ABC Young Performers Awards

The ABC Young Performers Awards is a classical music competition for Australian instrumentalists aged 31 and under.[1] Established in 1944, it was held annually until 2015 and resumed in 2017. It Australia's most-prestigious and longest-running classical music competition.[2]

History

For many years, the competition was run by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) in conjunction with Symphony Australia, a trading name of Symphony Services Australia Limited, a non-profit arts organisation that operates both domestically and internationally.

In December 2015, it was announced that the competition would be discontinued with immediate effect because Symphony Australia could no longer support it.[3] However in October 2016, the return of the competition from 2017 was announced under the management of the Music & Opera Singers Trust (MOST), a philanthropic organisation.[4]

In 2026, the ABC Young Performers Awards returned to the stewardship of the ABC.[5] Each public semifinal recital, as well as the grand final will be broadcast on ABC Classic. The grand final will also be broadcast on ABC TV.[6]

Names

The competition had a number of names throughout its history.[7]

  • It was founded in 1944 by the then Australian Broadcasting Commission as a set of six state-based competitions.
  • In 1950 it was given the name ABC Concerto and Vocal Competition.
  • In 1968 it became known as the ABC Instrumental and Vocal competition.
  • In 1987 it was renamed the ABC Young Performers Awards.
  • In 1997 the Concerts Division of the ABC devolved to become Symphony Australia, and the competition was then known as the Symphony Australia Young Performers Awards.
  • In 2005 after a corporate restructure within Symphony Australia, the competition was rebranded as the ABC Symphony Australia Young Performers Awards.
  • In 2016 after the Music & Opera Singers Trust (MOST) took carriage of the awards, the competition was rebranded as the ABC Young Performers Awards.
  • In 2026 after the competition returned to the stewardship of the ABC, it retained the name ABC Young Performers Awards.[8]

Format

Pre-2026

The structure of the competition also underwent numerous changes. Initially, there were six state-based competitions, with no overall winner. In 1949, the six state winners competed for the Commonwealth final for the first time. In 1950, singers and instrumentalists were separated. In 1968 a preliminary recital stage was introduced, and the instrumental categories were divided into Keyboard and Other. In 1978, four categories were introduced: Vocal, Orchestral Strings, Keyboard, and Other Instrumental.

In 1981, an award for most outstanding competitor was introduced, with the prize including performances with ABC orchestras. In 1986, the state finals were replaced by four category finals.[9]

In 2002, the vocal division of the competition was discontinued and the award was transferred to the Australian Singing Competition.

From 2013 until 2015, preliminary auditions were held in each state, from which 12 finalists were selected irrespective of their instrument. The 12 finalists performed in a recital round, after which six advanced to a chamber music round, and three contested the concerto round. One of the three concerto finalists was chosen as the ABC Symphony Australia Young Performer of the Year.[10] The chamber and concerto rounds were hosted by a different Australian state orchestra each year.

From 2017, preliminary auditions were conducted by digital video submission, from which 12 semifinalists were selected irrespective of their instrument or location. The semifinalists performed in a series of public recitals from which three finalists were selected. One finalist was named the Young Performer of the Year.[11] The awards were broadcast on ABC Classic.

In 2018, the recital round was held at City Recital Hall in Sydney, and the final concerto round was held at the Sydney Opera House with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. The 2018 competition was won by violinist Emily Sun.[12]

The 2020 Awards were cancelled due to COVID-19 lockdowns across Australia. The rescheduled competition was further disrupted in 2021, and was subsequently held entirely online, with digital entries and pre-recorded semifinal and final rounds. Flautist Eliza Shephard won the 2021-22 competition.[13]

Current format

In 2026, the competition returned to the ABC, and adopted a three-round format.[14] The adjudication panel is chaired by harpist Marshall McGuire.[15] The first round consisted of a video audition of up to 40 minutes, from which 12 semifinalists were selected. Entrants were required to perform an unaccompanied work or movement, a concerto movement, and a contrasting work, with at least one item by an Australian composer.[16]

In August 2026, the 12 semifinalists will each present a live recital program of 45 to 60 minutes, at either Eugene Goossens Hall in Sydney, or Iwaki Auditorium in Melbourne.[17] Three finalists will then be selected. In the Grand Final, each finalist will perform a concerto with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, chosen from two works proposed by the finalist at the time of application.[18] One finalist will be named ABC Young Performer of the Year.

Prizes

In 2026, the competition prizes are as follows:[19]

  • First Prize: $40,000 and a solo studio album recorded by ABC Classic
  • Second Prize: $15,000
  • Third Prize: $5,000

Notable competitors

The Young Performers Awards and its predecessors featured some of the most well-known names in Australian classical music:

References

  1. ↑ "The ABC Young Performers Awards Key Info". ABC Classic. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  2. ↑ Classic, A. B. C. (1 December 2025). "About the ABC Young Performers Awards". ABC Classic. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  3. ↑ Limelight Archived 19 February 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 20 February 2016
  4. ↑ "ABC Young Performers Awards rescued in brave new deal". www.limelightmagazine.com.au. Limelight Magazine. Retrieved 14 November 2017.
  5. ↑ Cardozo, Geraldine (17 December 2025). "ABC Young Performers Awards to return in 2026". Australian Youth Orchestra. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  6. ↑ "The ABC Young Performers Awards". ABC Classic. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  7. ↑ "ABC: YPA". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 23 September 2012. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
  8. ↑ Classic, A. B. C. (1 December 2025). "About the ABC Young Performers Awards". ABC Classic. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  9. ↑ "Past Winners". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 10 November 2012. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
  10. ↑ YPA: New format from 2013
  11. ↑ "How to enter - ABC Young Performers Awards". ABC Young Performers Awards. Retrieved 14 November 2017.
  12. ↑ "2018 Winner Emily Sun". ABC Young Performers Awards. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  13. ↑ "Winner of the 2022 ABC Young Performers Awards announced". Limelight Magazine. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  14. ↑ "ABC Classic celebrates return of the Young Performers Awards". About the ABC. 16 February 2026. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  15. ↑ "Who will be on the adjudication panel?". ABC Classic. 7 April 2026. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  16. ↑ Classic, A. B. C. (12 February 2026). "Repertoire Guidelines". ABC Classic. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  17. ↑ "ABC Young Performers Awards 2026 | SEMI FINALS Day 1, Eugene Goossens Hall - Tuesday, 11 Aug 2026". www.australianmusiccentre.com.au. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  18. ↑ "ABC Young Performers Award Grand Final". www.sydneysymphony.com. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  19. ↑ "Terms and Conditions". ABC Classic. 12 February 2026. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  20. ↑ Bolt, Andrew (31 January 1985). "A Voice Raised High for Counter-tenors' lib". The Age. p. 14.
  21. ↑ "Queensland Symphony Orchestra Appoints New Associate Concertmaster". The Violin Channel. 26 September 2025. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
This page is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.