APRA/AMCOS & AMC Endorsement for AJRB

If you know me, you'll know that I'm not good at talking up any kind of achievement; it makes me uncomfortable to be recognised. After all, it's not about me. It's about recognising, representing the phenomenal talent of living composers we have in Australia. However, at the recent APRA/AMCOS & AMC Art Music Awards it was fantastic to be nominated and to just be in the room. There's a sense that rebuilding is happening; and also the sense that good people are determined to build back better. 

The judges comments were as below: (originailly published at: https://www.australianmusiccentre.com.au/article/2022-art-music-awards-what-the-judges-said). I'll take this as an endorsement to keep going.

Excellence in Music Education

Overall comment

The panel found it great to see just how diverse the nominations were in this year's nomination list, noting the broad range of activities that were conducted within the programs. Artist facilitated projects from Honeybee Creative and Tim Nikolsky's work on the Australian Real Jazz Book are great examples of grassroots collectives and individuals holding their own against larger organisations. The music education is indeed vibrant, alive and well despite hardships over the last few years and prevalent attitudes towards Art Music in the public eye.

Tim Nikolsky for Activity - leadership, connecting, contribution

The work that Nikolsky is doing shows his utmost dedication to creating an important collection of music for students that deserve to be played and heard across the continent if not further afield. He continues to expand the collection and continues to recognise what needs to be captured, and how he can use this resource as a platform for shining light on underrepresented voices in the Australian Jazz genre. The Australian Jazz Real Book is a great example of how composers need people like Nikolsky to compile these kinds of resources for the community at large to access.