Larry Sitsky was born to Russian-Jewish parents and migrated to Australia in 1951, settling in Sydney. Sitsky studied piano and composition at the New South Wales Conservatorium of Music, graduating in 1955. He continued his studies overseas and returned to Australia to take up a position at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music. He later held various positions at the Canberra School of Music.
Sitsky has been awarded a range of prizes and scholarships. He was a Fulbright scholar during 1988 and 1989 and other awards include the inaugural Australian Composer's Fellowship from the Music Board of the Australia Council. In 1997 he received the Australian National University's first Higher Doctorate in Fine Arts and in 1998 he was elected Fellow of the Academy of Humanties in Australia.
'Sitsky has had works commissioned by many leading Australian and international bodies, such as the ABC, Musica Viva, the International Clarinet Society, the Sydney International Piano Competition, Flederman and the International Flute Convention.' He also collaborated on several occasisions with poet and librettist, Gwen Harwood (q.v.).
Source: Australian Music Centre website, http://www.amcoz.com.au/composers/composer.asp?id=102
Sighted: 16/08/2006
