Tony Gould wins Don Banks Music Award
- Posted:
- February 26th, 2009
- Guest
Dr Tony Gould from the School of Music Conservatorium has this week been awarded Australia’s most valuable and prestigious individual music prize – the Australia Council for the Arts’ Don Banks Music Award. The Australia Council presented eminent Australian jazz pianist and composer with the $60,000 award at a ceremony celebrating his rich contribution to Australian music at Bennetts Lane Jazz Club.
Australia Council chief executive officer Kathy Keele said that Dr Gould’s achievements placed him at the forefront of Australian jazz and improvised music.
‘Dr Gould has made a stellar contribution to Australia’s cultural life as an outstanding pianist, composer and music educator,’ she said.
‘His work combining improvisation with classical music traditions has been key to his enormous impact on Australian music, and especially on his many students. He has been at the vanguard of improvised music and helped craft a distinctive Australian musical voice.’
Dr Tony Gould’s career stretches over more than 30 years of achievement. He has more 13 original recordings under his belt, including collaborations with some of Australia’s most eminent jazz musicians including John Sangster and David Jones, and has supported some of the biggest names in jazz, from Dave Brubeck to Oscar Peterson. His full orchestral version of Dylan Thomas’ Under Milk Wood was premiered by the Queensland Philharmonic Orchestra.
Recent awards include: APRA / Australian Music Centre (AMC) Classical Music Award for “Outstanding Contribution to Australian Music in Education” (2005) Australia Council Music Board Fellowship (2006-2007) Distinguished Artist residency at Arthur Boyd’s artist’s studios in Bundanon (2007) Order of Australia (AM) (2007).
