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At the 2007 ARIA Fine Arts Awards last night, Australia’s most highly regarded and established musicians were nominated alongside a choir of homeless and disadvantaged singers, reminding us that no matter what your technical prowess, the power to move people through music is all about passion.
 
The ceremony celebrated both passion and excellence within the Australian music industry across four genres. Honouring achievements in the Classical, Jazz, World Music and Soundtrack/Cast/Show recordings, the Fine Arts event, now in its fourth year in the ARIA program, was held at the magnificent Verbrugghen Hall at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.
 
Winner of the ARIA Award for BEST SOUNDTRACK/CAST/SHOW ALBUM is one of this year’s music industry success stories, the Choir of Hard Knocks. An ABC TV documentary series told the heart warming story of how a group of people traditionally socially marginalised find hope, joy and self-worth through singing. Led by Choir Director Jonathan Welch and with Jimmy Barnes as Patron, this group have become a phenomenon and sales of their album are now approaching 100,000 units.
 
After winning the ARIA Award for BEST CLASSICAL ALBUM in 2006 for his solo Bach recording, National Living Treasure Richard Tognetti has made it two in a row. For this year’s Award winner, BACH VIOLIN CONCERTOS, he directs the Australian Chamber Orchestra with their continuation of the cycle that documents all the music for solo violin written by the great baroque master.
 
Duologue, the winner of the BEST JAZZ ALBUM is the live recording made by ABC Classic FM’s Jazztrack program. A late night set at the 2004 Wangaratta Jazz Festival captured the magic of two of the jazz world’s elder statesmen - pianist Mike Nock and soprano saxophonist Dave Liebman - getting reacquainted after several decades apart. The performances are spontaneous and intimate, a musical dialogue that reflects the joy of two good mates catching up on each other’s stories.
 
The incomparable Zulya, who kicked off her European Tour in Moscow last night, was winner of the ARIA Award for BEST WORLD MUSIC ALBUM. After emigrating from Central Russia fifteen years ago, Zulya, along with her band Children of the Underground, have made a major impression at home and abroad. The album 3 NIGHTS spent four months in the top ten of the European World Music Charts and sees her singing in three languages - Russian, English and her native Tatar.
 
This special gathering was hosting by ABC Classic FM Drive presenter Julia Lester, with special guest presenters Peter Sculthorpe, Yvonne Kenny, Teddy Tahu Rhodes, Deni Hines, James Morrison and Jimmy Barnes. The event was broadcast live nationally on ABC Classic FM.
 
The audience were treated to performances by this year’s nominees Slava and Leonard Grigoryan, David Bridie, Mark Isaacs and Richard Tognetti with the Australian Chamber Orchestra.
 
Katie Noonan, 2005 Fine Arts ARIA Award winner for BEST JAZZ ALBUM, also performed a track from her new solo album SKIN, arranged by her 2005 ARIA co-winner, Paul Grabowsky.