ABC Symphony Australia Young Performers Awards

The ABC Symphony Australia 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.

It was conducted by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation 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, 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 and Opera Singers Trust (MOST), a philanthropic organisation.

The competition had a number of names throughout its history.

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.

As of 2013, all entrants are exposed to Preliminary Auditions which are held in each state, from which 12 finalists are chosen by the judges irrespective of their instrument. All 12 finalists play in the Recital round; six are chosen to proceed to the Chamber Music round; and three contest the Concerto round. One of these three is 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 awards were broadcast on ABC Classic FM and ABC television.

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