NOMINATION: Excellence in Music Education
For pedagogical, creative or professional development activities that champion Australian repertoire, including specific projects, recordings or recording projects, or events undertaken by an individual or organisation.
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
Raquel Bastos
Nominated Project/Activity
AMEB Viola Series 2 Grade 5 and 6 books
Nominator Statement
Raquel Bastos was the specialist Viola Consultant engaged for the Australian Music Examinations Board (AMEB) Viola Series 2, Grade 5 and 6 publications, released November 2024. These are books of graded repertoire intended for viola students around Australia, particularly for those intending to undertake an AMEB practical exam.
Im nominating Raquel Bastos for going well and truly above the remit for her role in developing these highly anticipated and crucial publications, for an instrument that has been historically under-resourced around the world. Specifically, for:
1) Going to extraordinary lengths to locate, adapt (where necessary) and edit works by Australian composers, encouraging the next generation of Australian Viola students to engage with Australian music. Works by Australian composers that have been published in the books include:
- Miriam Beatrice Hyde. Scherzino from 2 pieces for viola and piano
- Andrea Keeble. A study in black
- Phillip Norman. The Flingamango tango from When Gravity fails
- Neridah Oostenbroek. Fantasy
- Neridah Oostenbroek. Celtic lullaby
2) Additionally, providing specialist advice on grading suitability as part of AMEBs First Nations composer project, leading to the development of the first commissioned work by a First Nations composer in an AMEB publication, Aaron Wyatts Aloft.
3) Consulting with Australian arrangers and Baroque keyboard specialists to find, create and adapt new Australian editions of established works. Arrangements by Australian composers/arrangers include:
- Henry Eccles arr. Donald Nicolson. Largo and corrente from Violin sonata No 11
- Elisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre arr. Donald Nicolson. Presto from Sonata No 1
- Benedetto Marcello arr. John ODonnell. Adagio and Allegro from Sonata No 2
- George Frideric Handel arr. John ODonnell. Andante larghetto and Allegro from Viola da gamba sonata HWV 364b
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart arr. Roger Benedict. Allegro from Bassoon concerto KV 191
- Gabriel Pierné arr. Steven Hodgson. Cantilène from 3 pièces Op. 29
- Carl Stalling arr. Paul Groh Galop from The three bears
4) Conducting an incredibly broad literature review of over 1500 works in order to find the most appealing, pedagogically valuable repertoire for the grades in a wide variety of styles. Activities included:
- Attending interstate sheet music warehouse and library visits
- Liaising directly with international and Australian music publishers
- Liaising directly with Australian and international composers, particularly Viola specialists
- Liaising with a wide network of teaching colleagues nationally and internationally for repertoire recommendations
5) Bringing her considerable teaching experience and expertise to the editing and preparation of each work, including:
- Setting an appropriate tempo for students at the grade level
- Adding idiomatic markings including bowing, fingering and string designations
- Adding editorial articulations and dynamic markings to help students as appropriate to the style of the work
- Writing performance notes
Raquels tireless, expert and incredibly thoughtful contribution to these new publications will have a significant impact on Viola teaching around the country, and highlight her as a deserving candidate for this award.
Nominee
Raquel Bastos
Nominated Project/Activity
AMEB Viola Series 2 Grade 5 and 6 books
Im nominating Raquel Bastos for going well and truly above the remit for her role in developing these highly anticipated and crucial publications, for an instrument that has been historically under-resourced around the world. Specifically, for:
1) Going to extraordinary lengths to locate, adapt (where necessary) and edit works by Australian composers, encouraging the next generation of Australian Viola students to engage with Australian music. Works by Australian composers that have been published in the books include:
- Miriam Beatrice Hyde. Scherzino from 2 pieces for viola and piano
- Andrea Keeble. A study in black
- Phillip Norman. The Flingamango tango from When Gravity fails
- Neridah Oostenbroek. Fantasy
- Neridah Oostenbroek. Celtic lullaby
2) Additionally, providing specialist advice on grading suitability as part of AMEBs First Nations composer project, leading to the development of the first commissioned work by a First Nations composer in an AMEB publication, Aaron Wyatts Aloft.
3) Consulting with Australian arrangers and Baroque keyboard specialists to find, create and adapt new Australian editions of established works. Arrangements by Australian composers/arrangers include:
- Henry Eccles arr. Donald Nicolson. Largo and corrente from Violin sonata No 11
- Elisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre arr. Donald Nicolson. Presto from Sonata No 1
- Benedetto Marcello arr. John ODonnell. Adagio and Allegro from Sonata No 2
- George Frideric Handel arr. John ODonnell. Andante larghetto and Allegro from Viola da gamba sonata HWV 364b
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart arr. Roger Benedict. Allegro from Bassoon concerto KV 191
- Gabriel Pierné arr. Steven Hodgson. Cantilène from 3 pièces Op. 29
- Carl Stalling arr. Paul Groh Galop from The three bears
4) Conducting an incredibly broad literature review of over 1500 works in order to find the most appealing, pedagogically valuable repertoire for the grades in a wide variety of styles. Activities included:
- Attending interstate sheet music warehouse and library visits
- Liaising directly with international and Australian music publishers
- Liaising directly with Australian and international composers, particularly Viola specialists
- Liaising with a wide network of teaching colleagues nationally and internationally for repertoire recommendations
5) Bringing her considerable teaching experience and expertise to the editing and preparation of each work, including:
- Setting an appropriate tempo for students at the grade level
- Adding idiomatic markings including bowing, fingering and string designations
- Adding editorial articulations and dynamic markings to help students as appropriate to the style of the work
- Writing performance notes
Raquels tireless, expert and incredibly thoughtful contribution to these new publications will have a significant impact on Viola teaching around the country, and highlight her as a deserving candidate for this award.