Paul Lowin Prizes 2022 Announced

Composers Paul Dean and Elliott Gyger have been announced as the recipients of the 2022 Paul Lowin Prizes. 

Brisbane-based composer and clarinettist Paul Dean was awarded the Paul Lowin Orchestral Prize, his first, valued at $25,000, for his first symphonic work, Symphony No.1, “Black Summer”. Aptly titled, the work was written at the conclusion of the Australian bushfires of 2019-20 and the first few months of the COVID-19 pandemic. The symphony was commissioned by the Alexander Briger, chief conductor and artistic director of the Australian World Orchestra who premiered the piece at their 10th birthday celebrations in 2021. Dean’s Symphony stood out among 52 entries in the prize category for its sustained intensity, powerful sense of urgency and scope.

Melbourne-based composer Elliott Gyger was awarded the Paul Lowin Song Cycle Prize, valued at $15,000, for his work Autobiochemistry for mezzo-soprano and cello. Among the 44 entries for this prize category Gyger was praised for his bold use of data-driven text and an elegant combination of voice and cello. For this work, Gyger set music to a 22-poem sequence of the same title by Sydney poet Tricia Dearborn. Autobiochemistry was commissioned by Gyger’s long-time collaborators Halcyon, who will present its world premiere in Sydney in December.
Autobiochemistry marks Gyger’s second win in the Paul Lowin Song Cycle Prizes. He previously won the prize in 2013 for his work giving voice and had also been shortlisted in 2019 and 2006.

Entries of the 2022 Paul Lowin Prizes reflected a wide range of musical approaches and stylistic interpretations of the orchestral and song cycle forms. The shortlisted composers were also acknowledged in the prize presentation. They were Anne Cawrse and Matthew Hindson for the Orchestral Prize, and Brett Dean and Cameron Lam for the Song Cycle Prize. 

The Paul Lowin Prizes were presented in conjunction with the annual Peggy Glanville-Hicks Address, delivered by William Barton and Dr Anita Collins and a performance by double bassist Ben Ward of Walimbaya by Yuin composer Brenda Gifford.

The last winners of the Paul Lowin Prizes in 2019, were Katy Abbott and Nigel Westlake.

The Paul Lowin Prizes are among Australia’s richest prizes for music composition, and are a testament to the impact of philanthropy in fostering and encouraging the creation of new music. Nominations for the Prizes are accepted from the general public as well as composers and music professionals. The Paul Lowin Prizes are managed by Perpetual as Trustee for the Paul Lowin Trust and presented in collaboration with the Australian Music Centre. Previous recipients of the Paul Lowin Orchestral Prizes include Nigel Westlake, Lachlan Skipworth, Mary Finsterer, and Liza Lim. Previous recipients of the Paul Lowin Song Cycle Prize include Katy Abbott, Brett Dean, and Rosalind Page.

The results in full:

PAUL LOWIN ORCHESTRAL PRIZE ($25,000)
WINNER Paul Dean – Symphony No. 1, “Black Summer” (2021)
SHORTLISTED Anne Cawrse – The Rest is Silence – Concerto for Cor Anglais and Orchestra (2021)
SHORTLISTED Matthew Hindson – Soprano Saxophone Concerto (2019)
PAUL LOWIN SONG CYCLE PRIZE ($15,000)
WINNER Elliott Gyger – Autobiochemistry (2019) for mezzo-soprano and cello
SHORTLISTED Brett Dean – Madame ma bonne sœur (2021) for mezzo-soprano and string quartet
SHORTLISTED Cameron Lam – The Splendour of Lying Naked in the Sun (2022) for soprano, mezzo-soprano, counter tenor, tenor, baritone, and bass.

The Paul Lowin Prizes are among Australia’s richest prizes for music composition, and are a testament to the impact of philanthropy in fostering and encouraging the creation of new music. Nominations for the Prizes are accepted from the general public as well as composers and music professionals. The Paul Lowin Prizes are managed by Perpetual as Trustee for the Paul Lowin Trust and presented in collaboration with the Australian Music Centre.

Previous recipients of the Paul Lowin Orchestral Prizes include Nigel Westlake, Lachlan Skipworth, Mary Finsterer, and Liza Lim. Previous recipients of the Paul Lowin Song Cycle Prize include Katy Abbott, Brett Dean, and Rosalind Page.

The Australian Music Centre (AMC) is the national service organisation dedicated to the promotion and support of both the art form of music and the creators and performers of contemporary classical, improvised jazz, experimental music and sound art in Australia. australianmusiccentre.com.au