAM has been honoured with the Australia Council for the Arts' 2006 Don Banks Music Award - the most valuable individual music prize in Australia.

Minister for the Arts, Senator the Hon Rod Kemp, presented the $60,000 Award at a ceremony in Sydney today, which celebrated Mr Gill's outstanding contribution to Australian music.

'Richard Gill has not only nurtured the careers of hundreds of musicians across the country, but is also a highly respected conductor on the concert podium and in the opera pit,' Senator Kemp said.

'It is fitting that the 2006 Don Banks Music Award goes to Richard, who has played such an important role in developing Australian music over the course of his more than 40-year career.'

Mr Gill is one of Australia's most respected music educators and conductors, with a particular interest in opera, musical theatre and vocal training.

He is currently artistic director of education program for the Sydney Symphony and advisor for the Musica Viva in Schools program. Next month, he will commence as music director of the newly formed Victorian Opera.

Over the past 20 years, Mr Gill has conducted major concert and operatic works with Opera Australia and all major Australian orchestras. He has held posts such as dean of the West Australian Conservatorium of Music (1985-90), director of chorus at Opera Australia (1990-96) and more recently artistic director of OzOpera (2003-05).

Mr Gill has received numerous awards, including an Order of Australia Medal and an honorary doctorate from Edith Cowan University.

'When I first worked with the great Don Banks many years ago, I never expected to one day receive an award that carried his name. I am truly honoured,' Mr Gill said.

The Don Banks Music Award is one of the highest accolades in Australian music. It is awarded annually to a distinguished artist who has made an outstanding and sustained contribution to the artform.

'Richard joins an honour roll of eminent past award recipients including composer Carl Vine, music educator John Curro AM MBE, composer Richard Meale, songwriter Bunna Lawrie and jazz musician Bernie McGann,' Dr Graeme Koehne, chair of the Australia Council's music board.