Proposed dates for 2026 Youth Music Awards
*Entries: Open Date (TBC)
*Entries: Close 4pm Friday 24th April 2026.
*Auditions: Saturday 16th May 2026 9am at Sutherland Uniting Church
*Rehearsal: Thursday 18th June 2026 4pm to 8pm at Sutherland Arts Theatre
*Finals Concert: Friday 26th June 2026 7pm at Sutherland Arts Theatre
The Sutherland Shire and St George Youth Music Awards (YMA) 2026
The YMA is an annual event organised by Sutherland Music Club (SMC) in association with several sponsors. Applications for both the Performance and Composition sections will open in late January for YMA 2026. Total prizes for this 34th YMA exceed $7,700 in cash & vouchers, along with other awards. The Awards encourage individual performers to show their style and versatility in a spirit of friendly competition. We seek to encourage musical and performance excellence in classical music, opera, jazz, music theatre, world music, folk and cabaret. The performance experience can assist young musicians to develop into confident, creative artists. Emphasis is placed on the entrant’s ability to communicate with the audience, on a sound technical base.
Approximately 12 Performance Finalists will be selected at the Auditions to perform in the Finals Concert. Prizes will be awarded to encourage music learning and performance opportunities.
Solo Performance Section.
This section is open to 13 to 18 year olds who live or attend school in the Sutherland Shire or St George area. We are delighted to have Dr Jeanell Carrigan & (TBC) adjudicating the Performance Section.
Attention vocalists - there are also prizes for the best Opera, Music Theatre & Folk performances
Two Sections in Young Composer Sections
$4200 in Composition prizes - includes Singer-Songwriter!
1. SMC Banksia Award for Young Composers
This is open to 13 to 18 year olds who live or attend school in the Sutherland Shire or St George area. The 2026 Banksia Section theme is "City Life" . Adjudicated by Andrew Ford. Past YMA 1st place Banksia Composition winners are ineligible to re-enter this section. An encouragement prize will awarded to a first-time YMA Composition entrant.
2. SMC Waratah Award for Young Composers
This is open to 19 to 21 year olds who either live in the Sutherland Shire or St George area, or have been previous entrants in our Youth Music Awards. Past YMA 1st place Banksia Composition winners, even if not yet 19, have the honour of also being invited to enter. The 2026 Waratah section theme, is "Landscapes". Adjudicated by Wendy Hiscocks.