Amy Dickson Awarded Young Australian of the Year

27 January 2016

Amy Dickson Awarded Young Australian of the Year

Amy Dickson, our incredible talented international ambassador, has been awarded Young Australian of the Year in the UK at the 2016 Qantas Australia Day Gala Dinner in London.

Twice Grammy-nominated young Australian musician, Amy Dickson, made history by becoming the first Australian instrumentalist to win a Classic BRIT Award in 2013 as Mastercard Breakthrough Artist of the Year for her classical chart topping album ‘Dusk & Dawn’.

Sydney born, Dickson made her concerto debut at 16, and on her 18th birthday made her first recording as soloist with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. She moved to London to study at the Royal College of Music, and then at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam.

Dickson is the recipient of the James Fairfax Australian Young Artist of the Year award, and has won major competitions including the Gold Medal at the Royal Overseas League Competition, the Symphony Australia Young Performer of the Year Competition and the Prince’s Prize. Previously, no saxophonist had won any of these titles.

She has been widely recognised for her remarkable and distinctive tone and exceptional musicality, with Gramophone describing her as ‘a player with a difference who has an individual and unusual tone… her phrasing is beautifully finished’.

Amy Dickson has released six albums on the Sony Classical label which all showcase her versatility as an artist and the varied capabilities of the saxophone. Her most recent release is ‘Island Songs’ that showcases three of Australia’s leading composers in works either written for or commissioned by Amy Dickson.

Australia Day Foundation Director, Dick Porter said: “Amy is an outstanding young Australian and we are delighted to recognise her success with this award.”

Other recipients of Australia Day Foundation awards included renowned English chef and TV personality, Rick Stein OBE, who was awarded the Honorary Australian of the Year in the UK and leading campaign strategist, Sir Lynton Crosby AO who was awarded Australian of the Year in the UK.

Eric Jelinek, Qantas Regional General Manager for UK, Ireland and Europe, commented: “We are delighted to be affiliated with these awards which recognise exceptional Australians sharing the spirit of Australia in the UK. We are firm believers in celebrating the achievements of young, talented individuals and we look forward to seeing what Amy Dickson will accomplish in the future.”

All three awards were presented by the Australian High Commissioner, the Hon Alexander Downer AC at Australia House.

From everyone at the ACMF, congratulations Amy!