Winner Of $10,000 Professional Development Award

Wednesday 23rd May, 2007

APRA Announces Winner Of $10,000 Professional Development Award

The Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA)* is pleased to announce the recipient of the 2007 APRA Professional Development Award (PDA) is John Chong-Nee. The PDA offers $10,000 towards an APRA member who demonstrates that outstanding potential in their field.

John Chong-Nee is at the forefront of urban Pacific music - as an artist, releasing his own album “Just Getting By On Love” in 2006, producing no less than six Top 20 NZ Airplay chart hits. As a producer his credits include: The Deceptikonz' “Elimination”, Mareko's “White Sunday”, Che Fu “2 b Spasifik”, Ben Lummis “One Road”, PNC “Rookie Card” and the record breaking “First Edition” by Dei Hamo.

“As one of New Zealand’s most in demand collaborators John’s skills have not gone unnoticed internationally and the PDA is going to allow him to travel to the United States to accept invitations of various writing, producing and performance collaborations” says APRA’s Director of NZ Operations Anthony Healey. “With his legacy of training up local musicians and being extremely open with his knowledge, APRA believe this award will not only benefit Chong-Nee but many New Zealand artists in the future.”

Following the response to the inaugural APRA NZ PDA presented to Auckland classical composer Robin Toan in 2005, and the high level of applications in 2007, we are pleased to announce that the award will now be presented annually.

ENDS

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