On Wednesday 17th February at 8.20 pm Ruby Hunter passed away at her home in south west Victoria.

Everybody at the AAO is deeply affected by the passing of this wonderful woman who taught us so much about ourselves, other people, forgiveness and the real reason we are on this planet.
We extend our deepest sympathy to Archie and his family.
SIGNAL ART ENSEMBLE EDUCATION PROJECT, directed by Gillian Howell
A unique opportunity to work with leading professional musicians
The Signal Art Ensemble is a new education initiative funded by the City of Melbourne. It provides a performing and composing context for musicians aged 13-18 who will work with members of the Australian Art Orchestra.
The program is for young musicians who play orchestral or band instruments and are interested in developing their skills in composition and ensemble playing.
The music composed in each project will take inspiration from the ideas and repertoire that underpin some of the Australia Art Orchestra’s concert programs in 2010. Two workshop periods will take place in 2010
Applications close 15th March More information and application formComing up in 2010...Crossing Roper Bar: AAO and Young Wagilak Group

Image credit: Tobias Titz
In Adelaide for the Australian Performing Arts Market our ongoing collaboration with the Young Wagilak Group lead by Benjamin Wilfred (pictured), traditional Manikay Songman of Ngukurr in Arnhem Land NT, will perform to allow delegates to assess the program for domestic and international touring.
Specifically, the AAO will be offering Crossing Roper Bar for touring in Europe in June/ July 2011 and assessing opportunities for other projects: Into the Fire and Ringing the Bell Backwards.
Thursday 25 February 2010
www.performingartsmarket.com.au
ALSO COMING SOON: The Young Wagilak Group featured with Scott Tinkler, Erkki Veltheim and the London Sinfonietta at the Adelaide Festival in Wind and Glass.
Sunday 28th February 2010
WATCH THIS SPACE: for information on the much anticipated release of the Crossing Roper Bar CD later in 2010, which will be available on this website
Coming up in 2010...WORLD PREMIERE of Miles Davis: Prince of Darkness @ Melbourne International Jazz Festival 2010
The Australian Art Orchestra returns to its jazz roots with a stunning new musical work inspired by the legendary jazz trumpeter Miles Davis. Widely considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, Davis was at the forefront of almost every major development in jazz from World War II to the 1990s. Miles Davis: Prince of Darkness explores this extraordinary oeuvre through new arrangements of seminal Davis works, a performance of the original Gil Evans composition “Sketches of Spain” and a new work by Anthony Pateras commissioned especially for this project.
Melbourne International Jazz Festival, Melbourne Town Hall
Friday 5 May 2010
Coming up in 2010...Meet Me in the Middle of the Air @ Hamer Hall, Melbourne
2010 sees the return of the popular Paul Grabowsky / Paul Kelly / AAO collaboration based on a series of ‘songs of praise’ written by Kelly, arranged by Grabowsky and featuring guest vocals by Vika and Linda Bull.
Premiered at Adelaide Cabaret Festival in 2005 and followed by a sell-out concert at the Sydney Opera House June 2008, Meet Me in the Middle of the Air will now play one of Melbourne's biggest and most famous venues.
Friday 4 June 2010
Scott Tinkler's 'folk' @ Wangaratta Jazz Festival

Finishing off the year in true AAO style, Scott Tinkler and 'folk' presented Scott's brand new work at this year's Wangaratta Jazz Festival on Friday 30th October.
To read more about this year's Festival and keep up to date on reviews and news from the show, check out the Wangaratta Jazz Festival site.
The Chennai Tapes @ Melbourne Recital Centre, 11 Oct 2009
Check out more footage from the show on our AAOvideo channel.
"Born out of a relationship strengthened over thirteen years of collaboration between the Australian Art Orchestra (AAO) and Sruthi Laya Ensemble, The Chennai Tapes (Into the Fire) is an utterly stunning accomplishment. Built on the South Indian Carnatic tradition, the programme is interpreted by some of Australia’s leading jazz players under the direction of Adrian Sherriff to remarkable effect". (Zoe Rinkle, Arts Hub)
The Chennai Sessions CD available NOW at our online shop

More about The Chennai Sessions and Into the Fire.
The Chennai Tapes @ Melbourne Recital Centre, audience survey
If you attended The Chennai Tapes at Melbourne Recital Centre on Sunday 11th October and would like to fill out our online survey, please follow the link below:
Thanks for coming and for your input. Your feedback is valuable to us and we appreciate you taking the time to tell us what you think.
Crossing Roper Bar wins @ 2009 Classical Music Awards
Image credit: Nick Kind
Congratulations to all involved in the Tura New Music and Australian Art Orchestra Crossing Roper Bar Top End Tour 2008 - proud winners of the 2009 Classical Music Awards 'Outstanding Contribution to Australian Music in a Regional Area'. The group closed out the Awards Ceremony in Sydney on Monday night to rapturous applause and great delight all round. Well done guys!
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