NOMINATION: Luminary - State and Territory
The Luminary Awards seek to honour individuals and organisations who, through sustained contribution (demonstrated over a period 3-5 years prior), have impacted their communities on a state or territory level through visionary leadership, fearless trailblazing, high-level artistic practice, and championing of Australian repertoire.
Nominations for individuals should demonstrate a program of activities or a range of projects rather than (for example) the recording and release of a single album. Nominations for a single work or project should be made in the Work of the Year or Excellence categories.
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
Stephanie Nicholls
Nominated Project/Activity
Creating pathways for women in chamber music through her Artistic Direction of Mirabilis Collective
State/Territory
Western Australia
Nominator Statement
As Artistic Director of Mirabilis Collective, Stephanie Nicholls has established herself as an influential force in Australia's chamber music landscape. Her visionary leadership, unwavering commitment to gender equity, and innovative approach to programming make her an outstanding candidate for the Luminary of the Year award.
Under Nicholls' direction, Mirabilis Collective has become a pioneering ensemble dedicated to celebrating and amplifying the voices of female composers. Since its founding in 2023, Mirabilis Collective has performed works by 78 female composers, including 30 Australians and 8 West Australians, reaching over 2,000 attendees through 20 public performances. This impressive achievement directly addresses the historical underrepresentation of women in classical music.
Nicholls' leadership has been characterised by three core achievements: commissioning groundbreaking new works, fostering intergenerational collaboration, and expanding audience engagement through innovative programming.
Her commitment to championing new Australian compositions is exemplified by the commissioning of six new works by West Australian composers in 2023/2024. These commissions, including the critically acclaimed "It Was Only a Dream" by Candice Susnjar, create vital opportunities for women composers while enriching Australia's musical landscape. As noted by Professor Alan Lourens of UWA Conservatorium of Music, these commissions "create opportunities that rarely exist for many West Australian women composers" and "encourage the development of, and diversity within original Australian music."
The Collective's innovative programming approach has been equally impactful. Their concert series feature thoughtfully curated programmes that pair contemporary Australian works with traditional repertoire, making new music accessible to broader audiences. David Cusworth of The West Australian praised their performances, noting how Mirabilis Collective "kept the audience guessing" with their "enticing offering" of diverse works.
Beyond performance, Nicholls has transformed educational outreach. The Collective has introduced over 800 students to women's voices in music through school workshops and expanded community engagement through outreach at UWA. Testimonials from educators at Hale School praise how these workshops have inspired students "for weeks afterward" and provided crucial exposure to "diverse music written and performed by women."
Nicholls' innovative approach extends to professional development. Mirabilis Collective features early-career musicians in every concert, providing invaluable mentorship and performance opportunities. As Helen Tuckey, MEAA WA Branch President (Musicians), observes: "These are rare and treasured experiences and it's great that the musical growth through rehearsals and performances can be offered to both performers and composers, and in formative as well as professional stages."
Industry peers recognise the exceptional contribution of Nicholls and Mirabilis Collective. Bourby Webster, Western Australian of the Year for Arts & Culture 2019, states: "They're not just enriching our local cultural scene; they're actively shaping the future of classical music presentation in WA... They demonstrate that innovative and deliberately inclusive programming doesn't just have a place in the arts sector, it's essential."
Stephanie Nicholls embodies the qualities of a true luminary: artistic excellence, innovative vision, and transformative leadership. Her extensive career experience as Associate Principal Oboe with WASO (contract), Principal Oboe Consultant for AMEB, and lecturer at UWA and WAAPA, combined with her passionate advocacy for women's voices in music, has positioned her at the forefront of positive change in Australia's musical landscape.
By recognising Nicholls as Luminary of the Year, the Australian Art Music Awards would celebrate a leader who is actively shaping a more inclusive, vibrant, and sustainable future for Australian chamber music.
Nominee
Stephanie Nicholls
Nominated Project/Activity
Creating pathways for women in chamber music through her Artistic Direction of Mirabilis Collective
State/Territory
Western Australia
Under Nicholls' direction, Mirabilis Collective has become a pioneering ensemble dedicated to celebrating and amplifying the voices of female composers. Since its founding in 2023, Mirabilis Collective has performed works by 78 female composers, including 30 Australians and 8 West Australians, reaching over 2,000 attendees through 20 public performances. This impressive achievement directly addresses the historical underrepresentation of women in classical music.
Nicholls' leadership has been characterised by three core achievements: commissioning groundbreaking new works, fostering intergenerational collaboration, and expanding audience engagement through innovative programming.
Her commitment to championing new Australian compositions is exemplified by the commissioning of six new works by West Australian composers in 2023/2024. These commissions, including the critically acclaimed "It Was Only a Dream" by Candice Susnjar, create vital opportunities for women composers while enriching Australia's musical landscape. As noted by Professor Alan Lourens of UWA Conservatorium of Music, these commissions "create opportunities that rarely exist for many West Australian women composers" and "encourage the development of, and diversity within original Australian music."
The Collective's innovative programming approach has been equally impactful. Their concert series feature thoughtfully curated programmes that pair contemporary Australian works with traditional repertoire, making new music accessible to broader audiences. David Cusworth of The West Australian praised their performances, noting how Mirabilis Collective "kept the audience guessing" with their "enticing offering" of diverse works.
Beyond performance, Nicholls has transformed educational outreach. The Collective has introduced over 800 students to women's voices in music through school workshops and expanded community engagement through outreach at UWA. Testimonials from educators at Hale School praise how these workshops have inspired students "for weeks afterward" and provided crucial exposure to "diverse music written and performed by women."
Nicholls' innovative approach extends to professional development. Mirabilis Collective features early-career musicians in every concert, providing invaluable mentorship and performance opportunities. As Helen Tuckey, MEAA WA Branch President (Musicians), observes: "These are rare and treasured experiences and it's great that the musical growth through rehearsals and performances can be offered to both performers and composers, and in formative as well as professional stages."
Industry peers recognise the exceptional contribution of Nicholls and Mirabilis Collective. Bourby Webster, Western Australian of the Year for Arts & Culture 2019, states: "They're not just enriching our local cultural scene; they're actively shaping the future of classical music presentation in WA... They demonstrate that innovative and deliberately inclusive programming doesn't just have a place in the arts sector, it's essential."
Stephanie Nicholls embodies the qualities of a true luminary: artistic excellence, innovative vision, and transformative leadership. Her extensive career experience as Associate Principal Oboe with WASO (contract), Principal Oboe Consultant for AMEB, and lecturer at UWA and WAAPA, combined with her passionate advocacy for women's voices in music, has positioned her at the forefront of positive change in Australia's musical landscape.
By recognising Nicholls as Luminary of the Year, the Australian Art Music Awards would celebrate a leader who is actively shaping a more inclusive, vibrant, and sustainable future for Australian chamber music.