Sunday 25 October
Grand final
The five category winners go head-to-head for the title of CoJ Young Musician of the Year 2026.
Redmond Theatre, Joondalup Book tickets
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See WA's five category winners go head-to-head live at Redmond Theatre, Prendiville College, Joondalup.
Five categories.
One grand final.
One title.
14–23Eligible age range
$5,000Total prize pool
0Instrument categories
FreeTo enter
A joint initiative of the City of Joondalup and Perth Symphony Orchestra, spotlighting Western Australia's brightest young musicians. Category finalists take the stage professionally, judged by leading figures in the industry, before going head-to-head for the overall title.
The Line-up
Five Categories.
One Grand Final.
Grade 6 AMEB or Year 12 ATAR Music and above. Register in the category that's yours — want to enter more than one? Submit a separate form for each.
01
Brass
02
Percussion
03
Strings
04
Woodwind
05
Piano
The winner earns the coveted
CoJ Young Musician of the Year 2026
+ the chance to perform with PSO in the 2027 season
Champion
$2,500
Plus the CoJ title and a 2027 performance with PSO.
Runner-up
$1,500
Awarded to the second-place finisher.
Third
$1,000
Awarded to the third-place finisher.
Total shared prize pool: $5,000.
2025 Winner
It was a great opportunity to present a piece I'd only really played for my classmates before, so being able to perform it publicly was really special. It's really important just to be aware of the opportunities that are around, and not be scared of taking them, because nothing will really go wrong by trying.
Katrina SoaresPercussion, 2025
Key Dates
Mark the Calendar
Entries received after the closing time will not be considered.
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TUE 21 JULExpressions of interest openRegister your interest ahead of applications opening.
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SAT 1 AUG — 8:00AM AWSTApplications openThe form below goes live.
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MON 31 AUG — 11:59PM AWSTApplications closeFinal cut-off. No late entries considered.
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FRI 18 SEPFinalists notifiedFive finalists from each category hear back by email.
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SAT 17 OCTSemi finalsCategory finalists perform live at Redmond Theatre, Prendiville College, Joondalup.
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SUN 25 OCTGrand finalCategory winners perform head-to-head at Redmond Theatre, Prendiville College, Joondalup.
Backstage Checklist
How to Apply
Entry is free via perthsymphony.com. Have these ready before you start — the form doesn't save partway through.
01 · Profile
- One photo of yourself
- Short bio, 150 words — why music matters to you
- Entry is completely free, via perthsymphony.com
02 · Repertoire
- List your pieces in the form
- Upload a PDF of the score
03 · Recording
- Private YouTube or Dropbox link
- Two contrasting pieces or excerpts
- Short spoken introduction for each
- Unedited, one continuous take
- Max 10 minutes total
On the Panel
Your Adjudicators
Every entry is reviewed by a specialist in its category.
Brass
Dir. Kieran Hurley
Percussion
Dr. Paul Tanner
Strings
Prof. Paul Wright
Woodwind
Dr. Matt Styles
Piano
Dr. Tonya Lemoh
The Standard
What The Adjudicators Are Looking For
Every performance is scored against the same five criteria, whatever the category.
01
Technical Skill
Accuracy, control, and command of the instrument.
02
Musicality
Expression, phrasing, and interpretation of the piece.
03
Intonation
Precision of pitch throughout the performance.
04
Stage Presence
Confidence, poise, and connection with the audience.
05
Repertoire
AMEB Grade 6+ selections.
Year 12 ATAR+.
Programme Notes
Frequently Asked
Name your uploaded documents and images as Firstinitial.Surname, for example J.Doe.
Register once per category — submit an additional form for each one you enter.
Grade 6 AMEB or Year 12 ATAR standard or above, across all instruments. A suggested list is available on request.
Given the volume of entries, individual feedback isn't available for this competition.
Reach Marie-Claire Donnelly at community@perthsymphony.com for general enquiries, or get in touch before the deadline for technical trouble.