Acclaimed Greek Australian conductor George Ellis is enjoying a milestone month, marked by an ARIA Award nomination and a return to one of the defining stages of his career.
Ellis has been nominated in the Best Children’s Album category for Mimi’s Symphony, his collaborative project with actor and singer Justine Clarke.
“I am honoured and delighted to be nominated for an ARIA award for Mimi’s Symphony – the Orchestral Story for Children,” Ellis told The Greek Herald.
“My brilliant colleague Justine Clarke wrote the beautiful words about a young magpie, Mimi, who tries to find her place in the world and where she belongs. I loved composing the music, where the instruments and sections of the orchestra play various animal characters to help Mimi find her home.”
The project, which premiered at Sydney’s City Recital Hall in 2019, has since been performed at the Sydney Opera House and Canberra Theatre Centre, earning praise for its modern Australian take on the orchestral storytelling tradition of Peter and the Wolf.
The nomination comes just weeks after Ellis returned to Stadium Australia to perform at the 25th anniversary celebration of the Sydney Olympics Opening Ceremony, where he originally conducted in 2000 before a global audience of millions.
The conductor described the dual honour of the ARIA nomination and Olympics anniversary as a career highlight, underscoring his enduring role in Australia’s musical and cultural life.
