Andrea Lam’s Piano Diary has been awarded Best Classical Album at the ARIA Awards, presented at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion on 19 November.

The album of 16 diverse tracks – ranging from Earl Wild’s Etude No. 6 (based on Gershwin’s I Got Rhythm) to Chopin’s Ballade No. 4 and Nocturne in C-sharp minor – was described by Limelight’s reviewer as “a beautifully performed gem with something for every lover of the instrument”.

Andrea Lam. Photo © Lisa Marie Mazzucco

Piano Diary has topped a category that also includes Australian Chamber Orchestra and Richard Tognetti’s Tchaikovsky: Serenade for Strings and Adante Cantabile / Shostakovich: Chamber Symphony in C Minor, Nat Bartsch’s Forever Changed, Simone Young and Sydney Symphony Orchestra’s Mahler: Symphony No. 2 / Barton: Of the Earth and Sophie Hutchings’ Become the Sky.

Also in the Fine Arts section, Lucy Clifford has collected Best Jazz Album for Between Spaces of Knowing.

Gurrumul has been awarded Best World Music Album for Banbirrngu – The Orchestral Sessions, which revisits some of the late singer-songwriter’s works with the Prague Metropolitan Orchestra in arrangements by Erkki Veltheim.

Best Original Soundtrack has been awarded to the various artists release How to Make Gravy.

In the headline awards, Amyl and The Sniffers have dominated with four wins – Album of the Year, Best Group, Best Rock Album and Best Cover Art for Cartoon Darkness.

Ninajirachi has secured three awards: Best Solo Artist, Michael Gudinski Breakthrough Artist and Best Independent Release for I Love My Computer. 

Dom Dolla has collected the inaugural Global Impact Award, presented by Spotify, recognising his growing international influence. He has also won Best Dance/Electronic Release. 

ARIA Hsll of Fame inductees You Am I. Photo supplied

Other notable wins include Thelma Plum (Best Pop Release), Missy Higgins (Best Adult Contemporary Album), Kasey Chambers (Best Country Album), Tame Impala (both Best Engineered and Best Produced Release) and BOY SODA (Best Soul/R&B Release), with Taylor Swift crowned Most Popular International Artist. 

Rock legends You Am I have been inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame, with a tribute performance of their classics Heavy Heart and Berlin Chair.

Laneway Festival has been honoured with the inaugural Best Music Festival Award – introduced this year to recognise and celebrate the critical role Australian music festivals play in showcasing and advancing local talent, offering breakthrough moments and essential exposure as well as transforming the careers of Australian artists by connecting them with wider audiences.