Music - November 2007

This report summarises the outcomes of the meeting of the Australia Council's music board held on 17-19 March 2008.

To find out more about how the Australia Council assesses grant applications, read our information for applicants.

Chair's report

The Australia Council's music board was proud to support an incredibly diverse range of musical outcomes in this round.

We were fortunate to receive an additional allocation of $125,000 from the Australia Council to be directed to artists’ income in this round. This was allocated to new work (general) and presentation and promotion (general), where it could be identified that funds would be directed to artists’ income.

This was the final round for the presentation and promotion (recording) sub-category. From 2008, this category will encourage digital delivery and online marketing of music product, as recommended by our research into the digital delivery of music. This is in addition to other performance and marketing initiatives that connect music and musicians with audiences.

To assist professional artists in benefiting from key international opportunities, the music board and market development section have developed an international strategy. International pathways will continue to support international touring, with increased funding redirected from presentation and promotion (recording). There will also be separate assistance for professional artists selected to showcase at international music markets, trade fairs and key international festivals. Details will be announced in the new financial year. Skills and arts development (individuals and groups) will continue to support international career development activities.

The music board is always reinvigorated by change but saddened to lose the expertise and commitment of its valued members Carol Day, Arthur Bridge and Paul Petran whose terms end mid-year 2008.  We thank them for their dedication and hard work over many years.

If you wish to seek feedback on your recent application or discuss a new project you should contact music staff. Staff can give invaluable information regarding the ‘best fit’ within the Music Board grant categories, provide practical tips and general feedback from previous rounds.

Professor Graeme Koehne
Chair, music board, Australia Council for the Arts

Grants list

NEW WORK (MEDIA ARTS)
Closing Date: 15 November 2007
Grants: 7
Amount: $80,698.00

Avenaim, Robert NSW $15,914
The design and construction of a set of automated instruments based on the drum kit

Bandt, Rosalie VIC $10,150
Composition of a new work, 'Sonic Blue Red Tracings', for Olympics Fine Arts, Beijing 2008

Byrne, Benjamin NSW $7,580
The curation and exhibition of sound installations as part of the Next Wave 2008 Festival

dualpLOVER NSW $14,505
The documentation of performances by Justice Yeldham with multiple cameras and surround sound

English, Lawrence QLD $7,500
The recording of compositions for the USA based sound art label 12K

Grasshopper QLD $5,049
A collaboration with Adam Dodd to create a 50‑minute song cycle for public installation

Rose, Jonathon NSW $20,000
The design and construction of a mobile amplified fence instrument for a new audiovisual work

NEW WORK (GENERAL)
Closing Date: 15 November 2007
Grants: 21
Amount: $218,998

Adelaide Youth Orchestra Incorporated SA $5,732
The commissioning of John Polglase to compose an eight‑minute orchestral work

Arts House (City of Melbourne) VIC $12,000
Orchestral arrangements by A. Choulai, E. Ball and I. Grandage for The Black Arm Band

Australian Art Orchestra VIC $6,349
A commission for Paul Grabowsky to compose a piano concerto for jazz piano trio and ensemble

Bowman, Calvin VIC $7,230
The composition of a 15‑minute divertimento for Australia Pro Arte

Cunio, Kim NSW $13,150
The composition of a new collaborative work for Indian flautist Dr Ramani

Dance North QLD $15,000
The commissioning of Iain Grandage to compose a musical score for a dance theatre work 'Remember Me'

Ensemble Offspring Incorporated NSW $3,800
A commission for Michael Smetanin to compose an eight‑minute work for amplified instruments

Extreme Music Pty Ltd VIC $11,900
Composition of mathcore/improvisational music for an album and five day workshop

JazzWA $15,950
Mace Francis to compose a new work 'Plonk!' for big band, string quartet, percussion and accordion

Komba, Mohamed VIC $17,015
A collaboration with diverse young artists to create original songs fusing urban and world music

Ledger, James WA $9,300
The composition of a new 18‑minute work for Slava Grigoryan and the Southern Cross Soloists

Nexas Quartet NSW $4,820
A commission for Amanda Cole to compose a 10‑minute microtonal work for Nexas Saxophone Quartet

Nguyen/Knight Duo VIC $12,000
The development of a suite of compositions combining Vietnamese and Western musical elements

Sandy Evans NSW $6,730
Composition of an extended work 'When the Sky Cries Rainbows' for Sandy Evans Trio and other artists

Spence, Alister NSW $6,500
The composition of a 40‑minute work for performance by the Australian Art Orchestra in 2009

Strange Fruit VIC $12,500
A commission for Graeme Leak to create a work to be placed on the Federation Bells in Melbourne

Sydney Soloists NSW $6,564
A commission for Elena Kats‑Chernin to compose a 12‑minute work for Sydney Soloists

The Nova Ensemble Inc WA $12,094
A week‑long development period to create new repertoire for experimental and other instrumentation

The Seraphim Trio VIC $9,740
The commissioning of two separate new works for piano trio from Anne Boyd and George Palmer

Tura New Music Ltd WA $15,000
A commission for Mary Finsterer to compose a large‑scale orchestral work 'In Praise of Darkness'

Victorian Opera Company Ltd VIC $15,624
A one‑week developmental workshop for a new Australian chamber opera by Andrew Ford and Sue Smith

PRESENTATION AND PROMOTION (GENERAL)
Closing Date: 15 November 2007
Grants: 18
Amount: $260,904.00

Andrea Keller Quartet VIC $13,847
A national tour by the Andrea Keller Quartet with collaboration of interstate artists

Audiopollen Social Club QLD $13,847
The presentation of the Audiopollen Live Music Festival, a five‑day experimental sonic art festival

Australian Festival of Chamber Music QLD $25,000
The presentation of a series of concerts and events for the Australian Festival of Chamber Music

Barros Lees, Stephanie QLD $9,280
Costs towards the production of a marketing campaign for the group, Pear and the Awkward Orchestra

Chronology Arts NSW $9,820
Costs towards producing a concert featuring emerging Australian musicians

Grainger Quartet Incorporated NSW $8,560
A four‑city tour performing a premiere of a work composed for the Grainger Quartet

Hilton, Mark NT $7,228
Costs towards a promotional tour of the east coast and album launch

Levinson, Matthew NSW $15,000
Costs towards promoting and subsidised advertising of Cyclic Defrost

Machine for Making Sense NSW $8,300
The presentation and promotion of the NOW now series of monthly concerts in 2008

Make It Up Club Inc VIC $20,000
Presentation of avant‑garde improvised music through a weekly concert series in Melbourne

New Music Network Inc. NSW $15,750
The presentation of the New Music Network 2008 Concert Series and the Peggy Glanville‑Hicks Address

Pinchgut Opera Ltd NSW $30,000
The presentation of the opera 'David and Jonathan' by Charpentier

Rompduo VIC $6,400
Costs towards a promotional tour of Rompduo, Barry Cockcroft and Adam Pinto

Sydney Omega Ensemble NSW $15,000
A contribution to the Sydney Omega Ensemble's 2008 program

Ten Part Invention Incorporated Association NSW $20,025
Contribution towards a concert series in Sydney and interstate

The Seraphim Trio VIC $13,850
Costs towards a tour to Sydney, Adelaide and Melbourne

Wollongong City Council NSW $20,000
Costs towards the Viva la Gong Festival featuring Australian artists and composers

Young Voices of Melbourne Inc VIC $15,000
Performance and education opportunities for young singers, and choral training for conductors

PRESENTATION AND PROMOTION (RECORDING PROJECTS)
Closing Date: 15 November 2007
Grants: 16
Amount: $106,463

Australia Asia Foundation VIC $5,000
The recording and manufacture of a CD of cross‑cultural music by Australian women composers

Australia Pro Arte VIC $7,500
The recording of a CD of contemporary Australian works, to be released by ABC Classics

Cale, Bruce TAS $5,500
The mastering, editing and promotion of a live CD recording of the Bruce Cale Quartet

Gracemusic Pty Ltd NSW $7,500
The recording of a master tape of new original material for the Mark Isaacs Resurgence Band

Hengeveld, Tobias VIC $4,000
The recording, mixing and mastering of an album by the group, The Night Bell

Latham, Christopher NSW $7,500
The recording of two CDs of works by Peter Sculthorpe and Elena Kats‑Chernin for online release

Maclean, Hilary NSW $4,435
The recording, mastering and promotion of a CD of choral music with the Sydney Chamber Choir

Maya Jupiter NSW $7,500
The recording, mixing and mastering of a CD album

Mei Lai Swan NT $7,500
The recording and release of a debut album

Nagorcka, Ronald TAS $7,500
The recording of 'Fantasia', a composition for clarinet and pipe organ

Nairn, Robert OS $7,500
The recording of a CD of works for double bass by Australian composers for the Tall Poppies label

Natsuko Yoshimoto/James Cuddeford Violin Duo NSW $7,500
The recording of a CD of Australian works for violin duo for the Tall Poppies label

Raga Dolls Salon Orchestra VIC $7,500
The recording and manufacture of a CD album

Sparke, Tanya NSW $7,500
The recording, mixing and mastering of eleven original compositions

Tsiboulski, Aleksandr SA $5,028
The recording of a CD of solo Australian classical guitar works for the Naxos label

Vincs, Robert VIC $7,500
The recording of a CD of collaborative works by Robert Vincs, Eugene Ughetti and Scott Dunbabin

SKILLS AND ARTS DEVELOPMENT (INDIVIDUALS)
Closing Date: 15 November 2007
Grants: 10
Amount: $82,509

Agzarian, Nina NSW $20,000
A contribution towards Sound Summit as part of This Is Not Art Festival in Newcastle

Black, Colin NSW $5,619
A contribution towards travel expenses to attend professional development opportunities in New York

Bryant, Gai NSW $5,121
Costs towards expenses for Jim McNeely to mentor a 16‑piece ensemble

Carey, Benjamin NSW $5,000
Support towards a year of study at the Conservatoire National de Region de Bordeaux

Fischer, Daniel VIC $9,309
Costs towards a mentorship with Michael Carvin in jazz drumming in New York

Ireland, Kristian OS $2,200
Attendance at the 2008 International Summer Course for New Music, Germany

Roberts, Jennifer OS $7,440
Advanced training at a piano factory in Germany and teaching at a piano conference in the USA

Robertson, Ben VIC $7,470
Costs towards intensive tuition in melodic Raga based studies with a South Indian violinist

Smith, Daniel NSW $10,000
A mentorship with Gianluigi Gelmetti

Wilson, Nicholas VIC $10,350
The presentation of a series of electronic music workshops for developing musicians by Clan Analogue

SKILLS AND ARTS DEVELOPMENT (ORGANISATIONS)
Closing Date: 15 November 2007
Grants: 3
Amount: $54,990
 
Moorambilla Festival Incorporated NSW $20,000
A choral program of workshops, camps and audition process for Moorambilla Regional Youth Choir

New England Conservatorium of Music NSW $20,000
A jazz residency by Gai Bryant for students in the Armidale and Inverell regions for six months

Topology Inc QLD $14,990
A music education program for young composers and performers

Summary statistics

Meeting attendees

Music board members: Professor Graeme Koehne SA (chair); Carol Day WA (deputy chair); Professor Andy Arthurs QLD; Fr. Arthur Bridge NSW; Graeme Lyall SA; Paul Petran VIC and Neil Thompson QLD. Apologies: Kim Mooney (NSW).

Participating advisers: Bruce Mowson VIC and Tracy Redhead NSW - media arts practice and contemporary music.