Percussionist wins $5000 award

Music

Talented percussionist and Elder Conservatorium honours graduate, Jamie Adam, has won South Australia's top award for an arts graduate - the 2006 Adelaide Bank Award.

Jamie pipped six other finalists for the $5000 prize, which was announced at the Helpmann Academy's Maestros & Apprentices Fundraising Dinner on Friday, 2 June. The annual prize is awarded each year in recognition of outstanding achievements among the state's major artists.

The 26-year-old percussionist completed his Bachelor of Music degree in 2005, receiving First Class Honours and an overall mark of 91%.

In 2002 Jamie competed in the ABC Symphony Australia Young Performers Award, winning his national section final. He was then selected as one of only four to perform in the national grand final where he performed Keiko Abe's "Prism Rhapsody" in a live, national ABC broadcast with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra at the Sydney Opera House.

"Jamie's achievement in the national grand final distinguishes him as one of Australia's most significant emerging artists," said Professor Charles Bodman Rae, Dean of the Elder Conservatorium of Music.

Last year, Jamie was runner-up in the first international competition for marimba players, held in Ljubljana, Slovenia. He also placed second for his performance of The Corridors with the Radio and Television Symphony Orchestra of Slovenia.

"I'm looking forward to putting the award win towards marimba master classes with the Japanese maestro, Keiko Abe," Jamie said.

Professor Bodman Rae paid tribute to the Elder Conservatorium's Head of Percussion, Jim Bailey.

"His superb teaching has inspired and nurtured the talents of Jamie Adam, as well as other outstanding percussionists, including Fleur Green, Paul Butler and Nicholas Parnell," Professor Bodman Rae said.

This year's Maestros & Apprentices black tie dinner raised a record of more than $130,000 for emerging artists from the Helpmann Academy partner schools.

Story by Lynda Allen