Sydney-born saxophonist beats off stiff competition to take home Breakthrough Artist Award.

Sydney’s saxophone star Amy Dickson has become the first Australian performer to win a Classical BRIT Award taking out the Breakthrough Artist of the Year award for her new album Dusk & Dawn.

The Awards ceremony, held in London’s Royal Albert Hall, saw Dickson up against a lineup of star talent including American cellist Alisa Weilerstein, Maltese tenor Joseph Calleja and Norwegian trumpeter Tine Thing Helseth.

At the concert she also gave a crowd-pleasing performance of Going Home, a song which inspired the Mark Knopfler ‘concerto’ which formed part of her ARIA-nominated album Catch me If You Can.

“I was so honoured and surprised to receive the award, I was up against some really amazing performers”, London-based Amy said afterwards. “The whole night was incredible, not only winning the award, but to be the first Australian performer to do so…  I’m so thrilled.”

Dusk & Dawn shot straight to the No. 1 spot on the UK Classical Charts and has been described as late-night classical listening at its best. “The album is a beautiful mix of music from all genres, from Chopin to Tom Waits!” Dickson explains. “We have pulled...