2025 Art Music Awards Winners Announced

Jack Symonds and big names including Anne Cawrse, Cathy Milliken, and Kate Milligan are among the winners of this year’s Art Music Awards.

Held at the City Recital Hall in Sydney, awards were handed out to a who’s who of Australia’s art music community.

The evening was hosted by Vanessa Hughes, accompanied by guest presenters Hamed Sadeghi and Nardi Simpson, and music curator Sia Ahmad.

Titles including Charlotte, Electric Cathedral, A Library of Extraordinary Things, Labyrinth, A Mega Masquerade, Headwater, The Breath Becomes The Wind, and many others received nominations for awards at this year’s event. You can check out the complete list of winners below.

In a statement, Dean Ormston, CEO of APRA AMCOS, said of this year’s award ceremony: “Congratulations to this year’s finalists and winners on their remarkable achievements. Once again, they have pushed the boundaries of art music and sonic exploration. We proudly celebrate their extraordinary talent, which is receiving the recognition it so richly deserves.”

Catherine Haridy, CEO of AMC, added: "This year's finalists showcase the incredible breadth of talent we are so lucky to have in Australia's art music community. We, at the AMC, are committed, in our 50th year of existence, to celebrating and valuing the creation of Australian composers, performers and industry leaders. Congratulations to all of tonight’s winners.”

2025 Art Music Award Winners:

Work of the Year: Choral

Title: All Flesh Is Fire  

Composer: Anne Cawrse

Text: Kate Llewellyn

Performer: Adelaide Chamber Singers

Work of the Year: Dramatic

Title: Gilgamesh

Composer: Jack Symonds

Text: Louis Garrick

Performer: Sydney Chamber Opera, Opera Australia, Australian String Quartet and Ensemble Offspring

Work of the Year: Jazz

Title: Koi Kingdom

Composer: Cheryl Durongpisitkul, Stephen Hornby and Marcos Villalta

Performer: Koi Kingdom

Work of the Year:  Large Ensemble

Title: Ritornello

Composer: Jakub Jankowski

Performer: Australian Chamber Orchestra

Work of the Year: Chamber Music

Title: In Speak

Composer: Cathy Milliken

Performer: Arditti Quartet

Work of the Year: Electroacoustic/Sound Art

Title: Tactus

Composer: Kate Milligan

Performer: Jonty Coy

Performance of the Year: Jazz/Improvised Music

Title: Music For Six Double Bassists

Composer: Chloe Kim

Performer: Max Alduca, Jacques Emery, Brett Hirst, Chloe Kim, Oscar Neyland, Helen Svoboda and Jonathan Zwartz

Performance of the Year: Notated Composition

Title: Gilgamesh

Composer: Jack Symonds

Text: Louis Garrick

Performer: Sydney Chamber Opera, Opera Australia, Australian String Quartet and Ensemble Offspring

Award for Excellence in Music Education 

Musica Viva Australia for Accessible Music Education Program

Award for Excellence in a Regional Area

Big hART for Tjaabi: Flood Country - 2024 Regional Tour

Award for Excellence in Experimental Practice 

Aviva Endean for The Breath Becomes The Wind

Richard Gill Awards for Distinguished Services to Australian Music

Jon Rose and Hollis Taylor

Luminary: National Individual

Stephen Adams for his outstanding contribution and dedication to Australian music as a broadcaster, producer, composer and advocate

Luminary: National Organisation

Decibel New Music for Decibel's program of concerts, releases, tours and publications

Territory Luminary Award: ACT

Luminescence Chamber Singers for their annual program in ACT and beyond

State Luminary Award: NSW

Jack Symonds for outstanding contributions to contemporary Australian opera

State Luminary Award: SA

Adelaide Chamber Singers for sustained contribution to commissioning and artistic excellence

State Luminary Award: VIC

Nat Bartsch for advocacy for neurodiversity in music

State Luminary Award: TAS

Stevie McEntee for programming of Clarence Jazz Festival and as artistic director/founding member of Lutruwita Art Orchestra

State Luminary Award: QLD

Muses Trio for Muses Inc.

State Luminary Award: WA

Perth International Jazz Festival for the growth of the Perth International Jazz Festival 2020 - 2024