Amy Bastow named as a finalist for the 2013 APRA Professional Development Awards

Posted by Amy on 10/03/2013

Amy Bastow named as a finalist in the Film and Television category of the 2013 APRA Professional Development Awards

Amy Bastow named as a 2013 APRA Professional Development Awards finalist — Amy Bastow named as a finalist in the Film and Television category of the 2013 APRA Professional Development Awards

36 songwriters and composers have been announced as finalists in the 2013 APRA Professional Development Awards (PDAs) and are now one step closer to becoming Australia’s next musical success story.

The finalists’ list features a mix of songwriters and composers including some that are already on the rise. From Matt Corby, Husky Gawenda, Thomas Busby, Leah Flanagan and Elizabeth Rose to experimental classical composer Julian Day, country music star Morgan Evans, screen composer Amy Bastow and Casey Golden who is making his mark on the Australian jazz scene.

A panel of high profile judges including Jason Mraz, Josh Pyke, Gary Clark, Troy Cassar-Daley and Sam Hollander have given their initial verdict to arrive at an exciting list of composers who are in the running to receive one of eight PDAs when they are announced on Monday, March 25.

With a total prize pool value of $240,000 this year’s winners will take home a life-changing package to the value of $30,000 including $12,000 cash courtesy of APRA. Winners will also receive a ‘Music Industry Consultancy Package’ that involves one-on-one sessions with Managers, Publishers and Music Industry business teams, so they’ll be fully set up to take their career to the next level.

The finalists of the 2013 APRA PDAs:

Film and Television

Amy Bastow, David Barber, Tristan Coelho, Aaron Kenny and Joe Twist

Classical

Julian Day, Nirmali Fenn, Alexander Garsden, Daniel Rojas and Chris Williams

Popular Contemporary Music

Andy Bull, Andrew Burford, Thomas Busby, Thomas Calder, Jack Carty, Matt Corby, Husky Gawenda, Georgi Kay, Jordie Lane and Elizabeth Rose

Jazz

Kristin Berardi, Sam Boon, Casey Golden, Steve Newcomb and Matthew Sheens

Country

Chelsea Basham, Lachlan Bryan, Brad Butcher, Peter Denahy, Morgan Evans and Matt Scullion

Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander (ATSI)

Dewayne Everettsmith, Leah Flanagan, Nathan Lamont, Gina McGill and Warren H Williams

Hamer Hall Performance of Amy’s String Quartet

Posted by Amy Bastow on 03/02/2013

Melbourne’s most sought after contemporary music ensemble, 3 Shades Black, made an incredible performance of Amy’s string quartet “Breathing Through A Hole” at Hamer Hall last Friday the 1st of February 2013. The concert was the first in the Riverside Live Program for 2013 and made a grand splash with a full audience eager to ask this “living composer” lots of questions about her piece. “Breathing Through A Hole” was originally written for the Australian String Quartet as part of the National Composers Forum. The piece explores the notion of suffocation. How much air do we need to survive? The piece makes use of strained harmonics, gasping for breath; close minor second intervals that confine our ears and continuously morphing harmonies that suggest escape, but take us nowhere. There are brief moments of respite, where the listener inhales soaring string solos and fills their lungs with ascending lines of passionate vibrato, but the momentary elation is soon stifled by the grip of harsh non vibrato lines. As the piece comes to an end, the remaining air is thin…the contrapuntal textures becoming faint and pale. Will the listener escape or will they be left breathing through a hole?

Here is a snippet from the concert at Hamer Hall on Friday:

…or why not listen to an extended version played by The Australian String Quartet.

The keys to design success: transforming the humble piano

Posted by Amy on 02/11/2012

Who says tradition has to live on? The basic shape of the grand piano has remained virtually unchanged for centuries…but not any more. There is no limit to what a piano can look like these days (as some of these designs will testify). I love my piano, but bring on the super slick glass racing car style piano. I reckon I could play twice as fast on that thing. Check out some more incredible piano designs.

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