{"id":13792,"date":"2025-08-21T11:59:11","date_gmt":"2025-08-21T11:59:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/13792\/"},"modified":"2025-08-21T11:59:11","modified_gmt":"2025-08-21T11:59:11","slug":"opera-about-ancient-king-gilgamesh-crowned-winner-at-the-2025-art-music-awards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/13792\/","title":{"rendered":"Opera about ancient king Gilgamesh crowned winner at the 2025 Art Music Awards"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">One of Australia&#8217;s newest operas, Gilgamesh, has been crowned the biggest winner of the 2025 Art Music Awards in a ceremony held in Sydney on 21 August.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Other winners include former ABC Classic presenter and producer Stephen Adams, jazz outfit Koi Kingdom featuring saxophonist Cheryl Durongpisitkul, and performers including Sydney Chamber Opera, Opera Australia, the Australian String Quartet and Ensemble Offspring.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">The awards recognise the achievements of composers and performers of contemporary classical music, jazz, improvisation, electronic sound arts and experimental practices.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Based on an ancient Sumerian epic, Gilgamesh tells the story of a tyrant king who learns the meaning of wisdom through friendship, love and loss during the course of the opera.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"A man on stage painted all gold with a gold leaf crown and large gold skirt flowing outwards like he's been twirling around.\" class=\"Image_image__5tFYM ContentImage_image__DQ_cq\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/a9197f0bb917caa657895b31f5df7817\" loading=\"lazy\" data-component=\"Image\" data-lazy=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"Typography_base__sj2RP FigureCaption_text__zDxQ5 Typography_sizeMobile12__w_FPC Typography_lineHeightMobile20___U7Vr Typography_regular__WeIG6 Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx\" data-component=\"Typography\">Australian opera Gilgamesh was premiered in 2024 by Sydney Chamber Opera, Opera Australia, the Australian String Quartet and Ensemble Offspring. (Sydney Chamber Opera\/Opera Australia: Daniel Boud)<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Premiered in 2024, it is the first time the epic of Gilgamesh has been performed as an English language opera, with text written by well-known librettist Louis Garrick.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Gilgamesh&#8217;s composer, Jack Symonds, received two awards: Work of the Year: Dramatic for Gilgamesh, and the NSW State Luminary Award for his outstanding contributions to contemporary Australian opera.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Gilgamesh also earned Sydney Chamber Opera, Opera Australia, the Australian String Quartet and Ensemble Offspring the award for Performance of the Year: Notated Composition.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Former ABC Classic producer Stephen Adams, long-time curator of Australian music for the network, has been recognised with a National Luminary Award for his outstanding contribution and dedication to Australian music.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Women composers continue to make a strong impact in the Australian art community.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Cheryl Durongpisitkul conducts on a dark stage. Her eyes are closed and she has both arms raised in the air.\" class=\"Image_image__5tFYM ContentImage_image__DQ_cq\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/f404eb15ecbaf3accff503680db2b3f4\" loading=\"lazy\" data-component=\"Image\" data-lazy=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"Typography_base__sj2RP FigureCaption_text__zDxQ5 Typography_sizeMobile12__w_FPC Typography_lineHeightMobile20___U7Vr Typography_regular__WeIG6 Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx\" data-component=\"Typography\">Jazz composer and saxophonist Cheryl Durongpisitkul won Work of the Year: Jazz as part of the trio Koi Kingdom. (Supplied: AMC\/APRA AMCOS)<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Anne Cawrse, Cathy Milliken and Kate Milligan won Work of the Year awards for Choral Composition, Chamber Music and Electroacoustic\/Sound Art respectively.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Melbourne-based Jazz musician Cheryl Durongpisitkul was part of the award-winning trio Koi Kingdom for Work of the Year: Jazz.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Chloe Kim&#8217;s composition, titled Music for Six Double Bassists, won Performance of the Year: Jazz\/Improvised Music category.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Art music visionaries, Jon Rose and Hollis Taylor, were honoured with the prestigious Richard Gill Award for Distinguished Services to Australian Music for their boundary-pushing work and sonic exploration.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Rose and Taylor have frequently collaborated on innovative projects including Great Fences of Australia, which maps the acoustic qualities of 35,000 kilometres of fence lines across the Australian outback.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">The ceremony, organised by the Australian Music Centre and APRA AMCOS, was held at Sydney&#8217;s City Recital Hall. ABC Classic Drive presenter Vanessa Hughes hosted with guest presenters Nardi Simpson and Hamed Sadeghi, and music curation by Sia Ahmad.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>List of winners and FinalistsWork of the Year: Choral<\/p>\n<ul class=\"ContentAlignment_marginBottom__4H_6E ContentAlignment_overflowVisible__N2zKU\">\n<li><strong>Winner: Anne Cawrse: All Flesh Is Fire, text by Kate Llewellyn \u2014 performers: Adelaide Chamber Singers<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Damian Barbeler: Charlotte, text by Judith Nangala Crispin \u2014 performers: Choir of King&#8217;s College Cambridge<\/li>\n<li>Kevin March: Electric Cathedral, text by Kylie Supski and ReVerse Butcher \u2014 performers: The Consort of Melbourne<\/li>\n<li>Harry Sdraulig: Evening Star, text by Edgar Allan Poe \u2014 performers: Sydney Chamber Choir<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Work of the Year: Dramatic<\/p>\n<ul class=\"ContentAlignment_marginBottom__4H_6E ContentAlignment_overflowVisible__N2zKU\">\n<li><strong>Winner: Jack Symonds: Gilgamesh, text by Louis Garrick \u2014 performers: Sydney Chamber Opera, Opera Australia, Australian String Quartet and Ensemble Offspring<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Fiona Hill: A Library of Extraordinary Things \u2014 performers: Sydney Dance Company Pre-Professional Year Dancers, choreographer Miranda Wheen<\/li>\n<li>Aija Draguns: In Cosmic Utero, text by Bianca Watkins \u2014 performers: Sydney Conservatorium of Music and Aija Draguns, conductor<\/li>\n<li>Evan J Lawson: Labyrinth, text by Daniel Szesiong Todd \u2014 performers: Forest Collective<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Work of the Year: Jazz<\/p>\n<ul class=\"ContentAlignment_marginBottom__4H_6E ContentAlignment_overflowVisible__N2zKU\">\n<li><strong>Winner: Cheryl Durongpisitkul, Stephen Hornby and Marcos Villalta: Koi Kingdom \u2014 performer: Koi Kingdom<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Claire Cross: Sleep Cycle \u2014 performers: Claire Cross, Reuben Lewis, Merinda Dias-Jayasinha and Kyrie Anderson<\/li>\n<li>Paul Grabowsky: The Rhythms Of Autumn Leaves \u2014 performer: Monash Art Ensemble \u2014 publisher: Origin Music Publishing.<\/li>\n<li>Amy Dowd and Michael Power: Tooni \u2014 performers: Amy Dowd, Mick Power, Ben Yarram, Isadora Lauritz, Emma Volard and the Australian Art Orchestra<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Work of the Year: Large Ensemble<\/p>\n<ul class=\"ContentAlignment_marginBottom__4H_6E ContentAlignment_overflowVisible__N2zKU\">\n<li><strong>Winner: Jakub Jankowski: Ritornello \u2014 performers: Australian Chamber Orchestra<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Nicholas Vines: A Mega Masquerade \u2014 performers: Australian Youth Orchestra Momentum Ensemble<\/li>\n<li>Olivia Davies: Hyphae \u2014 performers: West Australian Symphony Orchestra and Dmitry Matvienko<\/li>\n<li>Elizabeth Younan: Nineteen Seventy-Three \u2014 performers: Sydney Symphony Orchestra<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Work of the Year: Chamber Music<\/p>\n<ul class=\"ContentAlignment_marginBottom__4H_6E ContentAlignment_overflowVisible__N2zKU\">\n<li><strong>Winner: Cathy Milliken: In Speak \u2014 performers: Arditti Quartet<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Helen Svoboda: Headwater \u2014 performers: Helen Svoboda, Selma Savolainen, Jacques Emery and Tilman Robinson<\/li>\n<li>Dr Lou Bennett AM and Paul Stanhope: nyilamum song cycles \u2014 performers: Dr Lou Bennett AM and Australian String Quartet \u2014 publisher: Wise Music<\/li>\n<li>Michael Kieran Harvey: War Sonatas \u2014 poet and narrator: Dr Arjun Von Caemmerer \u2014 performer: Michael Kieran Harvey<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Work of the Year: Electroacoustic\/Sound Art<\/p>\n<ul class=\"ContentAlignment_marginBottom__4H_6E ContentAlignment_overflowVisible__N2zKU\">\n<li><strong>Winner: Kate Milligan: Tactus \u2014 performer: Jonty Coy<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Gabriella Smart: Parasymbiosis \u2014 performers: Gabriella Smart, Kasper Toeplitz and Didier Casamitjana<\/li>\n<li>Aviva Endean: The Breath Becomes The Wind \u2014 performers: Aviva Endean and Pat Telfer<\/li>\n<li>Sophie Rose: To Echoes and Lines \u2014 performers: Judith Dodsworth<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Performance of the Year: Jazz\/Improvised Music<\/p>\n<ul class=\"ContentAlignment_marginBottom__4H_6E ContentAlignment_overflowVisible__N2zKU\">\n<li><strong>Winner: Max Alduca, Jacques Emery, Brett Hirst, Chloe Kim, Oscar Neyland, Helen Svoboda and Jonathan Zwartz: Music For Six Double Bassists \u2014 composed by Chloe Kim<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Tom Avgenicos, Delay 45 and Ensemble Apex: Ghosts Between Streams \u2014 composed by Tom Avgenicos<\/li>\n<li>Hamed Sadeghi and Eishan Ensemble: By The Mountain \u2014 composed by Hamed Sadeghi<\/li>\n<li>Xani: Endurance \u2014 composed by Xani Kolac<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Performance of the Year: Notated Composition<\/p>\n<ul class=\"ContentAlignment_marginBottom__4H_6E ContentAlignment_overflowVisible__N2zKU\">\n<li><strong>Winner: Sydney Chamber Opera, Opera Australia, Australian String Quartet and Ensemble Offspring: Gilgamesh \u2014 composed by Jack Symonds, text by Louis Garrick<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Adelaide Chamber Singers: All Flesh Is Fire \u2014 composed by Anne Cawrse, text by Kate Llewellyn<\/li>\n<li>Dr Lou Bennett AM and the Australian String Quartet: nyilamum song cycles \u2014 composed by Dr Lou Bennett AM and Paul Stanhope \u2014 published by Wise Music<\/li>\n<li>West Australian Opera: Wundig wer Wilura \u2014 composed by Gina Williams and Guy Ghouse \u2014 published by Perfect Pitch Publishing<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Excellence Awards<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Three Excellence Awards were given out to projects that illuminate the importance of cross-cultural collaboration and artistic practice in contemporary Australian art music.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\"><strong>Musica Viva Australia <\/strong>received this year&#8217;s <strong>Award for Excellence in Music Education <\/strong>for its Accessible Music Education Program.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Finalists:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"ContentAlignment_marginBottom__4H_6E ContentAlignment_overflowVisible__N2zKU\">\n<li>Erica Rasmussen for Crashendo \u2014 Leading Note<\/li>\n<li>Speak Percussion for Bespoke Artists Program<\/li>\n<li>Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra for TSO Schools Runouts<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Leading arts and social change organisation, <strong>Big hART<\/strong>, won the <strong>Award for Excellence in a Regional Area<\/strong> for Tjaabi: Flood Country \u2014 2024 Regional Tour.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Finalists:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"ContentAlignment_marginBottom__4H_6E ContentAlignment_overflowVisible__N2zKU\">\n<li>Arafura Music Collective for Kaleidoscope: The Music of LGBTIQA+ Composers<\/li>\n<li>Ekstasis Ensemble for Limitless<\/li>\n<li>Music in the Regions for providing high quality classical music to audiences across regional New South Wales<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Multi-award winner <strong>Aviva Endean <\/strong>took out the <strong>Award for Excellence in Experimental Practice <\/strong>for her work: The Breath Becomes The Wind.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Finalists:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"ContentAlignment_marginBottom__4H_6E ContentAlignment_overflowVisible__N2zKU\">\n<li>Dale Gorfinkel for OutHear<\/li>\n<li>Jasmin Wing-Yin Leung and Sally Ann McIntyre in collaboration with Mindy Meng Wang and Kaylie Melville for The Ninth Tone<\/li>\n<li>the music box project for Cut Paste Play 2024<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Luminary Awards<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">The annual Luminary Awards are presented to those who have made a sustained impact on musical communities through their leadership, artistic practice and the championing of Australian repertoire.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Former ABC Classic curator of Australian music <strong>Stephen Adams <\/strong>was recognised with the <strong>Luminary Award: National Individual <\/strong>for his outstanding contribution and dedication to Australian music as a broadcaster, producer, composer and advocate.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\"><strong>Decibel New Music <\/strong>received the <strong>Luminary Award: National Organisation <\/strong>for its program of concerts, releases, tours and publications.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">The following Luminary Awards were also presented to individuals and organisations who have made significant contributions to the music community in their local state or territory.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"ContentAlignment_marginBottom__4H_6E ContentAlignment_overflowVisible__N2zKU\">\n<li>Luminescence Chamber Singers (ACT) for their annual program in ACT and beyond<\/li>\n<li>Jack Symonds (NSW) for outstanding contributions to contemporary Australian opera<\/li>\n<li>Adelaide Chamber Singers (SA) for sustained contribution to commissioning and artistic excellence<\/li>\n<li>Nat Bartsch (VIC) for advocacy for neurodiversity in music<\/li>\n<li>Stevie McEntee (TAS) for programming of Clarence Jazz Festival and as artistic director\/founding member of Lutruwita Art Orchestra<\/li>\n<li>Muses Trio (QLD) for Muses Inc.<\/li>\n<li>Perth International Jazz Festival (WA) for growth of the Perth International Jazz Festival 2020 \u2014 2024<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Get the latest classical music stories direct to your inbox<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"One of Australia&#8217;s newest operas, Gilgamesh, has been crowned the biggest winner of the 2025 Art Music Awards&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":13793,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[264],"tags":[12872,12871,12870,18,117,19,17,337],"class_list":{"0":"post-13792","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-music","8":"tag-australian-composers","9":"tag-australian-music","10":"tag-classicnews","11":"tag-eire","12":"tag-entertainment","13":"tag-ie","14":"tag-ireland","15":"tag-music"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13792","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13792"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13792\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13793"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13792"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13792"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13792"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}