IMC Musical Rights Awards Announced
Three programmes from the Arab region, Latin America and Oceania will receive the 2013 Musical Rights Awards, presented by the International Music Council, an international NGO in official partnership with UNESCO.
The IMC Musical Rights Awards are given to programmes or projects that support in an exemplary way one or more of the five musical rights enunciated by the International Music Council:
The right for all children and adults
- to express themselves musically in all freedom
- to learn musical languages and skills
- to have access to musical involvement through participation, listening, creation, and information
The right for all musical artists
- to develop their artistry and communicate through all media, with proper facilities at their disposal
- to obtain just recognition and remuneration for their work
This year's recipients of the IMC Musical Rights Awards are:
Orchestra of Indigenous Instruments and New Technology
Hosted by Universidad Nacional de Tres de Febrero, Argentina
This is a comprehensive programme aimed at recovering and giving artistic life to indigenous and for the most part forgotten musical instruments. Over a period of some ten years the programme has been developed to include research, university degrees and community courses, exhibitions, composition, various types of concerts, and a music-pedagogical model for all levels. The National University of Argentina "Tres de Febrero" is the hub of the programme but today it has an impact all over Argentina. The programme is also acknowledged internationally, e.g. through a South-South network involving countries in Australasia, the Americas and Africa. It is inspired by several UNESCO recommendations, conventions and declarations, and supports in a strong and holistic way IMC's musical rights. The programme has direct impact on large audiences, its beneficiaries are students and teachers of various levels and indeed the general public – children and adults – as performers, concert attenders, and users of online audio-visual materials. This programme was nominated by the Argentine Music Council.
Find out more on their website.
"Music and Resilience" for the Palestinian Refugees of Lebanon
Hosted by Associazione Prima Materia, Italia
This programme aims at empowering children and adolescents living under the most stressful and unworthy conditions in refugee camps. It encompasses two projects; "Elbus DoReMiFa" which aims at giving children and young people basic music education including instrumental and vocal performance, and "Music Therapy and Social Care" which addresses children at risk due to psycho-social stress and disability. The programme is coordinated by the National Institute for Social Care and Vocational Training "Beit Atfal Assumoud" in Lebanon in close collaboration with its Italian sponsors. It involves local musicians and music educators and therapists who receive in-service training as part of the programme. Highly qualified professionals from the international arena are involved in the implementation and indeed the continuous assessment of the programme. Even if it has been in operation only a couple of years, both projects have already shown remarkable impact on the children and adolescence involved. This programme was nominated by Moviment Coral Català in Spain.
"Remix the Orchestra"
Hosted by Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra (APO), New Zealand
This programme sets the stage for artistic collaboration between at-risk young people, professional hip-hop artists and orchestra musicians. For the last six years the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra has challenged youth and young adults from the poorer city communities to compose and perform music under the guidance and in co-operation with professionals. A wide array of music has been created based on excerpts from the classical orchestra repertoire, hip-hop techniques and the youngsters own lyrics. The new works are offered to a broad Auckland audience which, over the years, have enjoyed a number of diverse performances. Each project offers unique opportunities for a group of young participants to express themselves musically and show their ability as innovative and creative people. In addition to all the music that has been created and the many performances offered to the public, the programme has had explicit outcomes for those directly involved. The young participants have obtained acceptance and respect within a community of professional musicians, and the professionals themselves have obtained artistic satisfaction and growth. This programme was nominated by SOUNZ, The Centre for New Zealand Music.
About the IMC Musical Rights Awards
The Awards are a way to encourage IMC members and other organisations to give active support to the musical rights. This Award is a symbolic and active recognition of the effort that is brought by each actor involved to the nominated projects and programmes. Nominations can be made by IMC members only.
The IMC Musical Rights Awards will be presented to recipients during the opening ceremony of the 5th IMC World Forum on Music in Brisbane, Australia, on 21 November 2013. During the Forum, representatives of the awarded programmes will be offered the stage for an inspiring exchange of knowledge and experience when presenting to the Forum audience.
The Music Council of Australia's Music: Play for Life campaign was the overall winner of the inaugural IMC Musical Rights Awards in 2011.
