Halifax, Nova Scotia – Polyphonic Lively, a 13-minute large ensemble composition by Dinuk Wijeratne, has won the 2017 Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia Masterworks Arts Award. The Award, which carries a cash value of $25,000, was presented at the Creative Nova Scotia Gala in Halifax on November 18, 2017.
The Sri-Lankan-born Wijeratne is “masterful in his art,” integrating an array of multicultural influences, and his incorporation of North-Indian tabla chakradhar rhythms is particularly ingenious. Wijeratne is also the Creator of Tabla Concerto, a Masterworks Finalist in 2012 and 2016, and Love Triangle, a Masterworks Finalist in 2015. Wijeratne lives in Nova Scotia.
Polyphonic Lively was commissioned by Symphony Nova Scotia to open the orchestra’s 2016-17 season. The piece was rapturously received by Nova Scotian audiences upon its world premiere, and again at the Newfound Music Festival at Memorial University. It was nominated by Christos Hatzis.
The Masterworks Jury exclaimed, Polyphonic Lively “is terrific in a visceral way.”
The Winner was selected by an independent, multidisciplinary jury of artists: filmmaker Jason Buxton, visual artist François Gaudet, writer and performer Joanne Miller, theatre and multidisciplinary artist Theo Pitsiavas, and musician Barbara Pritchard.
The jury identified three works as Finalists for the 2017 Award. In addition to Polyphonic Lively, they selected The Deception of Livvy Higgs by writer Donna Morrissey and Werewolf by director Ashley McKenzie and producer Nelson MacDonald. The Creators of all three Finalists received $3,000.
Established by the Honourable Myra Freeman in 2005, the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia Masterworks Arts Award recognizes the excellence of a particular work of art or design from any media. These works have made a significant impact through their public presentation and have contributed to the historical development and contemporary practice of the art form. Now in its 11th year, the Award remains the largest annual award to any work of art in Nova Scotia.
The Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia Masterworks Arts Award has an annual nominations deadline of March 1. The deadline for the 2018 Award is March 1st, 2018. Download the 2018 Guidelines and Nomination Form at nsmasterworks.ca.
The Award is generously sponsored by Scotiabank, Arts Nova Scotia, The Craig Foundation, McInnes Cooper, and individual donors.
For further information including print-quality photos contact:
Kayleigh Sheehan
Strategic Arts Management,
902-407-8885
