Melbourne Prize 2007

David congratulates Paul Grabowsky, winner The Melbourne Prize

Media Release: The 2007 Melbourne Prize for Music

The $60,000 Melbourne Prize for Music 2007 will be awarded to a Victorian professional musician, or group of musicians, whose body of work has made an outstanding contribution to Australian music and has enriched our cultural and public life.

The Melbourne Prize for Music 2007 consists of three prize categories and is the most valuable prize of its kind in Australia.

This prize includes an international travel scholarship, valued at $30,000, supported by the City of Melbourne and $30,000 cash, supported by the Sidney Myer Fund and the Melbourne Prize Trust. The prize also includes an Italian language and cultural course, provided by the Italian Institute of Culture.

The finalists

The finalists for the Melbourne Prize for Music 2007 are:

• Brenton Broadstock
• Paul Grabowsky
• David Jones
• Paul Kelly
• Richard Mills

A free public display of finalists’ achievements will be held at Federation Square; the home of the annual Melbourne Prize and exhibition partner, between 12 and 26 November 2007. Visitors to the exhibition at Federation Square will be able to read about each finalist and listen to their music.

The Melbourne Prize for Music 2007 winners will be announced on www.melbourneprizetrust.org on 13 November.

The Prize’s Awarding Committee includes Trevor Green – Managing Director, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Nicolette Fraillon – Music Director and Chief Conductor, the Australian Ballet, Dr. Tony Gould AM, Professor Jonty Stockdale – Head, School of Music, VCA, Faculty of The University of Melbourne and Chong Lim – Composer, Producer, and Musical Director.

Melbourne Prize Trust Executive Director and Founder, Mr Simon Warrender, said “our list of finalists is as diverse as the music tastes of the community and represents the immense musical talent we have in Victoria”.

“The Melbourne Prize for Music 2007 is unique in that it is open to performers and composers across all musical genres – we want to recognise and reward talent, regardless of genre,” said Mr Warrender.

About the Melbourne Prize

The annual Melbourne Prize is the prize of the city for the city and focuses on Melbourne’s position as an arts and culture hub. Run over a three-year cycle for Victorian entrants, it commenced with the Melbourne Prize for Urban Sculpture in 2005, the Melbourne Prize for Literature in 2006 and the Melbourne Prize for Music in 2007. The three-year cycle will start again with the Melbourne Prize for Urban Sculpture 2008. A main prize of $60,000 is planned for each year, plus other award categories tailored specifically to benefit each sector.

Listed on the Australian Federal Government’s  register of Cultural Organisations, the Melbourne Prize Trust is an initiative of the Committee for Melbourne and coordinates the annual Melbourne Prize. The generous support of partners and patrons has made the annual Melbourne Prize possible.

For further information please visit www.melbourneprizetrust.org

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