Distinguished Service to Australian Music Award recognises the composer for his major musical achievements.

With over 200 works to his name, composer Larry Sitsky will be honoured this year with the Distinguished Service to Australian Music Award at this year’s Arts Music Awards, hosted by APRA|AMCOS, for his significant contribution to Australian music and culture.

The Chinese-born Australian composer, musicologist, pianist and teacher travelled to Australia in 1951 and began his musical career with a scholarship at the New South Wales Conservatorium of Music, where he studied piano and composition. Sitsky furthered his academic success studying at the San Francisco Conservatory, the Queensland Conservatorium of Music and the School of Music in Canberra.

In addition to his academic success Sitsky can boast a vast array of compositional achievements. Celebrated for his diversity in compositional arrangements across genres such as opera, theatre, orchestral music, chamber music, solo and vocal music, the honoured composer has worked with every major orchestra in Australia. His works have been commissioned nationally and internationally, including a the premiere of major commission Beowulf in the Netherlands in 2007.

When asked to comment on his upcoming honour, Sitsky noted...