Young Instrumentalist Prize

Young Instrumentalist Prize

#Applications are now closed for the 2025 Young Instrumentalist Prize

For over a decade, Queensland Symphony Orchestra's Young Instrumentalist Prize (YIP) has launched the performing dreams of many young musicians from across Queensland. It is an opportunity for exceptional Queensland secondary school instrumental students to audition for the opportunity to perform in the Young Instrumentalist Prize Finalists’ Recital held annually at the QSO Studio. All finalists will receive a combination of cash prizes and complimentary tickets to select QSO concerts of their choosing. The first prize winner will also have the opportunity to perform with Queensland Symphony Orchestra in concert. See 2024 Young Instrumentalist First Prize Winner, Eric Kim, play with QSO in Our Classical Favourites on February 8 and 9, 2025.

Applicants must be enrolled in a Queensland secondary school (Years 7 to 12), or home schooled in Queensland. Applicants must play an orchestral instrument (including saxophone but not including keyboard instruments) at a standard which is equivalent to AMEB Grade 8 or higher. This year, audition repertoire must be strictly 8-12 minutes of played music and be from a recognised concerto, or a work for solo instrument and orchestra.

#Brennan Keats OAM Violin Loan Prize

One violinist will be offered a loan of an AE Smith 1961 Violin for one year. This instrument has been kindly donated to the Queensland Symphony Orchestra for use by an outstanding young violinist. The original donor, Brennan Keats OAM, entrusted the instrument to the National Instrument Bank created by Music Australia, and in 2020 ownership of the instrument was transferred to the Orchestra in its own right.

The Young Instrumentalist Prize is proudly supported by the Australian Decorative and Fine Arts Society (ADFAS), Brisbane and YFG Shopping Centres.

#2025 Young Instrumentalist Prize Application Information

Applications are now closed for the 2025 Young instrumentalist Prize.
Successful applicants will only be invited to audition once their application form and entry fee are received by QSO.

Recorded audition submission deadline Friday 31 January 2025, 5pm
YIP 2025 Finalists notified by Friday 28 February 2025
YIP 2025 Finalist's Recital Saturday 26 April 2025, 6:30pm

Please email edcom@qso.com.au with any questions or concerns. 

View full application guidelines

#Application checklist:

Application Stage 1 Checklist:

  • 1 application form (via the button below) 
  • Pay the entry fee (see Application Guidelines for payment instructions) 

Stage 1 - Applications are now closed

Successful & unsuccessful applicants have now been contacted.
If you have been invited to audition please submit the following:


Application Stage 2 Checklist
. Submit the following all together in 1 email:

  • 1 audition form (via the button below)
  • 1 solo version of the music performed in your audition (any cuts must be included)
  • 1 version of the music performed in your audition including piano accompaniment (any cuts must be included)
  • 1 link to your recorded audition via Dropbox, One Drive or Google Drive, etc. Ensure that you have enabled sharing permissions for both edcom@qso.com.au and communityeducationqso@gmail.com on your Google Drive, Dropbox or OneDrive folder. 

Stage 2 application materials must be sent in one email to edcom@qso.com.au by 5pm, Fri 31 Jan 2025. 

When attaching each file/link to your email, please follow the relevant naming convention:
YIP_applicant surname.first name_form
YIP_applicant surname.first name_solo
YIP_applicant surname.first name_piano
YIP_applicant surname.first name_audition

Stage 2 - Audition form

#Questions?

Please contact QSO Connect, our Community and Education department
07 3833 5045 or edcom@qso.com.au

#Previous First Prize Winners:

2024 Eric Kim, violin

2023 Ein Na, violin

2022 Chantel Chen, marimba

2021 Andre Oberleuter, bassoon

2021 Anna Suzuki, violin

#Stay informed about QSO Connect activities and news


#Partners

Frazer Family Foundation

Frazer Family Foundation

The Birtles Family Foundation

The Birtles Family Foundation

Supporting Partner - YFG Shopping Centres

Supporting Partner - YFG Shopping Centres

Queensland Symphony Orchestra respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land on which the Orchestra works, plays, and creates music, and we pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.