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Australian Composer Wins Spanish Cultural Award


Renown Australian classical music composer, Peter Sculthorpe, has been awarded the 2009 prize from the prestigious cultural organisation Casa Asia.

Mr Sculthorpe was chosen by the jury for his opera and suite for orchestra Quirós, based on the story of the Spanish navigator Pedro Fernández Quirós, which highlights historical bonds between Spain and the Pacific. He was lauded for integrating in his musical career the promotion of inter-cultural understanding and harmony. Mr Sculthorpe is the first ever winner from the Pacific.

The annual Casa Asia award, which is in its sixth year, acknowledges both individuals and institutions that, through their projects or actions, help to improve understanding, dialogue and harmony among the societies of the Asia Pacific and Spain, or have worked to improve the dignity and human rights in the Asia Pacific region.

Mr Sculthrorphe shares this honour with the EFE Development Agency. Previous individual winners have included Pakistani writer and journalist Ahmed Rashid (2008), Spanish Jesuit Kike Figaredo (2007), Spanish journalist Rosa María Calaf and Pakistani Mukhtar Mai (2005), Professor Raimon Pannikar from the Department of Spanish of the University of Beijing (2004).

Casa Asia is planning an award ceremony and reception in October this year. Even at 85 years of age, Mr Sculthorpe is a keen traveller and is planning to attend the event in Madrid.


For information about the Casa Asia award, please refer to Casa Asia’s website.

A biography on Mr Sculthorphe and more information on his work and life can be found on his website: http://www.petersculthorpe.com.au/