Australia’s Freedman Classical Fellowship Announces 2023 Winner

Viola player Henry Justo has won the award alongside a $21,000 cash prize

The Freedman Fellowship Awards are awarded annually to Australian musicians aged 35 and under. Open to a nominated classical music instrumentalist and a jazz musician, winners may realize their proposed projects or performances. 

Hailing from Queensland, 28-year-old violist Henry Justo has won this year’s prestigious $21,000 Freedman Classical Fellowship of The Music Trust.

He was selected as one of three finalists for the award, including 29-year-old violinist Courtenay Cleary and 27-year-old flutist Jonty Coy.

An acting musician with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra and a master’s student with Volker Jacobsen at Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien Hannover, Justo has performed with the Sydney Chamber Opera, Australian Chamber Orchestra, and the Melbourne and Adelaide Symphony Orchestras.

He has also studied at the Australian National Academy of Music, Queensland Conservatorium, and Sydney Conservatorium. His mentors have included Caroline Henbest, Roger Benedict, Michele Walsh, and Hartmut Rohde in Berlin.

Justo’s win will enable him to pursue his proposed project Connect, a curated installation piece reflecting on the theme of human connection.

In collaboration with composer Cathy Milliken and media artist Mike Daly, Justo will combine contemporary music and live performance with light installations and digital presentations.

The 2023 jury comprised the Head of ANU School of Music Kim Cunio, Ensemble Offspring member Lamorna Nightingale, and pianist Simon Tedeschi.

“Justo is a wonderful virtuoso on his instrument but also creates music via computer and planned a project that encompassed all that plus parallel computer-generated imagery,” said Dr. Richard Letts, director of The Music Trust.

“This year’s classical Freedman Finalists were distinctively different, containing historically informed performance practice, chamber music, interdisciplinary projects and commissioned new Australian music,” the jury stated.  

“The thrilling concert showcased the high caliber of Australian musicians in action. As judges, we were impressed by all three finalists and after a lengthy deliberation — we decided that with the prize, violist Henry Justo and his project would make the greatest impact on progressing Australian new music and contemporary classical.”