NOMINATION: Excellence in a Regional Area
For activity undertaken in a regional area, utilising Australian repertoire to create a positive impact for the local community. A regional area is defined as Australian areas outside of capital cities.
If you believe you are 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.
Art Music Award guidelines →
Nominee
Louise McKenna Travers
Nominated Project/Activity
Waltz for a Sky Queen
Nominator Statement
Waltz for a Sky Queen, a dual cycle musical story suite composed by Louise McKenna Travers, featuring the premiere of Driftwood and Feather, as well as a repeat performance of When Birds Take Flight, was performed on 1 December 2024 at the Denmark Civic Centre. Drawing on the power of music and art to open our hearts and minds to our deep relationship with and responsibility to the natural world, these recently composed works give voice to the migratory birds who are increasingly at risk of extinction from human development, environmental devastation and loss of habitat.
Rendered in unique blends of contemporary, jazz and classical harmonies, Waltz for a Sky Queen, was brought to life by Woven Womens Vocal Ensemble and Swing Into Sing children, accompanied by Louise on piano and an invited contemporary instrumental line-up, including Grant Moulden, double bass, Sam Reeves, classical guitar, Nola Formentin, trombone and percussion, Mark Gretton, drums and Amanda Reynolds, cello. Of special note was the involvement of artist Jenny Wilson in our set design, featuring work from her recent Great Southern Art Trail Exhibition at the Denmark Visitor Centre. David Nile and John Dodds expertise offered exciting lighting and sound dimensions to the whole experience.
The whole production was two years in the making. Denmark Festival of Voice 2023 saw the performance of four songs from the early development phase of When Birds Take Flight, an original story and song cycle, honouring migratory shorebirds on their perilous flight from Djerrt Mia, a unique bird sanctuary in Denmark, Western Australia to Siberia and back. Composed by Louise, with poetic contributions by Jen Fraser, these original songs evolved into an eleven-piece suite performed to a full capacity audience in February 2024 at Golden Hill Denmark. Driftwood and Feather, another multi-piece creation of 10 choral and instrumental works fully composed in 2024, portrays the unique journeys of diverse birds across the world, drawing on the culturally rich musical traditions of the lands they traverse and call home.
A growing vocal repertoire includes solo and ensemble arrangements and a range of creative performance and style opportunities. Partnered with a collaborative and nurturing rehearsal schedule, ongoing projects provide growth and skill opportunities for a wonderful community of local women singers of varying ages, backgrounds and performance experience, as well as newly emerging child performers. These works provide ongoing employment opportunities for artists, professional musicians, sound and lighting specialists and videographers from the Great Southern region.
Programme notes, videos of performance (full concert or highlights), and written audience reviews are available.
Nominee
Louise McKenna Travers
Nominated Project/Activity
Waltz for a Sky Queen
Rendered in unique blends of contemporary, jazz and classical harmonies, Waltz for a Sky Queen, was brought to life by Woven Womens Vocal Ensemble and Swing Into Sing children, accompanied by Louise on piano and an invited contemporary instrumental line-up, including Grant Moulden, double bass, Sam Reeves, classical guitar, Nola Formentin, trombone and percussion, Mark Gretton, drums and Amanda Reynolds, cello. Of special note was the involvement of artist Jenny Wilson in our set design, featuring work from her recent Great Southern Art Trail Exhibition at the Denmark Visitor Centre. David Nile and John Dodds expertise offered exciting lighting and sound dimensions to the whole experience.
The whole production was two years in the making. Denmark Festival of Voice 2023 saw the performance of four songs from the early development phase of When Birds Take Flight, an original story and song cycle, honouring migratory shorebirds on their perilous flight from Djerrt Mia, a unique bird sanctuary in Denmark, Western Australia to Siberia and back. Composed by Louise, with poetic contributions by Jen Fraser, these original songs evolved into an eleven-piece suite performed to a full capacity audience in February 2024 at Golden Hill Denmark. Driftwood and Feather, another multi-piece creation of 10 choral and instrumental works fully composed in 2024, portrays the unique journeys of diverse birds across the world, drawing on the culturally rich musical traditions of the lands they traverse and call home.
A growing vocal repertoire includes solo and ensemble arrangements and a range of creative performance and style opportunities. Partnered with a collaborative and nurturing rehearsal schedule, ongoing projects provide growth and skill opportunities for a wonderful community of local women singers of varying ages, backgrounds and performance experience, as well as newly emerging child performers. These works provide ongoing employment opportunities for artists, professional musicians, sound and lighting specialists and videographers from the Great Southern region.
Programme notes, videos of performance (full concert or highlights), and written audience reviews are available.