Rock 'n' roll royalty Jimmy Barnes is usually the one receiving an ARIA nomination.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
But this time, he had the privilege of telling a Canberra teacher that he was in line for the prestigious music industry award.
CJ Shaw, a music teacher at Palmerston District Primary School, is one of only four teachers from around the nation nominated for the ARIA Music Teacher Award. And the first teacher from the ACT ever nominated for the award, which celebrates the role of music education.
While the nomination was officially made public on Wednesday, Mr Shaw was surprised by Barnesy in a zoom call in front of his class before the start of the school holidays.
"Mr Shaw, you've been doing some really great things with music and for the school and because of that, I'm really pleased to inform you, that you've been nominated for an ARIA," Barnesy told a delighted Mr Shaw as the Palmerston students clapped and cheered.
Mr Shaw was enjoying the limelight on Wednesday when, in a case of perfect timing, he was also performing in Garema Place as part of the City Renewal Authority's Lunchtime Acoustics program.
"It's been amazing," he said.
"I got a text message from an associate at seven o'clock and it was like, 'I've just seen you on the Today show!'. It was like, 'Wow, okay'. Not an average day for a primary school teacher.
"It's been such a buzzy day it was nice to get on stage and sing some of these songs that have kind of got me the nomination."
The Telstra ARIA Music Teacher Award is now in its fourth year, and one of the highlights of the Australian Recording Industry Association awards, according to ARIA CEO Dan Rosen.
"The Telstra ARIA Music Teacher Award is one of my favourite moments at the ARIA awards," Mr Rosen said.
"Every musician knows how important it is to have inspiring, passionate teachers. But we also know exposing children to making music helps them become the best that they can be. I am moved by the stories of our four nominees this year, and I look forward to awarding one teacher with an ARIA Award this November."
Originally from the Blue Mountains, Mr Shaw, 38, has been living in Canberra for five years after completing a Master of Composition at the Australian National University. He was at the Dili International School in East Timor before moving to Canberra.
Mr Shaw knew he had been nominated for the ARIA Music Teacher Award but had no idea it would be Jimmy Barnes telling him about the nomination.
"They said to me, 'Who do you want?' And I threw it out there, and I said, 'Well, I want Barnesy' but I was joking, I wasn't serious. Of course, I'd want Barnesy though. And three weeks later, they were like, 'We got you Barnesy'. You could have knocked me over with a feather. I was really moved, it was great."
Being a music teacher this year during COVID-19-enforced lockdowns of schools had been "a challenge".
But music had also helped students express themselves during a difficult time.
"Myself and another music teacher there, I think we've created a culture of singing and expression that I think transcended the lockdown, because we were encouraging them to be creative and encouraging them to express themselves, it was an outlet for them," he said.
After working as a musician in Sydney, Mr Shaw said he found his calling becoming a teacher, with his family also all educators.
"Education is kind of the family trade," he said.
"And music is a great passion as well. So bringing them together in the classroom is something I take very seriously. I want them to learn, I want them to express themselves, I want them to enjoy music in all its many guises."
One of the many songs he has written is called ANZAC Biscuits, featuring the voices of the Palmerston students, many who are from Defence families. The song simply and poignantly captures the humanity behind war.
"I write a lot of songs for the kids and my aim is, 'These are the stories you can take with you now'," Mr Shaw said.
"They're about being in the playground, they're about being a learner, they're about being a friend and if they take those with them, I find it very powerful that their narrative is celebrated. It's not, 'You have to listen to Beyonce', these imported narratives or adults stories. There's validity in your story. So that's what we try to celebrate at Palmerston."
The public will help determine the winner of the Telstra ARIA Music Teacher Award, and voting is now open at the ARIA website aria.com.au
Voting closes on November 18. The winner will be announced as part of the ARIA Awards in late November.
Mr Shaw hopes his fellow Canberrans will rally and vote for him.
"I'd love to get a bit of Canberra pride behind it," he said.