Its time to up the tempo!
The ABC Symphony Australia Young Performers Awards is an annual competition which encourages the talent and ambitions of Australia's young musicians.
Originally called the Concerto and Vocal Competition, the Awards have provided opportunities for an extraordinary number of our finest classical performers, including Geoffrey Parsons, Roger Woodward, Vernon Hill, Glenys Fowles, Neil Warren-Smith, Nathan Waks, Rosamund Illing, Diana Doherty and Adele Anthony.
The ABC Symphony Australia Young Performers Awards is held in four stages - two recitals with piano accompaniment, and two performances with major Australian symphony orchestras. At each stage the number of competitors is reduced until by Stage III only four performers remain in each category (String, Keyboard and Other Instrumental).
The winner of each category receives a cash prize and progresses to the Grand Final, Stage IV.
The winner of the Grand Final is named the ABC Symphony Australia Young Performer of the Year and receives a further cash prize, multiple copies of a compact disc of the winning performance and recital program and concert engagements with a major Australian symphony orchestra.


Key Dates
ABC Symphony Australia Young Performers Awards
Stage III - Section finals
KEYBOARD
Friday 13 June, 7.30pm Conservatorium Theatre, Brisbane
The Queensland Orchestra conducted by Pietari Inkinen
Maxwell Foster (Qld) playing Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No.1 was the winner!
STRINGS
Thursday 19 June, 7pm Adelaide Town Hall
Adelaide Symphony Orchestra conducted by Vladimir Verbitsky
Rebecca Chan (Vic) playing Korngold's Violin Concerto was the winner!
OTHER INSTRUMENTS
Thursday 26 June, 7.30pm Federation Concert Hall, Hobart
Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra conducted by Marc Taddei
Jessica Foot (Vic) playing Strauss' Oboe Concerto was the winner!
Stage IV - Grand Final
Friday 19 September 2008, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra conducted by Arvo Volmer Hamer Hall, 8:00pm
Free tickets now available. See the MSO's website for further details.