Tkay Maidza, Montaigne, Julia Jacklin & More Named as APRA Development Award Finalists

40 Australian songwriters and composers have today been announced as finalists in the 2017 APRA Professional Development Awards (PDAs) and are in line for a share of a $135,000 cash prize pool.

This year, 60% of the finalists are made up of female artists including Tkay Maidza, Julia Jacklin, Kučka, Gordi and Montaigne, while other names announced include Jacob Grant (Just A Gent) and jazz singer and composer, Daniel Susnjar.

Held every two years, the APRA PDAs create opportunities for emerging songwriters and composers — previous winners include Gotye, Ruby Boots, Briggs and Vassy. 

The winners will be announced on 25 July.

See the full list of categories and nominees below.

popular contemporary

Ainslie Wills, Dave Crowe, Elizabeth Mitchell, Hannah Cameron, Hannah Crofts, Jessica Cerro (Montaigne), Julia Jacklin, Peter Harding (Thief), Sophie Payten (Gordi), Tkay Maidza.

aboriginal torres strait islander

Benjamin Walker, Jess Beck, Joseph Dargan (Lucky Luke), Robbie Miller, Zaachariaha Fielding.

classical

Amanda Cole, Julian Day, Katy Abbott, Nicole Murphy,Tristan Coelho.

country

Christie Lamb, Danielle Blakey, Fanny Lumsden, Kaylee Bell, Timothy James Bowen.

dance/electronic

Jacob Grant (Just a Gent), Laura Lowther (Kučka), Nat Conway, Nicholas Drabble (Set Mo), Oscar Key Sung.

film & Television

Amy Bastow, Angela Little, Claire Deak, Damien Lane, Pru Montin.

jazz

Andrea Keller, Daniel Susnjar, Kristin Berardi, Sam Anning, Steve Barry.

smugglers of light

Eric Avery, Gina Williams, Jessica Hitchcock, Yirrmal Marika, Zaachariaha Fielding.