The ABC Young Performers Awards: A Launchpad for Australia’s Musical Elite
For decades, the ABC Young Performers Awards has been a cornerstone of Australian classical music, nurturing and launching the careers of some of the nation’s most gifted musicians. Established in 1944, this prestigious competition has a storied history of identifying and supporting young talent, many of whom have gone on to achieve international acclaim. From acclaimed composers and violists like Brett Dean to celebrated pianists such as Simon Tedeschi, and virtuosic percussionists like Claire Edwardes and violinists like Emily Sun, the awards have consistently showcased individuals who push the boundaries of musical artistry. In 2026, the Young Performers Awards are once again gracing ABC Classic, offering a fresh generation of musicians a platform to shine.
To understand the profound impact of this competition, we delve into the experiences of past winners, exploring their preparation, their journey through the demanding rounds, and the invaluable opportunities that the awards have unlocked.
Claire Edwardes: Forging a Path in Percussion
Claire Edwardes stands as one of Australia’s most respected percussionists, particularly lauded for her dedication to championing contemporary classical music from women and other underrepresented voices. As the Artistic Director of the pioneering contemporary classical group Ensemble Offspring, Edwardes has built a career on innovation and advocacy.
She first entered the Young Performers Awards in 1999, a period when she was awaiting the commencement of her postgraduate studies in the Netherlands. “The competition gave me something to focus on and work towards,” Edwardes recalls. At that time, percussion was not a widely considered career path for aspiring musicians, so Edwardes entered the “other instruments” category. Her preparation, however, was anything but ordinary.
To showcase the full scope of her capabilities, Edwardes took the painstaking step of hand-writing a piano reduction of Joseph Schwantner’s Concerto for Percussion and Orchestra. This ambitious undertaking allowed her to demonstrate the diverse range of skills required for the demanding solo percussion repertoire. She even sought guidance from Christopher Lamb, the American percussionist who had premiered the concerto in 1995.
Her dedication paid off, as she triumphed over formidable competitors, including pianist Andrea Lam and violinist Alexandra Osborne, both of whom have since achieved significant success in their own right. The victory propelled Edwardes into a remarkable career, spending the next 27 years performing as a soloist with symphony orchestras across Australia and internationally, even while undertaking her studies abroad. “That never would have happened if I hadn’t won the Young Performers Awards,” she asserts, highlighting the transformative power of the competition.
Emily Sun: A Violinist’s Career Accelerated
Internationally renowned violinist Emily Sun has graced some of the world’s most prestigious stages, including many here in Australia. Her initial introduction to a wider audience came through the 2011 documentary Mrs Carey’s Concert, which chronicled a group of students preparing for a significant performance at the Sydney Opera House.
Sun’s connection with the Young Performers Awards is long-standing; she was a finalist in 2011 before ultimately winning the competition in 2018. “Winning the YPA [Young Performers Awards] marked a huge turning point for me in my performing career,” Sun states. “It gave me the confidence and opportunities to perform across Australia in concerto, recital and chamber settings.”
The prize package included a coveted residency as ABC Classic’s Artist in Residence, which provided invaluable opportunities for recording and media exposure. “I definitely came out of it as a different artist,” Sun reflects. Her post-award success has continued to flourish. In 2023, Sun became the custodian of The Adelaide, a rare 250-year-old Italian violin crafted by the legendary luthier Giovanni Battista Guadagnini, a testament to her elevated standing in the classical music world.
Lloyd Van’t Hoff: The Power of Connection
For clarinettist Lloyd Van’t Hoff, who clinched the competition in 2015, the most significant takeaway was the network of musical connections he forged. Growing up in Charters Towers in Far North Queensland, Van’t Hoff’s life was profoundly altered by an inspiring music teacher at the age of 11. His family later relocated to Brisbane to support his tertiary studies at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music and the Australian National University (ANAM) in Melbourne.
Upon completing his studies, Van’t Hoff found himself at a crossroads, feeling the weight of expectations from those who had invested in his musical education. “I felt this expectation from my peers, teachers and family who had all invested in my musical education,” he shares. Despite initial apprehension, he decided to audition for the Young Performers Awards. “Luckily, I had all of this repertoire that felt pretty cozy,” he admits.
The 2015 competition, with many rounds held in Tasmania, offered a unique collaborative environment. Competitors worked alongside professional musicians in the semi-final chamber music rounds, and the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra accompanied the grand finalists. “A lot of the people I met during the competition were people who then opened doors for me.” This led to invitations to collaborate with established ensembles such as the Flinders Quartet and the formation of his own group, the Arcadia wind quintet. Van’t Hoff describes a “tremendous sense of camaraderie” among the competitors, noting, “We’re all friends for life.”
Eliza Shephard: A Cascade of Opportunities
The most recent winner of the ABC Young Performers Awards in 2022, flautist Eliza Shephard, is rapidly establishing herself as one of Australia’s most dynamic performers. Beyond her captivating stage presence, Shephard is also an accomplished educator, improviser, and recording artist. “I’m loud and proud about my [love of] contemporary music,” she declares.
Her formative musical influence, Virginia Taylor, was herself a Young Performers Awards winner in 1988, underscoring the intergenerational legacy of the competition. By the time Shephard entered the awards, she had already completed postgraduate studies at ANAM and an intensive four-month course in New York focusing on contemporary flute techniques, which heavily influenced her repertoire choices.
Unlike previous cohorts, Shephard’s experience was shaped by the unprecedented challenges of COVID-19 lockdowns and pandemic restrictions. This transformed the competition into “a long, drawn-out process.” To adhere to safety protocols, competitors were required to record their performances in empty studios. “I asked if I could have someone there just so it would feel like a performance,” Shephard explains. The ABC graciously allowed each performer to bring one support person to their semi-final and grand final rounds, provided they did not disrupt the recording. Shephard’s youngest sibling attended, observing the proceedings with a mask and offering applause through Auslan signs at the conclusion of each piece.
Shephard identifies her most valuable lesson from the competition as learning to authentically present herself as a musician through her repertoire, technique, and curatorial vision. Post-awards, Shephard has spearheaded “March of the Women,” a recording project now in its seventh year, dedicated to increasing the representation of female composers and championing female flautists. She recently commissioned six Australian female composers to create new works for her, a project made possible by the cash prize from the Young Performers Awards. “A portion of my winnings went to help fund percentages of these commissions,” Shephard reveals. “The YPA [Young Performers Awards] had a big knock-on effect in my career, which is very amazing to sit and be with.”
Entries are currently open for the ABC Young Performers Awards for musicians aged 31 and under.
