In music, all genres are created equal – at least, they should be. And a hefty cash prize from the Melbourne Prize Trust is treating all kinds of music – from bedroom-produced electronica to large-scale rock and roll to hip-hop and jazz – with equal stature.
Coming around once every three years since 2001, the calendar has rotated once more to present The Melbourne Prize for Music 2013, offering a range of cash prizes to “all genres” with “no age limit”, organisers emphasise, open to all Victorian performers and composers with a total prize pool of over $100,000, as ArtsHub reports.
Entries for the Melbourne Prize are now open on the official website, and allows entrants to be made by individual musicians or groups, as well as by nomination, for the three awards categories which are some of the most valuable prizes in Australia.
The top prize is worth $60,000, supported by The Vera Moore Foundation, The Tallis Foundation and the Melbourne Prize Trust, which is “awarded to a Victorian musician, or group of musicians, whose work has made an outstanding contribution to Australian music and has enriched cultural and public life,” reads the entry form, emphasising that it is open to all genres and that there is no age limit.
The same conditions apply to the $30,000 Outstanding Musicians Award, which comes with $2,500 in air travel credit from Qantas, and is presented to the winner with “recent work representing an outstanding example of creativity and skill.” The final two prizes are the $13,000 Development Award (divided into $7,000 cash and a $6,000 Yamaha Music Australia grant), and $4,000 cash for the Civic Choice Award for 2013.
The final list of nominees will be selected from a judging panel that features singer Kate Ceberano, respected pianist/composer/conductor Paul Grabowsky, composer and musical director Chong Lim, Huw Humphreys, Director of Artistic Planning of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, and Professor Barry Conyngham – Dean of the Faculty of the VCA and MCM University of Melbourne.
Finalists are then announced on 4th September, with a free public exhibition at Federation Square showcasing the finalists’ work from 8th to 22nd November and the 2013 Melbourne Prize recipients announced on 19th November.
Melbourne Prize Executive Director, Simon Warrender, tells ArtsHub, “Victoria is renowned for its vibrant music sector and the Melbourne Prize for Music 2013 and awards will recognise and reward excellence and talent across all music genres.”
“We are delighted to support the local music sector, which adds to our community in so many ways,” adds Mr Warrender. “The prize this year has been made possible by the support and generosity of our partners and patrons, all of whom understand the importance of fostering our creative resources.” Patrons of the award include government partners Arts Victoria and City Of Melbourne.
Past winners of the top $60,000 prize include drummer/percussionist David Jones and Paul Grabowsky, in 2007 before becoming a judge for this year’s prize.
Head to www.melbourneprize.org for more details.
