Victorian musicologist Dr Sarah Kirby has received the 2023 McCredie Musicological Award from the Australian Academy of the Humanities in recognition of her outstanding achievements in the field of musicology. 

Dr Sarah Kirby. Photo supplied

‘“It is such an honour to receive this award,” said Kirby. “I admire the work of all the past recipients so much, so to have anyone consider my work alongside theirs and be named the 2023 recipient is amazing.”

As a musicologist, Kirby specialises in Australian and British music history in the overlap between the 19th and 20th centuries, with her doctorate centring around the presentation of music at international exhibitions by the British Empire. She has also been widely published in the areas of colonialism, women in music, and music in museums.

“World’s fairs and other international exhibitions were meant to show off everything that ‘humanity’ had achieved. Music was considered a huge achievement, but it didn’t have a physical presence, nor could it be displayed for the masses like other physical artforms could be,” said Kirby.

“A lot...