ABC Young Performers Awards Official Statement Nov 2024

Australia’s premier national young artist development programme for classical musicians.

The ABC Young Performers Awards (YPA) have been running in various iterations since 1944. Beginning as a state-based competition for young performers it has grown and established itself as Australia’s premier national artist development programme for young Australian classical musicians.

Throughout its history the YPA has been renowned for its ability to identify and nurture talented young Australian musicians. The musician who claims the title of ABC Young Performer of the Year will have proved themselves outstanding in all areas of musical performance, demonstrating high technical proficiency, an understanding of the repertoire and an appreciation of musical style.

The Competition has produced many winners including Max Olding (piano, 1952), Charmian Gadd (violin, 1962), Roger Woodward (piano, 1964), Nathan Waks (cello, 1968), Claire Edwardes (percussion, 1999), Amy Dickson (saxophone, 2004), Lloyd Van’t Hoff (clarinet 2015), Emily Sun (violin, 2018) and mostly recently Eliza Shephard (flute, 2022).

The Awards, with categories in keyboard, strings, instrumental and vocal, have been presented by the ABC, The State Orchestras, and Symphony Australia (now Symphony Services International). In 2001 the vocal category was transferred to the Music and Opera Singers Trust (MOST®) who presented the award in the Australian Singing Competition. Since 2016 MOST® has administered the YPA and delivered biennial competitions in 2018 and 2022. The awards were not able to run in 2020 due to COVID restrictions. 

Future ABC Young Performers Awards will now be overseen by the ABC and the next competition will form part of the 50^th anniversary celebrations of ABC Classic in 2026.

Roland Gridiger OAM, CEO of MOST®, said, “Through MOST’s stewardship of the YPA, we supported young performers with hundreds of thousands of dollars in awards, bequests, and scholarships. We also provided countless performance opportunities in the most elite concert and recital halls, and with the finest symphony orchestras, and conductors in Australia and abroad.”

Mr. Gridiger also added, “As ABC Classic approaches its golden jubilee, the timing is perfect for the YPA to return to its roots. This homecoming ensures the competition’s continued growth and impact on Australia’s classical music scene.” 

Emily Copeland, Head of Music, ABC says, “I’d like to express my gratitude to MOST® for running the competition since 2016 and look forward to discovering Australia’s young classical talent in the next ABC Young Performers Awards in 2026”.

The ABC thanks MOST® for taking carriage of the competition since 2016 and ensuring that the awards continued even through the challenges of COVID, delivering unparalleled opportunities and experiences for emerging young musicians. It acknowledges the contribution by MOST® to overseeing Australia’s premier young artist development program for upcoming classical instrumentalists and the work that it undertakes in its other programs supporting the arts and nurturing young talent.

ABC Chair Kim Williams says,“The ABC Young Performers Awards, formerly the ABC Instrumental and Vocal Competition has played a pivotal launching pad for many of Australia’s talented musicians. The performing opportunities and exposure that the competition affords is unparalleled for emerging artists. I would like to thank Roland Gridiger and MOST® for their contribution delivering the awards since 2016. I am delighted that the next Competition will be managed by the ABC and central to ABC Classic’s 50^th anniversary celebration in 2026.”

For more information about the ABC Young Performers Awards please see abc.net.au/classic