William Barton (musician) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids William Barton
Barton in 2018
Born	Mount Isa, Queensland, Australia
Occupation	Musician, didgeridoo player

William Barton is an amazing Aboriginal Australian musician. He is best known for playing the didgeridoo (also called yidaki), especially with big classical orchestras. He also writes songs and sings them, and he creates his own music.

William Barton's Early Life and Learning

William Barton was born in Mount Isa, a town in Queensland, Australia. His family group, or "mob," comes from the Roper River area. He is a proud Kalkadunga man.

He started learning to play the didgeridoo when he was just 11 years old. His teacher was Uncle Arthur Peterson, an elder from the Wannyi, Lardil, and Kalkadunga peoples of Western Queensland.

William Barton's Music Career

By the time he was 12, William was already performing in Sydney. He played for Aboriginal dance groups. When he was 15, he went on a tour to America. After that trip, he decided he wanted to be a solo artist, not just play in the background. He began to study many different types of music.

In 1998, he played with a classical orchestra for the first time. This was the Queensland Symphony Orchestra. He became Australia's first didgeridoo player to be an "artist-in-residence" with a symphony orchestra. This means he worked closely with them to create new music.

When he was 17, William moved to Brisbane. There, he became a solo performer with several other classical orchestras.

William has shared how important the yidaki (didgeridoo) is to him. He said it "embodies everything of the land." He explained that it comes from a tree and represents "the breath of life and the land." He also said the yidaki holds memories and the "breath of our ancestors." William hopes to mix the world's oldest culture (Aboriginal culture) with Europe's rich musical history.

Amazing Performances

William Barton has performed at music festivals all over the world. He has also recorded many pieces with orchestras. In 2004, he was part of a big musical work called Requiem by Peter Sculthorpe. This piece was for orchestra, choir, and didgeridoo. It was performed for the first time at the Adelaide Festival of Arts. This was believed to be the first time a didgeridoo was used in a full symphonic work.

In May 2004, an album called Songs of Sea and Sky was released. It featured William playing the didgeridoo with the Queensland Orchestra.

In 2004, William worked with poet Samuel Wagan Watson and composers Stephen Leek to create an opera piece. It was called "Die dunkle erde" and was performed at the Brisbane Festival. This piece mixed German Gothic stories with Aboriginal culture.

In 2005, William performed at the 90th anniversary of Gallipoli in Turkey. He also played his first concerts with the London Philharmonic Orchestra in London. From 2005 to 2006, he worked with orchestras and composers in Australia, America, and Europe. They created new music especially for the didgeridoo.

On November 5, 2014, William performed at a special memorial service. This was for former Prime Minister Gough Whitlam in the Sydney Town Hall. In 2015, he performed again at Gallipoli for the 100th anniversary dawn service.

In 2019, William played with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra at a memorial service for former Prime Minister Bob Hawke. He performed an orchestral version of the famous song "Down Under" at the Sydney Opera House.

Most recently, in 2023, William performed at the AFL Grand Final, which is a very big sports event in Australia.

Media Appearances

William Barton was featured on the ABC television show Australian Story in 2007.

In 2011, he performed and was interviewed on The Music Show. He appeared with poet Samuel Wagan Watson.

Awards and Recognition

William Barton has received many important awards for his music. In November 2022, he was named Queensland Australian of the Year.

In 2023, William became the first Indigenous artist to receive the Richard Gill Award. This award celebrates outstanding service to Australian music.

In 2004, William and pianist Tamara Anna Cislowska were chosen for the Freedman Fellowship for Classical Music. This is a special award from the Music Council of Australia. Also in 2004, he won the Brisbane Lord Mayor's Young and Emerging Artists' Fellowship. The next year, he was a finalist for the Suncorp Young Queenslander of the Year Award.

AIR Awards

The Australian Independent Record Awards (AIR Awards) celebrate the success of independent music in Australia.

APRA Music Awards

The APRA Awards recognize great songwriting and music performance in Australia and New Zealand.

ARIA Music Awards

The ARIA Music Awards are Australia's biggest music awards. They celebrate excellence in all types of Australian music.

Art Music Awards

Don Banks Music Award

The Don Banks Music Award honors a senior artist who has made a huge and lasting contribution to music in Australia.

Environmental Music Prize

The Environmental Music Prize looks for a song that inspires people to take action for the environment.

National Live Music Awards

The National Live Music Awards (NLMAs) recognize people who contribute to live music in Australia.

Queensland Music Awards

The Queensland Music Awards celebrate Queensland's best new and established musicians.

Discography

William Barton has released many albums. Here are some of them:

Images for kids

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  Barton in 2018