Presented annually by APRA AMCOS and the Australian Music Centre, the Art Music Awards acknowledge the achievements of composers, performers and educators in the genres of contemporary classical music, jazz, improvisation, sound art and experimental practices.
The Art Music Awards consists of eleven awards (for works, performances, and excellence in education, regional areas, and experimental practices), and up to ten Luminary awards (for sustained contribution of individuals or organisations to their state/territory community or on a national scale).
Additionally, the Richard Gill Award for Distinguished Services to Australian Music is presented at the discretion of the APRA and AMC Boards of Directors.
Work of the Year Awards
There are 7 ‘Work of the Year’ categories for Australian compositions first presented to the public the year prior (2025). The categories are:
Choral
Accompanied or unaccompanied works for multiple voices, where the vocal parts are the focus of the work.
Solo and Small Ensemble
Works for between 1 and 4 players, with or without vocal parts, and with or without electronics.
Medium Ensemble
Works for between 5 and 12 players, with or without vocal parts, and with or without electronics.
Large Ensemble
Works for more than 13 players, with or without vocal parts, and with or without electronics. This may include works for orchestra, concert band, wind band, string orchestra.
Dramatic
Music primarily intended for theatre and dance, such as opera, music theatre and ballet and contemporary dance works.
Electroacoustic / Sound Art
Works which utilise and manipulate digital and/or analogue sound as the primary medium. The work may be interdisciplinary (incorporating more than one medium).
Including but not limited to: electronics, interactive work, generative music, environmental sound, installations, soundscapes, electroacoustic music and intermedia works.
Jazz & Improvised Music
Original works of any instrumentation, primarily engaging with improvisatory composition and/or jazz traditions.
Performance of the Year Awards
There are 3 ‘Performance of the Year’ categories for the performance of a single Australian composition in the year prior (2025). The categories are:
Soloist
For the performance of a solo works or for a featured soloist in a larger work (such as a jazz solo, or concerto. Open to all genres of art music including classical, jazz, experimental and improvised music.
Classical & Experimental
For ensemble performances of an Australian contemporary classical or experimental work, often showcasing the performers’ success in revealing the nature and intention of a composition with clear notated instructions for the performer.
Jazz & Improvised Music
For ensemble performances of an Australian contemporary jazz or improvised work, often showcasing the performers’ success in improvisatory creation or collaboration. This may entail entirely improvised work or significant improvisatory input such as solo passages.
Excellence Awards
The 3 Excellence Awards recognise outstanding contributions to Australian art music by individual and organisations in the year prior (2025). Awarded in the following categories:
Excellence in Music Education
For pedagogical, creative, or professional development activities that champion Australian art music repertoire, including specific projects, recordings or recording projects, or events undertaken by an individual or organisation.
Excellence in a Regional Area
For activities undertaken in a regional area, by local community, or in collaboration with the local community, that utilise Australian repertoire to create a positive impact in the area.
Metropolitan artists working regionally must be nominated with a regional partner as co-nominee, ensuring shared recognition.
Note: To better support regional artists, self-nominations will be trialled for the Excellence in a Regional Area category in 2025.
Excellence in Experimental Practice
For works, people or events that interrogate, extend, or challenge standard artistic practice within their segment of the Australian art music sector.
Luminary Awards
The Luminary Awards seek to honour individuals and organisations who through sustained contribution (demonstrated over a period 3-5 years prior). These nominees will have impacted the national or local community (as appropriate) through visionary leadership, fearless trailblazing, high-level artistic practice, and championing of Australian repertoire.
Awarded in the following categories:
National (Individual)
National (Organisation)
State/Territory - ACT, NSW, NT, QLD, SA, TAS, VIC, WA