Archive for June 2008
2008 APRA – AGSC Screen Music Awards
The 2008 APRA – AGSC Screen Music Awards were held November 3rd, at the City Recital Hall in Sydney. The Awards ceremony opened with a brilliant live performance of a work titled November, written specially for the event by this year’s Musical Director, CEZARY SKUBISZEWSKI. The ensemble continued to delight audiences throughout the evening with their superb interpretations of the winning entries and Best Feature Film nominees.The annual celebration delivered the major award for BEST FEATURE FILM SCORE to internationally renowned composer DAVID HIRSCHFELDER for his work on the critically acclaimed movie Children of the Silk Road. With his most recent screen music project (Baz Luhrmann’s Australia) bound to attract plenty of attention, this is DAVID HIRSCHFELDER’s 7th Screen Music Award and the 5th he has received in the category of BEST FEATURE FILM SCORE.
The Awards revealed two multi-award winners; composers whose music reflected the light and shade of society. It was a brilliant night for Sydney based composer MICHAEL YEZERSKI. A former recipient of the APRA Professional Development Award in 2001, (a grant designed to identify and invest in the talents of emerging composers) the music composer for the uplifting Australian feature film The Black Balloon has received two nods at the 2008 APRA – AGSC Screen Music Awards in the category of BEST SOUNDTRACK ALBUM (The Black Balloon) and BEST ORIGINAL SONG COMPOSED FOR THE SCREEN, an award he shares with co-composer JOSH PYKE for the song “When We Get There”. A highlight of the evening was JOSH PYKE performing the winning song.
It was also a stellar night for scores from the darker side. Seasoned composer BURKHARD DALLWITZ has also received two Screen Music Awards for his work on the gritty, hit television series Underbelly. He has taken out the categories of BEST TELEVISION THEME for the suspenseful Underbelly. He has also received the APRA – AGSC Screen Music Award for Underbelly – Episode 5 in the category of BEST MUSIC FOR A TELEVISION SERIES OR SERIAL.
The evening’s musical director CEZARY SKUBISZEWESKI received the Screen Music Award in the category of BEST MUSIC FOR A DOCUMENTARY for his beautiful orchestral work on Night.
The award for BEST MUSIC FOR A SHORT FILM has gone to first time winner, composer GEOFFREY RUSSELL for Noir Drive a short film about a private investigator who is shanghaied into a web of lies and deceit following the murder of a wealthy businessman. ELLIOTT WHEELER has again proven himself to be a dynamo in the field of composing for advertisements taking out the category of BEST MUSIC FOR AN ADVERTISEMENT for the original ad Herringbone ‘Hands’. He last won an APRA – AGSC Screen Music Award in this category in 2006.
The multitalented CHRISTOPHER ELVES has won the award for BEST MUSIC FOR CHILDREN’S TELEVISION for the animated kid’s television series Animalia. He received the award for the episode, “Butterfly Winter”. This is his 5th Screen Music Award and his 2nd in the category of music for children’s television.
RICHARD PLEASANCE has received the award for BEST MUSIC FOR A MINI SERIES OR TELEMOVIE. The former member of Boom Crash Opera and record producer has emerged as one of Australia’s most versatile composers, and was recognised in 1999 by AGSC for his work on SeaChange. He receives this APRA AGSC award in 2008 for his work on the Channel Ten drama Emerald Falls.
Prolific composer, legendary jazz keyboardist, music manager, record label creator and recipient of this Award in 2006 and 2007 JAY STEWART was named the MOST PERFORMED COMPOSER – AUSTRALIA, while NEIL SUTHERLAND was given the award for MOST PERFORMED COMPOSER – OVERSEAS. Well known for his work on television shows such as Getaway, Dancing with the Stars and MythBusters, Neil Sutherland took out the Most Performed Composer - Australia in 2005, and Best Television Theme in the same year.
The prestigious INTERNATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD was handed to the successful composing duo of GARRY McDONALD and LAURIE STONE for their achievements in screen composition abroad.
Special guest presenters on the evening were DAVID HIRSCHFELDER, NADINE GARNER, FERGUS LINEHAN, TODD SAMPSON, MARTIN ARMIGER, LEAH PURCELL, BARRY OTTO, THE HONORABLE PETER GARRETT MP and RHYS MULDOON.
The 2008 Screen Music Award winners were:
International Achievement Award
Garry McDonald and Laurie Stone
Most Performed Screen Composer – Australia
Jay Stewart
Most Performed Screen Composer – Overseas
Neil Sutherland
Feature Film Score of the Year
Children of the Silk Road
David Hirschfelder
Best Music for a Documentary
NightCezary Skubiszewski
Best Music for a Short Film
Noir Drive
Geoffrey Russell
Best Music for a Television Series or Serial
Underbelly - Episode 5
Burkhard Dallwitz
Best Music for an Advertisement
Herringbone ‘Hands’
Elliott Wheeler
Best Soundtrack Album
The Black Balloon
Michael Yezerski
Best Music for a Mini-Series or Telemovie
Emerald Falls
Richard Pleasance
Best Original Song Composed for the Screen
When We Get There - The Black Balloon
Josh Pyke and Michael Yezerski
Best Television Theme
Underbelly
Burkhard Dallwitz
Best Music for Children’s Television
Animalia: “Butterfly Winter”
Christopher Elves
9th Johnny Dennis Music Awards Winners
The winners of the 9th JD Music Awards were announced on Wednesday, 11 June at an event at NSW Government House.The Australian Guild of Screen Composers would like to thank all who entered and congratulate the award recipients. (Photos: Trusteee Malcolm Harrison with one of the judges, Kamahl, and the winners)
10th Johnny Dennis Music Awards
Call for Entries
Entries are invited for the 10th Johnny Dennis Music Awards. There are three awards and each award carries a cash prize of $5,000 and entries close 30 April, 2009.
The categories are:
s Best Popular Song Award Prize: $5,000 cash
s Best Instrumental Award Prize: $5,000 cash
s Best Movie Theme Award Prize: $5,000 cash
Entry Form (Please print off this page and use as entry form)
Title of Work: (please print)
Name of Composer/Nominator:
Composer:
Company: (if applicable)
Address:
Phone:
Email:
Category (please indicate):
s Best Popular Song
s Best Instrumental
s Best Movie Theme
Please enclose:
s Lyric sheet (for Song category)
s CD (for Song and Instrumental categories)
s CD, DVD or VHS (for Movie Theme Award)
s Sentence outlining style of film (for Movie Theme Award)
Closing Date: Entries close 30 April, 2009.
Declaration by Person Making the Nomination
I, having read the conditions relating to the Johnny Dennis Music Awards, declare that I am eligible to receive the Award/s and that the music is original and has not been commercially released. I hereby nominate the work for consideration by the judges and agree to accept the decision of the Trustees, as final.
Name of Applicant:
Signature:
Date:
Entries to be sent to:
10th Johnny Dennis Music Awards, c/- Australian Guild of Screen Composers, PO Box 42, Potts Point NSW 2011. Entries must be received by or postmarked 30 April, 2009
About Johnny Dennis
English-born and christened Dennis John Mole, Johnny Dennis migrated to Australia in the late 1940’s and got his first musical break on the late Jim “Woody” Wood’s talent search program on Melbourne 3AW playing and singing ‘Chattanooga Shoe Shine Boy’. Soon after he was band pianist for three years at the Ritz Hotel, St. Kilda, before moving to the Gold Coast where, this time doubling on electric organ, he was for more than three years the keyboard man at the Palm Lounge of the Grand Hotel, Coolangatta, with Art Luden as compere. A confirmed traveller, who enjoyed living out of a suitcase, Johnny spent time working in Melbourne and Sydney, as well as the USA, England and Scotland. Finally settling on the Gold Coast in 1989, he died suddenly from a heart attack on his way to a rehearsal — a trooper to the end, or, putting it with far more justice —the essential entertainer who loved an audience.
Guidelines for the 10th Johnny Dennis Music Awards
Object To assist composers of light music achieve appropriate recognition. Please note: as this is an encouragement award previous winners are not eligible to enter.
Definition Light music means music and musical compositions suitable for public performance of an entertaining and melodious nature and shall include dance music, show and film music and music suitable for public and private entertainment through the medium of radio, television and various forms of recording. It shall not include music of a primarily percussive nature where melody is dominated by rhythm or music of an operatic or light operatic nature. The music can have an international or exotic flavour.
Judging ‘Blind’ judging will be used so the judges will not know the identity of the entrant. On receipt, each entry will receive a number identifying the entrant.
s On the CD or DVD do not write your name.
s Only write the category and title of work on the CD being entered into Song and Instrumental categories.
s For Movie Theme category only include title of film the music is composed for, plus a short sentence outlining the style of the film.
s The name of the songwriter should not be identified on any lyric sheets.
s Entrants not following these requirements will be automatically disqualified.
Best Popular Song and Best Instrumental Awards
s Music must be original and not commercially released (limited release/self publishing is acceptable)
s The work should be no longer than four (4) minutes.
s Each entry must be accompanied by a separate entry form and CD.
s CDs should be clearly marked indicating category and the title of the entry only.
s Songs should be accompanied by three (3) copies of the lyric sheet.
Movie Theme Award
s Music must be original and not commercially released.
s The work should be no longer than four (4) minutes.
s The theme can be written for a film in existence or a style of film i.e. comedy, action, drama etc. Please include a sentence outlining the style of film. Songs should not be submitted into this category.
s Style/genre of film should be written on the CD.
General
s Composers may enter all three (3) categories.
s There is no charge for entry and composers are restricted to one (1) entry per category.
s All categories will be judged by a panel that will include respected Australian musicians and industry personnel.
s Entries must be received or postmarked 30 April, 2009.
Inquiries
Email: agsc@cia.com.au
10th JD Music Awards Rules & Regulations
s The Trustees shall determine whether a composition falls within these guidelines and if a dispute arises the Trustees decision shall be final.The judging panel reserve the right to nominate any entry into another category if it deems that category more suitable.
s Each category will have its own judging panel and no individual can win more than one category in one year.
s All works submitted must be original.
s Entries for song, instrumental and movie theme should be no longer than four (4) minutes. Should the entry be longer than four (4) minutes only the first four minutes will be judged.
s Entries will be judged on the quality of the composition, not the recording or performance
s The Johnny Dennis Music Awards are not responsible for late, lost or damaged, misdirected, postage due, stolen or misplaced entries.
s No entries will be returned and receipt of entries will not be acknowledged. Entrants are advised to keep a copy of their entries.
s If the judges are unable to make a choice between two or more entries, the Trustees reserve the right to award the prize to more than one entrant and divide the prize money between or among the winning entrants.
s Recipients of awards are to be eligible, as defined by the Trust, to receive an award to encourage and assist them to receive appropriate recognition.
s Entry is free and open to all.
s Previous winners are not eligible to enter.
Trustees: Mr MFW Harrison (Founding Trustee) & Perpetual Limited
Administered by the Australian Guild of Screen Composers
The Johnny Dennis Music Awards thank APRA for their kind support.