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ENTRY INFORMATION

The Entry Form on this website provides all the information required to enter the Melbourne Prize for Music 2025 & Awards.

To go to the Entry Form, please click on the ENTER NOW button below after reading the Entry Guidelines.

An entry fee of $45 (including GST) is required for each category entered.

For assistance, please email the Melbourne Prize Trust at shwarrender@melbourneprizetrust.org

Click here for key dates and prize information.

The Prize and Award categories for entry are as follows:
/ Melbourne Prize for Music 2025 — $60,000
/ The Beleura John Tallis Award for Emerging Composers 2025 — $20,000
/ Professional Development Award 2025 — $10,000
/ Falls Creek Musicians Residencies 2025 — two 14-day residencies + $1,000 (incl. GST) to each recipient

PLEASE NOTE: Before completing an entry, please read the following Entry Guidelines carefully.

ENTRY GUIDELINES

Entry criteria

  • The online Entry Form will close at 5pm sharp on 7 July 2025. Late entries will NOT be accepted.
  • Individual musicians and all group member entrants must be an Australian citizen or Australian permanent resident, and a resident of the State of Victoria.
  • Entries must be the original work of the entrant, and the entrant must be living at the time of the entry.
  • Entry can be made individually or by nomination by an agent or other.
  • One or more categories may be entered or nominated.

General entry considerations

  • These Entry Guidelines for the Melbourne Prize for Music 2025 & Awards do not give rise to a contract between the Melbourne Prize Trust and an entrant.
  • By completing the Declaration in the Entry Form, entrants warrant that they will comply with and be bound these Entry Guidelines. By nominating an entrant, the nominator warrants to the Melbourne Prize Trust that they are authorised to do so by the entrant and that the entrant will be bound by the Entry Guidelines.
  • The Melbourne Prize Trust reserves the right not to accept or to not proceed with an entry or nomination at any time, including (without limitation) if any part of the entry process has not been adhered to. The relevant entrant will be notified and the entry material returned.
  • All entries will be handled in accordance with current privacy legislation in a secured online environment and only be seen by the judging panel.
  • Copyright of entered work remains with the entrant.
  • The entrant or nominator must ensure that they have all copyright permissions and any other relevant authorisations relating to an application before entering.
  • Entrants in all categories warrant they do not violate copyright of or any other right in relation to the work of another, will not defame any individual or group and the works submitted will not contain unlawful material.
  • The Melbourne Prize Trust, with the permission of the entrant or nominator, may request the use of the finalist’s entry material for media, promotions or exhibiting during the competition period.
  • The Prize and Award categories will be each awarded according to their specified criteria to one winning finalist. No Prize, no Award and no Prize or Award funds will be awarded jointly to or shared between finalists.
  • The decisions of the judges are final and no correspondence shall be entered into.
  • An entrant or finalist may not contact a judge or judges during the process.
  • The Melbourne Prize Trust reserves the right to not award, withdraw and/or re-allocate any one or more of the Prize and the Awards in its absolute discretion.

Judging information

  • Four finalists in the Melbourne Prize for Music 2025 will be selected by the judging panel and announced on 4 September on the website.
  • Winners in each category will be announced on the website on 13 November. The three runner-up finalists in the Melbourne Prize for Music 2025 will receive $1,000 (incl. GST).
  • There are no finalists in the Professional Development Award, The Beleura John Tallis Award for Emerging Composers and The Falls Creek Musicians Residencies 2025 – the winners will be announced on the website on 14 November.
  • All non-winning entrants in all categories will be contacted prior to announcements.
  • A free exhibition of finalists in the Melbourne Prize for Music 2025 will be available to the public, including a digital catalogue, at Fed Square between 30 October to 13 November to showcase their music careers.
  • The value and criteria of each Prize and Award is stated on the website and in the entry form and cannot be varied. The Prize or Award funds will be made available to the category winner, who is advised to seek professional advice regarding their GST or other tax obligations concerning their winnings.
  • The Trust can request further material or information from an entrant or nominator.
  • Entrants must notify the Melbourne Prize Trust of any actual or likely conflicts of interest with the 2025 judges, partners or patrons.
  • A procedure will be in place during the judging process to handle any conflict of interest should it arise. No conflict of interest by an entrant is permitted.

ENTER NOW