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Australia's first and only baroque music festival has been selected as a finalist in this year's ABC Limelight Awards, which will be announced in December.

Festival Baroque Australia, which is based at The University of Western Australia's School of Music, will compete against established organisations such as the Australian Chamber Music Festival, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and Musica Viva in the event/festival category.

The Limelight Awards will be presented at a ceremony in the Utzon Room of the Sydney Opera House on Thursday, December 15.  The award nominees are decided by an expert panel, with the winners decided by public vote.

Senior Honorary Research Fellow in the School of Music, Emeritus Professor Sandra Bowdler, who started Festival Baroque Australia in 2007, said the festival was honoured to be nominated along side such illustrious groups.

"UWA's School of Music has a strong record in the area of teaching, researching and performing baroque music and Festival Baroque Australia is proud to use those strengths and hopefully build on them," Professor Bowdler said.

"Many of our graduates have trained overseas and are in high demand in the UK and Europe as baroque performers.  One of our main aims is to bring these expatriate performers to Perth so Western Australians can enjoy their gifts."

UWA graduate and internationally acclaimed soprano Sara Macliver is artistic advisor for Festival Baroque Australia and will feature in its fourth Christmas concert, "Cherubim and Seraphim" at the University Club on Wednesday, December 7 at 8pm.  The concert will also feature boy soprano William Huxtable and Stewart Smith on harpsichord.

Bookings are available from the club on 6488 8770.

Media references

Emeritus Professor Sandra Bowdler (UWA Music School)  (+61 8)  6488 4845
Michael Sinclair-Jones (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 3229  /  (+61 4) 00 700 783