Melbourne Prize for Music 2025 | One of the most valuable arts prizes in Australia

Welcome

Message from the Executive Director & Founder of the annual Melbourne Prize

We respectfully acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which the Melbourne Prize Trust operates – the People of the Kulin Nation – and pay our deepest respects to their Elders past, present, and emerging.

This year we received a record number of entries of exceptional quality in the Melbourne Prize for Music 2025 & Awards. I would like to thank all entrants and nominators across the four categories, and the music industry for supporting this year’s prize program.

The winners of the Melbourne Prize for Music 2025, one of Australia’s most valuable and prestigious music prizes, have been announced and I would like to congratulate runner-up finalists. Please refer to our NEWS section on this website.

Now in its 21st year, the annual Melbourne Prize continues to recognize and reward artistic talent, foster creative development, and enrich public life. It provides career development opportunities for Victorian sculptors, musicians, and authors and demonstrates the power of collective community investment in supporting the arts.

I would like to thank our patrons and partners this year, whose generous support has made this year’s Melbourne Prize for Music & Awards possible.

Registrations of interest for the Melbourne Prize for Urban Sculpture 2026 will open later this year.

Thank you for your interest in our activities.

For information in the Melbourne Prize Trust click here.

Simon Warrender OAM
Executive Director & Founder
Melbourne Prize Trust

Supporting Victorian sculptors,
writers and musicians since 2005

Support the annual Melbourne Prize.

The annual Melbourne Prize, which is run by the Melbourne Prize Trust, is funded through public and private sector community investment and we acknowledge and thank all our partners this year who have made it possible to offer the Melbourne Prize for Literature 2024.

Click here to support Melbourne Prize Trust

News

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNERS OF THE MELBOURNE PRIZE FOR MUSIC 2025 & AWARDS:

Melbourne Prize for Music 2025 – $60,000
Shane Howard

The Beleura John Tallis Award for Emerging Composers 2025 – $20,000
Vanessa Perica

Dr. Alastair Jackson AM Professional Development Award 2025 – $10,000
Charlotte Miles

Falls Creek Musicians Residencies 2025 – two 14-day residencies + $1,000 (incl. GST) to each recipient
Carolyn Schofield
Isobel Caldwell

Civic Choice Award 2025 – $2,000 – awarded to a finalist in the Melbourne Prize for Music 2025 with the most votes cast by the public
Deborah Conway AM

INTERVIEWS AND CATALOGUE

/ Click here for interviews with Melbourne Prize for Music 2025 finalists, judges and partners
/ Click here to download the Melbourne Prize for Music 2025 & Awards Catalogue

Finalists in the Melbourne Prize for Music 2025:

Deborah Conway AM – singer, songwriter and guitarist
Emma Donovan – singer and songwriter
Nicolette Fraillon AM – conductor
Shane Howard AM – singer and songwriter (prize winner)

The three runner-up finalists in the Melbourne Prize for Music 2025 receive $1,000, supported by Fed Square. There are no finalists in the other three categories.

Thank you to all entrants and nominators this year and to the local music sector for supporting the Melbourne Prize for Music 2025 & Awards.

Click here for the prize categories
Click here for the media release
Click here for the judges
Click here for the key dates
Click here for the partners and patrons

ABOUT THE ANNUAL MELBOURNE PRIZE – Since its establishment in 2005, the annual Melbourne Prize has become one of Australia’s most prestigious arts awards. Dedicated to supporting Victorian writers, musicians, and sculptors, it offers substantial career development opportunities while celebrating excellence, creativity, and talent. Operating on a three-year cycle, the prize alternates between the Melbourne Prize for Urban Sculpture, the Melbourne Prize for Literature and the Melbourne Prize for Music.

Thank you to our 2025 partners and patrons – please see below.

This year’s design identity and website are made possible by the generous support of the following partners.

PLAYGROUND

PLAYGROUND studios are a leading Melbourne-based design studio. As a Founding Partner of the annual Melbourne Prize, the studio develops the identity each year for music, literature and (urban) sculpture.

ABOUT THE 2025 DESIGN – This year, PLAYGROUND’s visual identity for the Melbourne Prize for Music & Awards draws inspiration from Chladni’s patterns—the hidden geometries formed when sound meets matter. It captures the moment vibration becomes art, and music takes visible shape. Invisible forces become a tangible celebration: a kaleidoscope of genre, emotion and movement.

This is music you can see. Rhythm you can feel. Colours that sing and dance. All vibrating in perfect harmony to create living, breathing art.

THE MIGHTY WONTON

The Mighty Wonton are Founding Partners of the annual Melbourne Prize and have been with the Melbourne Prize Trust since inception. The company develop and manage IT for the Melbourne Prize and together with PLAYGROUND, design and manage the website.

Welcome

News

Key Dates

Partners & Patrons