The Australian Brandenburg Orchestra’s “Sanctuary” album (ABC Classics/Universal) nabbed the Best Classical Album at the second ARIA Fine Arts Awards, held Oct. 11 at the Sydney’s Conservatorium of Music ‘s Verbrugghen Hall.
The awards are organized by trade body the Australian Record Industry Association. They were introduced last year as a break-away event from the 19-year-old main ARIA ceremony to focus on classical, jazz and world music genres.
“Before Time Could Change Us” (Warner Music), a collaboration between Katie Noonan, from the operatic-rock band George, and jazz pianist and songwriter Paul Grabowsky was named Best Jazz Album.
Also collecting awards was the band Monsieur Camembert, whose fusion of Eastern Europe rhythms with tango, latin music and French musette saw their self titled indie album (MGM) take the Best World Music category.
Meanwhile, veteran electronic and multimedia pioneer Severed Heads, whose movie soundtrack to “The Illustrated Family Doctor,” clinched the Best Soundtrack/Cast and Show category.
Severed Heads’ Tom Ellard dedicated his win to his students at the University of Western Sydney and University of Technology, saying, “See, even the freaks can win.”
Sara Macliver and Sally Anne Russell’s “Baroque Duets” album (ABC Classical) was voted Listener’s Choice by listeners of the government-run national radio network Classical FM, which also broadcast the event.
The winners were selected by an undisclosed number of music industry representatives.
More than 250 record label and publisher executives mingled with Conservatorium’s students at the events.
Footage of the night’s event will be included on the free-to-air Ten Network’s broadcast of the major ARIA awards, which will be held at the Sydney SuperDome Oct. 23.
Performers were Severed Head, Monsieur Camembert, the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra and classical composer Elena Kats-Chernin.
