Industry
Awards
We're home to award-winning artists.
Explore our honour board below.
VENUE AWARDS
2021
Music Victoria Awards: Best Large Venue - Elisabeth Murdoch Hall
MERLYN MYER MUSIC COMMISSION
2023
Brenda Gifford – Wadhu/Skin premiered on 18 October 2023 with Ensemble Offspring.
2021
Nat Bartsch – The Glasshouse premiered on 23 November 2021 with Inventi Ensemble.
2019
Deborah Cheetham AO – Song for Dulka Warngiid premiered 27 May 2024 with Syzygy Ensemble.
2017
Andrea Keller – Love in Solitude premiered 28 November 2017 with Ensemble Offspring.
2015
Sally Greenaway – 7 Great Inventions of the Modern Industrial Age premiered 27 April 2016 with Anni Ha & Syzygy Ensemble.
THE BETTY AMSDEN KIDS & FAMILIES COMMISSION
2021
Polyglot Theatre – Ants
2020
Federation Handbells – The Wonderland
THE MELBOURNE RECITAL CENTRE & MELBOURNE CONSERVATORIUM OF MUSIC COMPOSITION AWARD
2024
Sanghoon Lee – Trigram premiering with Melbourne Guitar Quartet on 15 June 2024
Kym Alexandra Dillon – INPOUR premiering with Penny Quartet on 1 November 2024
2023
Declan Postlethwaite – Lagom (not too much, not too little) premiered by Antelodic
Thomas Misson – Infinite Affinities premiered by Affinity Quartet
2022
Chris Pickering, Irene Zhong, Zinia Chan – Weaving of Threads premiered by Syzygy Ensemble
2021
Darrin Archer – Peace, Gratitude, Resolve premiered by Affinity Quartet
Jakob Bragg – Displaced bodies, weapons of action premiered by Rubiks Collective & Ossicle Duo
2020
Julia Potter – Belonging and Longing to Be premiered by Georgie Darvidis & Penny Quartet
2019
Carolyn Schofield – Residue of Structure premiered by Carolyn Schofield & Horsley Williams Duo
Samuel Smith – Dark Colours premiered by Arcadia Winds
2018
Andrew Batterham – Urban Songs premiered by Letter String Quartet
Jorden Heys – Ego Folium premiered by Latitude 37
2017
Alice Humphries – Nautical Twilight premiered by Letter String Quartet
Samantha Wolf – There is only now premiered by Ensemble Liaison
2016
May Lyon – Ode to Damascus premiered by Syzygy Ensemble
Ade Vincent – Composition for Voice & String Quartet premiered by Lior & Tinalley String Quartet
2015
Tom Henry – Scenes from a Poet’s Life premiered by Flinders Quartet
Mark Viggiani – Cleopatra premiered by Greta Bradman & Ensemble Liaison
Matthew Westwood – Untitled premiered by Marya Martin (flute), Wilma Smith (violin), Alvin Wong (cello) & Donald Nicolson (harpsichord)
2014
Elliott Hughes – Arcs and Sevens premiered by Syzygy Ensemble
HELPMANN AWARDS
2019
Best Chamber and/or Instrumental Ensemble Concert:
Gabrieli Consort & Players – Purcell’s King Arthur presented by Melbourne Recital Centre and State Opera of South Australia (winner)
2018
Best Chamber and/or Instrumental Ensemble Concert:
Pieter Wispelwey: Beethoven, Bach, Brahms with Caroline Almonte presented by Melbourne Recital Centre (nominee)
Jordi Savall with Hesperion XXI & Tembembe Ensamble Continuo presented by Perth Festival, Sydney Opera House, Melbourne Recital Centre & Queensland Performing Arts Centre (winner)
Best Individual Classical Music Performance:
Pieter Wispelwey plays the Bach Cello Suites presented by Melbourne Recital Centre (nominee)
2017
Best Chamber and/or Instrumental Ensemble Concert:
Academy of St Martin in the Fields presented by Melbourne Recital Centre, Sydney Opera House and QPAC (winner)
Best Individual Classical Performance:
Joshua Bell, Academy of St Martin in the Fields, presented by Melbourne Recital Centre, Sydney Opera House and QPAC (winner)
2016
Best Australian Contemporary Concert:
A State of Grace: The Music of Tim and Jeff Buckley presented by Gaynor Crawford Presents, Kirsten Siddle and Century Venues, Melbourne Recital Centre, QPAC, Brisbane Festival and Canberra Theatre Centre (nominee)
Best Individual Classical Performance:
Pierre-Laurent Aimard presented by Melbourne Recital Centre and Sydney Symphony Orchestra (winner)
Florian Boesch and Malcolm Martineau presented by Melbourne Recital Centre and Sydney Opera House (nominee)
2015
Best Chamber and/or Instrumental Ensemble Concert:
Les Arts Florissants and Le Jardin des Voix in ‘Un jardin à l’italienne’presented by Melbourne Recital Centre, Sydney Opera House and Perth International Arts Festival (winner)
The Sixteen presented by Melbourne Recital Centre, Sydney Opera House, Perth International Arts Festival, Queensland Performing Arts Centre and Australian National University School of Music, Llewellyn Hall (nominee)
Best Individual Classical Performance:
William Christie presented by Melbourne Recital Centre, Sydney Opera House and Perth International Arts Festival (winner)
Christian Tetzlaff presented by Melbourne Recital Centre (nominee)
2014
Best Chamber and/or Instrumental Ensemble Concert:
The Jerusalem Project presented by Melbourne Recital Centre and Sydney Opera House (winner)
Murray Perahia in Recital presented by Melbourne Recital Centre and Sydney Symphony Orchestra (nominee)
Best Individual Classical Performance:
Murray Perahia presented by Melbourne Recital Centre and Sydney Symphony Orchestra (nominee)
2013
Best Chamber and/or Instrumental Ensemble Concert:
Jordi Savall & Andrew Lawrence-King presented by Melbourne Recital Centre (winner)
Best Individual Classical Performance:
Jordi Savall & Andrew Lawrence-King presented by Melbourne Recital Centre (nominee)
2012
Best Chamber and/or Instrumental Ensemble Concert:
Black Angels presented by Melbourne Recital Centre & Syzygy Ensemble (nominee)
KURSK: An Oratorio Requiem presented by Melbourne Festival and Melbourne Recital Centre (nominee)
Best Individual Classical Performance:
Matthias Goerne, Die Winterreise, presented by Melbourne Recital Centre (nominee)
Susan Graham presented by Melbourne Recital Centre & Sydney Opera House (nominee)
2011
Best Chamber and/or Instrumental Ensemble Concert:
Scharoun Ensemble Berlin presented by Melbourne Recital Centre (nominee)
2010
Best Chamber and/or Instrumental Ensemble Concert:
Les Voix Humaines presented by Melbourne Recital Centre (nominee)
Best Individual Classical Music Performance:
Imogen Cooper presented by Melbourne Recital Centre (winner)
CONTEMPORARY MASTERS AWARD
2019
Ossicle Duo – L’art Bruit by Mauricio Kagel
Penny Quartet – String Quartet No.2 “Chorale Quartet” by Jörg Widmann
2018
Inventi Ensemble – Run Before Lightning by Jonathan Harvey
Penny Quartet – String Quartet No.4 by Jörg Widmann
2017
Ensemble Three – Voodoo Sonnets by James Ledger
Songmakers Australia – From Jewish Poetry Op.79 by Dimitri Shostakovich
2016
Melbourne Guitar Quartet – Electric Counterpoint by Steve Reich
Tinalley String Quartet – Song Cycle: ‘Do not go gentle into that good night’ & ‘Do not Go’ by Ade Vincent & Lior
2015
Press, Play – Sandakan Piano Trio 2 by Larry Sitsky
Melbourne Guitar Quartet – News from Nowhere by Philip Houghton
2014
Plexus – The End of Many Worlds by Gordon Kerry
Syzygy Ensemble – Kukulkan 2 by David Dzubay
2013
Benaud Trio – Four Music Videos by Paul Schoenfield
Australia Felix – Funf Bruchstucke by Jörg Widmann
PERCY GRAINGER AWARD
2021
Rubiks Collective
BACH COMPETITION
2023
Richard Mills Prize: Jamie Miles, viola
Encouragement Award: Hoaqing Liu, harpsichord
Encouragement Award: Ein Na, violin
Young Bach Scholar Award: Serena Zhang, piano
2022
Richard Mills Prize: Teresa Yang, violin
Encouragement Award: Jun Gardiner, cello
Encouragement Award: Lachlan Chen, violin
Young Bach Scholar Award: Michael Liu, oboe
2021
Richard Mills Prize: Beatrice Colombis, violin
Encouragement Award: Teresa Yang, violin
Encouragement Award: Meng Xia, piano
Young Bach Scholar Award: Samantha Li, piano
2020
Richard Mills Prize: Leon Fei, violin
Encouragement Award: Lieun Park, cello
Encouragement Award: Meng Xia, piano
Young Bach Scholar: Noah Lawrence, cello
2019
Richard Mills Prize: Dindin Wang, violin
Encouragement Award: Ji Woo Yoon, cello
Encouragement Award: Leanne McGowan, violin
Young Bach Scholar: Meng Xia, piano
2018
Richard Mills Prize: Dandan Wang, violin
Encouragement Award: Dindin Wang, violin
Encouragement Award: Zhihan Wang, piano
Young Bach Scholar: Marcus Michelsen, violin
Newsboys Award: Patricia Thompson, trumpet
2017
Richard Mills Prize: Grace Wu, violin
Encouragement Award: Dindin Wang, violin
Encouragement Award: Henry Say, cello
Aus Bach Society Award: Dandan Wang, violin
Newsboys Award: Emma Amery, violin
2016
Richard Mills Prize: Felix Star Higson-McBrearty, cello
Encouragement Award: Ally Cho, violin
Encouragement Award: Tian Tian Lan, piano
Aus Bach Society Award: Dindin Wang, violin
Newsboys Award: Lily McCann, violin
2015
Richard Mills Prize: Joint Winners – Lily Higson-Spence, violin & Miles Johnston, guitar
Encouragement Award: Felix Star Higson McBrearty, cello
Newsboys Award: Charlotte Kube, cello
2014
Richard Mills Prize: Charlotte Miles, cello
Encouragement Award: Tian Tian Lan, piano
Encouragement Award: Miles Johnston, classical guitar
2013
Richard Mills Prize: Oscar Jiang, piano
Encouragement Award: Charlotte Miles, cello
Encouragement Award: Ziggy Johnston, guitar
2012
Richard Mills Prize: William Soo, piano
Encouragement Award: Oscar Jiang, piano
Encouragement Award: Andrew Kawai, oboe
2011
Richard Mills Prize: Michael Byrne, piano
Encouragement Award; Justine Ayres, violin
Encouragement Award: Emily Sheppard, violin
2010
Richard Mills Prize: Joint Winners – David Wang, piano & Michael Li, piano
Encouragement Award: Isabella Delaney, recorder
BAROQUE COMPETITION
2024
First Prize: Nicholas Feng, violin
Encouragement Award: Haoqing Lui, harpsichord
Encouragement Award: Jun Gardiner and Lieun Park, cello duo
Young Bach Scholar Award: Jasmine Lai, piano
GREAT ROMANTICS COMPETITION
2023
Elisabeth Murdoch Prize: Isla Biffin, harp
Anne Kantor Encouragement Award: Rachel Shindang, piano
Milan Kantor Encouragement Award: Lyla Levy-Jordan, mezzo soprano
2022
Elisabeth Murdoch Prize: Reuben Tsang, piano
Anne Kantor Encouragement Award: Andrew Wang, violin
Milan Kantor Encouragement Award: Andre Oberleuter, bassoon
2021
Elisabeth Murdoch Prize: Emily Su, violin
Anne Kantor Encouragement Award: Rachel Shindang, piano
Milan Kantor Encouragement Award: Clancy McLeod, guitar
2020
Elisabeth Murdoch Prize: Brian Luo, piano
Anne Kantor Encouragement Award: Ji Woo Yoon, cello
Milan Kantor Encouragement Award: Calvin Abdiel, piano
2019
Elisabeth Murdoch Prize: Carol Wang, bassoon
Anne Kantor Encouragement Award: Hannah Shin, piano
Milan Kantor Encouragement Award: Edward Wang, oboe
2018
Elisabeth Murdoch Prize: Miles Johnston, guitar
Kantor Encouragement Award: Jessica Taylor, voice & George Carolin-Unkovich, pian
2017
Elisabeth Murdoch Prize: Kyla Matsuura-Miller, violin & Adam McMillan, piano
Kantor Encouragement Award: William Soo, piano
2016
Elisabeth Murdoch Prize: Kevin Suherman, piano
Kantor Encouragement Award: Ziggy Johnston, guitar
2015
Elisabeth Murdoch Prize: Aaron Liu, piano
Kantor Encouragement Award: Ziggy Johnston, guitar
2014
Elisabeth Murdoch Prize: Markiyan Melnychenko, violin
Kantor Encouragement Award: Aaron Liu, piano
2013
Elisabeth Murdoch Prize: Tony Lee, piano
Kantor Encouragement Award: Lotte Betts-Dean, soprano
2012
Elisabeth Murdoch Prize: James Guan, piano
Kantor Encouragement Award: Nathan Lay baritone, Daniel Carter piano
2011
Elisabeth Murdoch Prize: David Soo, piano
Kantor Encouragement Award: William Hewer, cello
2010
Elisabeth Murdoch Prize: Hoang Pham, piano
Kantor Encouragement Award: Nicholas Jones, tenor