NSW Government and Sydney Conservatorium announces new $30,000 award

Earlier this year Australia lost one of its most accomplished, internationally acclaimed and celebrated musical luminaries. Since his death on August 8, tributes to Peter Sculthorpe have come from across Australia and beyond, with many orchestras and ensembles performing memorial concerts celebrating the achievements of a composer many regard as the greatest produced by our nation. It was announced today that a new fellowship is to be created to further honour the tremendous contribution of Peter Sculthorpe to the cultural heritage of Australia. In addition to his accomplishments as a composer Sculthorpe was also a gifted and committed educator, and so this academic award is an apt addition to his legacy.

The $30,000 Peter Sculthorpe Fellowship will be offered by the NSW Government and the Sydney Conservatorium of Music every other year to support the development of an emerging NSW-based composer or instrumentalist specialising in the performance and production of new Australian music.

“The Conservatorium is honoured to continue Peter’s support for new Australian music with the announcement of this new Fellowship,” said Dr Karl Kramer, Dean of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

The generous award is by far the largest bursary of its kind for an emerging composer or contemporary music specialist in Australia. A committee comprising of representatives from the Sculthorpe Trustees, the NSW Government and the University of Sydney will be convened next year to assess prospective applicants for what is sure to be a highly competitive vetting process.

Further details on how to apply to the fellowship are due to be released early in 2015.

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