The ABC Young Performers Awards is a classical music competition for young people that ran annually from 1944 to 2015, and again from 2017. It is generally considered the most prestigious Australian classical music competition not restricted to a single instrument.

History

It was conducted by the

Australian Broadcasting Corporation The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) is Australia’s principal public service broadcaster. It is funded primarily by grants from the federal government and is administered by a government-appointed board of directors. The ABC is ...

in conjunction with

Symphony Australia Symphony Services International, formerly known as Symphony Australia, is a centralised organisation formed in 1997 for six Australian symphony orchestras: Adelaide, Melbourne, Queensland, Sydney, Tasmania and Western Australia. The orchestras wer ...

(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, as Symphony Australia could no longer support it. However, in October 2016 the return of the competition from 2017 was announced. It will now be under the management of the Music & Opera Singers Trust (MOST), a philanthropic organisation.

Names

The competition had a number of names throughout its history. * It was founded in 1944 by the then

Australian Broadcasting Commission The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) is Australia’s principal public service broadcaster. It is funded primarily by grants from the federal government and is administered by a government-appointed board of directors. The ABC is a ...

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

, 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.

Format

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 came an award for the most outstanding competitor, their prize including concerts with ABC orchestras. In 1986 the State finals were converted to four category finals. In 2002 the vocal division of the competition was disbanded and the award transferred over to the

Australian Singing Competition The Australian Singing Competition (ASC) evolved from the Marianne Mathy Scholarship, established in 1982 through a bequest made in the will of Marianne Mathy-Frisdane, a coloratura soprano opera singer and distinguished teacher of opera and clas ...

. From 2013 until 2015, all entrants were exposed to Preliminary Auditions which were held in each state, from which 12 finalists were chosen by the judges irrespective of their instrument. All 12 finalists played in a Recital round; six were chosen to proceed to the Chamber Music round; and three contested the Concerto round. One of these three was chosen as the ABC Symphony Australia Young Performer of the Year. The chamber and concerto rounds are hosted each year by a different state orchestra of Australia, 2013's awards will be hosted by the

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO) is an Australian orchestra based in Melbourne. The MSO is resident at Hamer Hall. The MSO has its own choir, the MSO Chorus, following integration with the Melbourne Chorale in 2008. The MSO relies on fun ...

. From 2017, preliminary auditions are by digital video submission from which 12 Semi Finalists are chosen by the judges, irrespective of their instrument or location. All 12 Semi Finalists play in a series of competitive public recitals from which three Finalists are chosen to proceed to the Finals. One of the Finalists is chosen as the overall winner and is named the Young Performer of the Year. The awards are broadcast on ABC Classic FM. 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 The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue Performing arts center, performing arts centre in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Located on the foreshore of Sydney Harbour, it is widely regarded as one of the world's most famous and distinctive b ...

with the

Sydney Symphony Orchestra The Sydney Symphony Orchestra (SSO) is an Australian symphony orchestra based in Sydney. With roots going back to 1908, the orchestra was made a permanent professional orchestra on the formation of the Australian Broadcasting Commission in 1932. ...

. The winner of the 2018 competition was the violinist Emily Sun. The 2020 Awards were cancelled due to COVID-19 lockdowns across Australia. The rescheduled Awards were disrupted in 2021 and the decision was made to hold the YPA entirely online with digital entries and pre-recorded Semi-Finals and Finals stages. The winner of the 2021/22 Awards was flautist Eliza Shephard.

Notable competitors

The Young Performers Awards and its predecessors featured some of the best known names in the Australian classical music scene. They include: * Caroline Almonte (piano; 1992) *

Adele Anthony Adele Anthony (born 1 October 1970) is an Australian-American violinist. In 1984, at age 13, she was the youngest winner of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, ABC Instrumental and Vocal Competition; she later won other international competi ...

(violin; 1984) * Fiona Campbell (mezzo-soprano; 1994) * Catherine Carby (soprano; 1996) * Rebecca Chambers (piano; 1993) * Mark Chu (piano; 2005) * Tamara Anna Cislowska (piano; 1991) *

Jeffrey Crellin Jeffrey Crellin is an Australian oboist, who was principal of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO) from 1977 to 2021. He was also the founder and Artistic Director of Australia Pro Arte from 1990 to 2006, a Melbourne-based chamber orchestra that ...

(oboe; 1973) * Brieley Cutting (piano; 2006) * Andrew Kawai (oboe; 2013, 2014) * Keith Crellin (viola; 1972) *

Robert Davidovici Robert Davidovici (born 1946) is a Romanian-American violinist. He took First Prize honors in the Naumburg Competition in 1972. In 1983 Davidovici tied, with Maryvonne Le Dizès, for first place in the Carnegie Hall International American Music ...

(violin; 1967) *

Andrew Day Andrew is the English form of the given name, common in many countries. The word is derived from the , ''Andreas'', itself related to ''aner/andros'', "man" (as opposed to "woman"), thus meaning "manly" and, as consequence, "brave", "strong", "c ...

(flute; 1996) *

Deborah de Graaff According to the Book of Judges, Deborah (, ''Dəḇōrā'') was a prophetess of Judaism, the fourth Judge of pre-monarchic Israel, and the only female judge mentioned in the Hebrew Bible. Many scholars contend that the phrase, "a woman of Lap ...

(clarinet; 1983) *

Brett Dean Brett Dean (born 23 October 1961) is an Australian composer, violist and conductor. Early life Brett Dean was born, raised, and educated in Brisbane. He attended Brisbane State High School. He started learning violin at age 8, and later stu ...

(viola; 1981) *

Amy Dickson Amy Dickson (born 1982) is an Australian classical saxophone player. Early life Dickson was born in Sydney. She began to play piano at the age of two, and saxophone at the age of six. She initially played 'some jazz' in her youth, but eventuall ...

(saxophone; 2004) *

Oliver She Oliver may refer to: Arts, entertainment and literature Books * ''Oliver the Western Engine'', volume 24 in ''The Railway Series'' by Rev. W. Awdry * ''Oliver Twist'', a novel by Charles Dickens Fictional characters * Ariadne Oliver, ...

(piano; 2010) *

Diana Doherty Diana Doherty is an Australian oboist, currently Principal Oboe with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Biography Diana Doherty was born in Brisbane, where she began her education. She attended Brisbane State High School. She studied both piano and ...

(oboe; 1985) *

Claire Edwardes Claire Olivia Edwardes (born 9 September 1975) is an Australian classical percussionist, artistic director, composer and advocate for change in the classical music sector.''Who's Who in Australia'' 2018, ConnectWeb. Edwardes is the co-founder and ...

(percussion; 1999) *

Richard Farrell Richard Farrell (30 December 1926 – 27 May 1958) was a New Zealand classical pianist. Musical career Early life Thomas Richard Farrell was born in Auckland in 1926 to Thomas and Ella Farrell, and spent most of his young years in Wellingto ...

(piano; 1944) *

Gustav Fenyo Gustav, Gustaf or Gustave may refer to: *Gustav (name), a male given name of Old Swedish origin Art, entertainment, and media * ''Primeval'' (film), a 2007 American horror film * ''Gustav'' (film series), a Hungarian series of animated short cart ...

(piano; 1969) *

Glenys Fowles Glenys Rae Fowles AM (born 4 November 1941) is an Australian operatic soprano who sang with Opera Australia and its predecessors for many years. She also sang at Covent Garden, Glyndebourne, and for the New York City Opera, San Diego Opera, and ...

(soprano; 1967) *

David Fung David Fung (born 1983) is a concert pianist. Fung was born in Sydney, Australia. Early life and education Fung attended James Ruse Agricultural High School in Sydney, where he received the James Ruse Medal for Dux and the Medal for Music. He grad ...

(piano; 2002) *

Charmian Gadd Charmian Gadd OAM (b.1942) is an Australian violinist and teacher. Career Gadd grew up in Ourimbah, New South Wales, and learned to play violin at three years old. Her family listened to Alfred Ernest Floyd's ''Music Lover’s Hour'' on ABC ...

(violin; 1962) *

Duncan Gifford Duncan George Gifford is an Australian-born concert pianist and teacher. Early life and education Gifford was born in Sydney. He was educated at Newington College (1985–1990), the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and in Russia at the Moscow Conse ...

(piano; 1989) * Miriam Gormley (soprano; 1985) * Nance Grant (soprano; 1960) * Bernadette Harvey (piano; 1987) *

David Helfgott David Helfgott (born 19 May 1947) is an Australian concert pianist whose life inspired the Academy Award-winning film '' Shine'', in which he was portrayed by actors Geoffrey Rush, Noah Taylor and Alex Rafalowicz. Biography Early life Helfgott ...

(piano; state finalist 6 times) *

Vernon Hill Vernon W. Hill II (born August 18, 1945) is an American businessman, the founder and former chairman of Metro Bank, a UK retail bank with 77 stores, and assets of £7.4b ($10.6b). He was also the founder, former chairman, president and CEO of ...

(flute; 1965) * Caitlin Hulcup (mezzo-soprano; 2001) *

Rosamund Illing Rosamund Illing is an English Australian soprano. Together with Richard Bonynge and the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra Illing was nominated for the 2000 ARIA Award for Best Classical Album for the album ''Amoureuse: Sacred and Profane A ...

(soprano; 1976) * Beryl Kimber (violin; 1946) * Alison Lazaroff-Somssich (violin; 1986) * Bernice Lehmann (piano; 1948) * Clemens Leske (jr; piano; 1990) *

Geoffrey Douglas Madge Geoffrey Douglas Madge (born 3 October 1941) is an Australian classical pianist and composer. Biography Madge was born in Adelaide and took his first piano lessons at the age of eight. He later won the 1963 ABC Concerto and Vocal Competition. A ...

(piano; 1963) *

Emma Matthews Emma Matthews (née Lysons; born 1970) is an English-born Australian lyric coloratura soprano, noted for operatic roles, but also popular on the concert stage. A Principal Artist with Opera Australia, Matthews has received more Helpmann Awards ...

(soprano; 1993) *

Stephen McIntyre Stephen McIntyre (born c. 1947) is a Canadian mining exploration company director, a former minerals prospector and semi-retired mining consultant whose work has included statistical analysis. He is the founder and editor of Climate Audit, a b ...

(piano; 1960) * Ian Munro (piano; 1982) * Jolanta Nagajek (mezzo-soprano; 1981) *

Mary-Jean O'Doherty Mary-Jean Anaïs O'Doherty (born 2 April 1982)Mary Jean Anais Odoherty in the ''Texas, U.S., Birth Index, 1903-1997'' is an Australian-American coloratura soprano. She was the first prize winner in the 2013 Paris Opera Awards. Life and career ...

(soprano; 2007) *

Max Olding Max or MAX may refer to: Animals * Max (American dog) (1983–2013), at one time purported to be the world's oldest living dog * Max (British dog), the first pet dog to win the PDSA Order of Merit (animal equivalent of the OBE) * Max (gorilla) (1 ...

(piano; 1952) * Geoffrey Parsons (piano; 1947) *

Geoffrey Payne Geoffrey Payne (born c. 1957) is a noted Australian classical trumpeter. He has been Principal Trumpet with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra since 1986, and has been a member of the orchestra since 1979. He also performs with other orchestras bot ...

(trumpet; 1982) * Li-Wei Qin (cello; 1993) * Julie Raines (harp; 1970) * Lachlan Redd (piano; 1996) * Paul Rickard-Ford (piano; 1983) * Sophie Rowell (violin; 2000) *

Victor Sangiorgio Victor Sangiorgio is an Australian classical pianist. He was born in Italy, grew up and trained in Australia, resides in London and performs internationally. Biography Victor Sangiorgio was born in Italy but his family moved to Australia when he ...

(piano; 1978) *

Julian Smiles Julian may refer to: People * Julian (emperor) (331–363), Roman emperor from 361 to 363 * Julian, of the Roman gens Julia, with imperial dynasty offshoots * Saint Julian (disambiguation), several Christian saints * Julian (given name), people w ...

(cello; 1988) *

Jonathan Summers Jonathan Summers (born 2 October 1946) is an Australian operatic baritone who has mainly worked in the United Kingdom. He sang the role of Captain Balstrode in the 1980 recording of Benjamin Britten's ''Peter Grimes'' which won a Grammy Award fo ...

(baritone; 1973) * Eliza Shephard (flute; 2022) * Emily Sun (violin; 2018) *

Simon Tedeschi Simon Tedeschi (born 1 May 1981) is an Australian classical pianist and writer. Early life Tedeschi was born in Gosford to Mark Tedeschi QC, Senior Crown Prosecutor for New South Wales, and doctor Vivienne Tedeschi, the daughter of a Poli ...

(piano; 1998) *

Lloyd Van't Hoff Lloyd, Lloyd's, or Lloyds may refer to: People * Lloyd (name), a variation of the Welsh word ' ("grey") or ' ** List of people with given name Lloyd ** List of people with surname Lloyd * Lloyd (singer) (born 1986), American singer Places Unite ...

(clarinet; 2015) * Alan Vivian (clarinet; 1975) * Nathan Waks (cello; 1968) * Neil Warren-Smith (bass-baritone; 1955) *

Donald Westlake Donald Edwin Westlake (July 12, 1933 – December 31, 2008) was an American writer with more than one hundred novels and non-fiction books to his credit. He specialized in crime fiction, especially comic capers, with an occasional foray int ...

(clarinet: 1952) * Kristian Winther (violin; 2002) *

Roger Woodward Roger Robert Woodward (born 20 December 1942) is an Australian classical pianist, composer, conductor, teacher and human rights activist. He is widely regarded as a leading advocate of contemporary music. Early life Roger Woodward was born ...

(piano; 1964) *

Ashley William Smith Ashley William Smith (born 1984) is an Australian clarinet player and academic. He is the chair of woodwind and contemporary performance at the UWA Conservatorium of Music at the University of Western Australia, and a member of the Queensland-b ...

(Clarinet, 2010)

References

External links

* {{Official Website, http://youngperformersawards.org/
Symphony Services International

Music & Opera Singers Trust
Recurring events established in 1944 1944 establishments in Australia 2015 disestablishments in Australia 2017 establishments in Australia Music competitions in Australia Australian music awards Classical music in Australia Australian Broadcasting Corporation Symphony Services International