Australia Day honour for mighty muso
The gay co-founder and artistic director of the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra and Brandenburg Choir has been recognised in the Australia Day Honours List, announced on Saturday, January 26. Paul Dyer was awarded the Officer of the Order of Australia (OA) for his ‘distinguished service to the performing arts, particularly orchestral music as a director, conductor and musician, through the promotion of educational programs and support for emerging artists’.
“This award is wonderful recognition of Paul’s huge contribution to music in Australia, through his founding and inspired leadership of the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra,” Australian Brandenburg Orchestra chairman Rowan Ross said.
“Under Paul’s direction, the Brandenburg has become one of the most outstanding period instrument ensembles in the world. This honour is richly deserved.”
Dyer said it was a wonderful honour and that he was grateful to Australia audiences who had embraced the Brandenburg so strongly.
“When we started the Orchestra in 1990, there was no skill or tradition in the use of period instruments or playing on gut strings in Australia. We had to start from scratch,” he said.
“Many fine musicians and students took the leap of faith with me. This award acknowledges just how far we’ve come in bringing the exquisite sound of period music to life in Australia in the modern age, and with a distinctive Australian style.
“Today, 24 years later, I proudly take to the stage with talented and highly skilled early music musicians – both orchestral players and choral singers – who are amongst the finest in the world. We enjoy a place in the heart of many Australians through our concerts and recordings and that is something for which I am very grateful.”
Brandenburg’s 2013 season kicks off in Sydney and Melbourne in March with the return of popular French countertenor Philippe Jaroussky.
