NOMINATION: Work of the Year - Choral
Choral works are defined as accompanied or unaccompanied works for massed voices (more than 1 singer per part).
A work is defined as a single complete musical composition, or expression. This includes music with movements or sub-works (i.e. song cycles), installations, and real-time compositions (improvised music).
If you believe your work to be nominated in the wrong category or the details of your nomination to be incorrect, please contact the AMC via email at awards@australianmusiccentre.com.au before proceeding with the nomination.
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Nominee
Kym Dillon
Title of the work
Robbie's Daydream
Librettist(s) or source author(s)
Verbatim Text from Robbie Heywood
Performer
Homophonic!
Performance Date
3/2/2024
Venue
Federation Square
Nominator Statement
Robbie's Daydream is part of the RESPECT project. Putting LGBTIQ+ composers in conversation with seniors from the community and commissioning new works for voices and strings inspired by their lives.
Robbie's Daydream is truly special. A meeting of minds of composer and subject. Within minutes of meeting Kym and Robbie described themselves as Soul Sisters, and have many life moments that connect them, even with many decades between them.
The text is verbatim, and the setting perfectly mimics Robbie's speech cadence, and Kym has poured love and respect and dedication into every fibre of this work. From the opening notes you hear the distinctive whine of Robbie's favourite engine: the plane that kept her safe during her years of flying fighter jets. This work takes the realities of hiding from dysphoria in different places as a vehicle (pardon the pun) to explore the joy and transcendence of gender euphoria. Robbie in her cockpit, and Kym in her music.
This is a work of love, a work of survival, and a work of resilience. Since it's premiere it was performed 7 times already in 2024, with plans for more outings in 2025. It's been aired on ABC Classic, 3RRR, and others. It's beloved by the ensemble and most importantly: beloved by Robbie.
Queer and especially in todays political climate: trans history is essential. And this work is a core part of how we can keep our histories alive and protect ourselves from erasure.
To quote limelight: "Opening on a high, Kym Dillons Robbies Daydream takes libretto from an interview with a former fighter pilot, telling a story of finally finding gender affirmation. Born of a Homophonic! commissioning project turning local senior LGBTQ+ stories into concert works, the piece was virtuosic, grippingly emotive and perfectly paced. The Consort of Melbourne handled the lyrics with skill and style, while the propulsive, intricate string parts woven through the piece were surmounted thrillingly by the Homophonic String Quintet. A triumph for all involved, this work deserves many more performances, and proves Dillon as a skilled composer to keep an eye on."
Nominee
Kym Dillon
Title of the work
Robbie's Daydream
Librettist(s) or source author(s)
Verbatim Text from Robbie Heywood
Performer
Homophonic!
Performance Date
3/2/2024
Venue
Federation Square
Robbie's Daydream is truly special. A meeting of minds of composer and subject. Within minutes of meeting Kym and Robbie described themselves as Soul Sisters, and have many life moments that connect them, even with many decades between them.
The text is verbatim, and the setting perfectly mimics Robbie's speech cadence, and Kym has poured love and respect and dedication into every fibre of this work. From the opening notes you hear the distinctive whine of Robbie's favourite engine: the plane that kept her safe during her years of flying fighter jets. This work takes the realities of hiding from dysphoria in different places as a vehicle (pardon the pun) to explore the joy and transcendence of gender euphoria. Robbie in her cockpit, and Kym in her music.
This is a work of love, a work of survival, and a work of resilience. Since it's premiere it was performed 7 times already in 2024, with plans for more outings in 2025. It's been aired on ABC Classic, 3RRR, and others. It's beloved by the ensemble and most importantly: beloved by Robbie.
Queer and especially in todays political climate: trans history is essential. And this work is a core part of how we can keep our histories alive and protect ourselves from erasure.
To quote limelight: "Opening on a high, Kym Dillons Robbies Daydream takes libretto from an interview with a former fighter pilot, telling a story of finally finding gender affirmation. Born of a Homophonic! commissioning project turning local senior LGBTQ+ stories into concert works, the piece was virtuosic, grippingly emotive and perfectly paced. The Consort of Melbourne handled the lyrics with skill and style, while the propulsive, intricate string parts woven through the piece were surmounted thrillingly by the Homophonic String Quintet. A triumph for all involved, this work deserves many more performances, and proves Dillon as a skilled composer to keep an eye on."