5 March 2001 – The HRL Morrison Music Trust announced today that its CD STRIKE – NZ Percussion Music won the Classical Award in the 2001 New Zealand Music Awards.

STRIKE – NZ Percussion Music (MMT2030) is the ground-breaking debut album from Wellington-based percussion group STRIKE. It includes percussion works by composers Gareth Farr, Ross Harris, Miriama Young, Don McGlashan, David Downes and Murray Hickman. It also features traditional Cook Island log drumming arranged by George Upu. STRIKE (established in 1993 by Murray Hickman and Jeremy Fitzsimons) briefly toured Europe in November 2000, playing works from the album in London, Manchester and Paris.

Jeremy Fitzsimons says "It’s fantastic that as a contemporary percussion group we can win an award in the classical music world while still appealing to a much wider musical audience. It’s a real boost for us to receive this award just before our performance in the Opera House next week."

Strike is performing in a two-night season on 16 and 17 March at the Wellington Opera House. It will not only be a concert of exciting music, but also a highly visual event. The audience will be in for more than a few surprises, as the performers make use of the entire theatre. The show has a strong Pacific flavour, drawing on percussion influences from this region as well as from around the globe.

The other two finalists in the 2001 New Zealand Music Classical Award were also produced and released by Trust Records: Michael Houstoun – Elusive Dreams (piano works by New Zealand composers); and Gareth Farr – Owhiro (works for string quartet performed by the New Zealand String Quartet).