Nigel Westlake

Nigel Westlake is an Australian composer, musician and conductor. As a composer for the screen, his film credits include the feature films Ali's Wedding, Paper Planes, Miss Potter, Babe, Babe: Pig in the City, Children of the Revolution and The Nugget. He also composed the theme for SBS World News.

Nigel Westlake
BornPerth, Western Australia
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Composer
  • Conductor
Years active2013–present

Biography

Westlake was born in Perth, Western Australia, the son of clarinettist Donald Westlake.[1]

Westlake studied the clarinet with his father, Donald (principal clarinettist, Sydney Conservatorium of Music 1961-1979) and subsequently left school early to pursue a performance career in music.[1]

By the age of 17, Westlake was touring Australia and the world, performing as a freelance clarinetist, bass clarinetist and saxophonist with ballet companies, a circus troupe, chamber music ensembles, fusion bands and orchestras.[1]

In 1983, Westlake studied bass clarinet and composition in the Netherlands and was appointed composer in residence for ABC Radio National in 1984.[1]

From 1987 to 1992 Westlake was resident clarinettist with The Australia Ensemble, and went on to join guitarist John Williams' group Attacca.[1]

In 2008, Westlake founded the Smugglers of Light Foundation in memory of his son Eli, to promote cultural awareness and empowerment through music and film in youth and Indigenous Australian communities.[1]

Personal life

Westlake is married to Jan Loquet Westlake, and together, they had two sons. Their son Eli was killed in a road rage incident on 7 June 2008, a few weeks before his 22nd birthday.[2] Westlake composed Missa Solis - Requiem for Eli and dedicated it to Eli. It was premiered by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra at the Myer Music Bowl in February 2011.[3]

Filmography

Awards and nominations
  • In 1985: Westlake won Jazz Action Society Composition Competition.
  • In 1988: Westlake, won Gold Medal at the New York International Radio Festival.
  • In 2004, Westlake was awarded the HC Coombs Creative Arts Fellowship at the Australian National University.[1]
  • In 2012, Westlake received an Honorary Doctorate of Music from the University of New South Wales.[1]

Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) Awards
  • 2015 - AACTA Award Best Original Music Score - Paper Planes - nominated
  • 2017 - AACTA Award Best Original Score - Ali's Wedding - nominated

AIR Awards

The Australian Independent Record Awards (commonly known informally as AIR Awards) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's Independent Music sector.

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2023 Blueback (Original Motion Picture Score)
(with Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and Benjamin Northey)		 Best Independent Classical Album or EP Pending [4][5]

APRA Awards

The APRA Awards are held in Australia and New Zealand by the Australasian Performing Right Association to recognise songwriting skills, sales and airplay performance by its members annually.

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
1992 "Refractions at Summer Cloud Bay" Contemporary Classical Composition of the Year Won
1996 Babe Best Film Score Won [6]
1998 The Edge Most Performed Classical Work Won [7][8]
Songs from the Forest Nominated [7]
1999 Babe: Pig in the City Best Film Score Nominated
"Laikan" (Australia Ensemble) Most Performed Contemporary Classical Composition Won
2003 Horse Play Best Feature Film Score Nominated [9][10]
The Nugget Won [9][10]
2005 Piano Concerto – Michael Kieran Harvey Best Performance of an Australian Composition Nominated [11]
Six Fish – Saffire Guitar Quartet Instrumental Work of the Year Won [12]
Crystal Spheres – Solarmax film orchestra Orchestral Work of the Year Nominated [11]
Hell Has Harbour Views Best Music for a Mini-Series or Telemovie Won [13]
2007 When the Clock Strikes Me - Rebecca Lagos (soloist), Sydney Symphony Best Performance of an Australian Composition Won [14]
Miss Potter Feature Film Score of the Year Won [15]
Best Soundtrack Album Won [15]
Stepfather of the Bride Best Music for a Mini-Series or Telemovie Won [15]
2008 Rare Sugar - The Australia Ensemble and Catherine McCorkill (clarinetist) Best Performance of an Australian Composition Won [16]
Glass Soldier Suite – Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Geoffrey Payne (cornet), Jean-Louis Forestier (conductor) Orchestral Work of the Year Nominated [17]
2012 Missa Solis – Requiem for Eli (with Sydney Symphony Orchestra) Work of the Year – Orchestral Won [18]
Performance of the Year Nominated [19]
2014 Compassion (with Lior & Sydney Symphony Orchestra) Work of the Year – Orchestral Nominated [20]

ARIA Music Awards

The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. They commenced in 1987.

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
1991 Road to Xanadu - The Genius That Was China
(with Michael Askill)		 Best Original Soundtrack or Musical Theatre Cast Album Nominated [21]
1993 Antarctica Nominated [21][22]
1996 Babe Nominated [21]
2013 Missa Solis: Requiem for Eli
(with Melbourne Symphony Orchestra)		 Best Classical Album Nominated [23]
2014 Compassion (with Lior and Sydney Symphony Orchestra) Won
2015 Paper Planes – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
(with Melbourne Symphony Orchestra)		 Best Original Soundtrack or Musical Theatre Cast Album Nominated [21]
2017 Ali's Wedding (soundtrack)
(with Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Lior, Joseph Tawadros & Slava Grigoryan)		 Won [21]
2019 Nigel Westlake: Spirit of the Wild / Steve Reich: The Desert Music
(with Diana Doherty, Sydney Symphony Orchestra & David Robertson, Synergy Vocals)		 Best Classical Album Nominated [23]
2023 Blueback – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (with Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and Benjamin Northey) Best Original Soundtrack, Cast or Show Album Pending [24]

Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards
  • 2018 - Best Original Music - Ali's Wedding - Nominee
  • 2016 - Best Music - Paper Planes - Nominee
  • 1997 - Best Original Music - Babe - Won

International Film Music Critics Award (IFMCA)
  • 2007 - Best Original Score for a Comedy Film - Miss Potter

References
  1. "About". rimshot. Retrieved 9 July 2022.
  2. Mitternacht, Manuel; Kidman, John (7 June 2008). "Footpath fracas ends in tragedy". Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 12 April 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
  3. "Composer Nigel Westlake's requiem for murdered son". The Australian. 18 February 2011. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
  4. "Nominees Announced for the Australian Independent Music Awards 2023". Music Feeds. 31 May 2023. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  5. "King Stingray and Genesis Owusu Win Big at 2023 AIR Awards". Music Feeds. 4 August 2023. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  6. "Winners Prior to 2002". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS). Archived from the original on 14 April 2014. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
  7. "Nominations – 1998". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS). Archived from the original on 8 March 2011. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  8. "1998 Winners - APRA Music Awards". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS). Archived from the original on 18 September 2009. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  9. "2003 Winners - Screen Music Awards". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Archived from the original on 18 September 2009. Retrieved 12 November 2010.
  10. "2003 Nominations - Screen Music Awards". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 12 November 2010.
  11. "2005 Finalists - Classical Music Awards". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 17 May 2010.
  12. "2005 Winners - Classical Music Awards". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 17 May 2010.
  13. "2005 Winners - Screen Music Awards". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 17 May 2010.
  14. "2007 Winners - Classical Music Awards". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 2 May 2010.
  15. "2007 Winners - Screen Music Awards". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 2 May 2010.
  16. "2008 Winners - Classical Music Awards". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 29 April 2010.
  17. "2008 Finalists - Classical Music Awards". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 29 April 2010.
  18. "2012 Work of the Year – Orchestral". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australian Music Centre (AMC). Archived from the original on 14 May 2012. Retrieved 28 May 2012.
  19. "2012 Performance of the Year". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australian Music Centre (AMC). Archived from the original on 14 May 2012. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
  20. "Work of the Year – Orchestral". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS) | Australian Music Centre (AMC). 2014. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  21. ARIA Award previous winners. "History Best Original Soundtrack, Cast or Show Album". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 12 July 2022.
  22. This nomination is not listed on the ARIA Award's website, but is in ARIA's March 1993 media release and list of nominees.
  23. ARIA Award previous winners. "ARIA Awards – Winners by Award". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 9 July 2022.
  24. "Nominees Announced for 2023 ARIA Awards". Music Feeds. 21 September 2023. Retrieved 24 September 2023.

Further reading
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