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Queensland’s finest hit the high notes at Music Awards

Queensland’s musical talent was in the spotlight tonight (14 May) with the state’s top songwriters and musicians honoured at the 2018 Queensland Music Awards (QMAs).2018 Billy Thorpe Scholarship winner and Lauren Thorpe at the Queensland Music Awards - photo courtesy QMusic

Arts Minister Leeanne Enoch said the QMAs recognised Queensland’s wealth of talent, dynamic venues and the achievements of the state’s thriving contemporary music industry.

“The Palaszczuk Government supports our contemporary music scene with investment in QMusic, the state’s key contemporary music industry body that each year presents the QMAs as well as September’s BIGSOUND industry event,” Minister Enoch said.

“The Palaszczuk Government also sponsors the Billy Thorpe Scholarship, now in its tenth year, which provides $10,000 annually to support promising emerging musicians, along with the annual $25,000 Grant McLennan Fellowship for mid-career songwriters.

“I am delighted to congratulate 2018 Billy Thorpe Scholarship winner Greta Stanley, a young singer-songwriter from Far North Queensland.

“Greta is turning heads with her youthful, electric and emotional songs. The Billy Thorpe Scholarship will enable Greta to record with an established producer and receive professional development from Chugg Entertainment,” she said.

Ms Enoch congratulated all finalists across the QMAs’ 25 categories.

“Well done to all of the finalists and in particular Billy Thorpe Scholarship finalists, Brisbane-based ambient-electronic producer Yoste (Kurt Sines), indie electronica songwriter Keelan Mak, and acoustic pop songwriter Harry Phillips.”

Ms Enoch acknowledged Gold Coast artist Amy Shark who picked up five awards and Brisbane muso Jeremy Neale for the Song of the Year Award.

“Amy was a headliner act as part of last month’s Festival 2018, the arts and cultural festival for the Commonwealth Games, while Jeremy took out the Queensland Government’s prestigious 2017 Grant McLennan Fellowship.”

The Queensland Government supports QMusic, and the state’s contemporary music industry, through Arts Queensland’s Organisations Fund and other investment programs.

The winning songs from the 2018 Queensland Music Awards are featured online at www.queenslandmusicawards.com.au