Opportunities for Students and Alumni

Barbara Fergusson, a long-time member of the Richard Wagner Society of SA (RWSSA) and a keen supporter of young artists, is offering membership of the Society and attendance at Society events to students who are interested in Wagner and wish to expand their exposure to this composer. Interested students should contact Barbara at a.b.fergusson@live.com.

Staff and others who are interested in finding out more about the RWSSA are invited to view the website.

Preparing an application for a project, grant or residency and stuck on the budget? Join the Helpmann staff to discuss creating and acquitting a budget for a funding application.

In this small targeted session (max 5 participants), Helpmann Academy budget guru Philly Hoang will guide participants on how to create a strong detailed budget that matches the narrative of a project. The session will also discuss the other side of an application, the acquittal – including receipts and details needed to fulfil the expectations of a successful grant.

Program Manager Debbie Pryor will also provide context around what a selection panel looks for in a budget and its connection to the storytelling of an application.

This workshop complements the Helpmann Academy's annual Write on the Money workshop, and allows for 1:1 guidance.

Recipients are encouraged to bring their laptop/device and budget examples for discussion in this small workshop group.

This masterclass is free for eligible Helpmann artists from their partner institutions.

Wednesday 10 October 11.00am
Helpmann Academy, Suite 417, Level 4/147 Pirie St, Adelaide SA 5000

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The Elder Conservatorium of Music and Adelaide Baroque are delighted to be partnering again to host our fifth annual Baroque Academy. We are committed to providing a pathway for young and emerging Australian musicians to learn the skills of Historical Performance. Adelaide Baroque's core musicians along with some of the most celebrated Australian baroque performers and teachers will present a significant four-day intensive and immersive experience, open to secondary students, tertiary students, and young professionals. The Academy will present concerts, masterclasses, lectures, Baroque dance classes and workshops.

Tuesday 23–Friday 26 September
Elder Conservatorium of Music

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Dates: Monday 24–Wednesday 26 November 2025
Time: Monday and Tuesday 9.00am–6.00pm; Wednesday 9.00am–7.00pm
Venue: Bishop Hall, Elder Hall Building (Lower Ground)
Tickets: Free, but registration is essential as places are limited.

Join the Elder Conservatorium of Music's double bass staff for an incredibly intensive three-day experience, filled with warp-ups, technique classes, scale classes, studies classes, excerpts and repertoire classes, solo masterclasses, ensemble playing, and concluding with a final public concert!

Aimed at senior students and young professionals looking for a boost and a chance to refocus.

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Take your career to the next level with Surrounding Sound: Level Up – a professional development conference for art music practitioners, hosted by the Australian Music Centre (AMC). Building on the AMC's flagship online series, this in-person event brings together leading voices in the music industry for a day of practical workshops, insightful panels, and real-world case studies. Designed specifically for early- to mid-career practitioners working in contemporary classical, jazz, improvisation and sound art, this free one-day professional development conference includes full catering.

Tuesday 19 August
9.00am–7.00pm
Aerial Function Centre, Ultimo NSW

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The EMR Travel Scholarship in Classical Performance supports two music students majoring in Classical Performance (instrumental, vocal or conducting) or recent graduates of no more than two years, of the Elder Conservatorium of Music to undertake advanced study overseas (privately, or under the auspices of an institution).

Applications open: Monday 16 June
Applications close: Friday 1 August

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Carclew's Project and Development Grants for Individuals support artistic projects in any art form with a tangible outcome, including career development. Grants of up to $10,000 are offered twice per year for activity in the following six months. Project and Development Grants for Individuals encourage, develop and promote the artistic practice of people aged 26 and under and support skills development in creative practice (grants of up to $3,000); artistic career building (grants of up to $3,000); development and/or presentation of new or existing work (grants of up to $10,000); and small-scale projects which enable participation in the arts for children and young people (grants of up to $10,000). Applications open on Tuesday 15 July.
 

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Carclew Fellowships offer financial support (up to $10,000 per applicant) to young emerging cultural and creative artists and arts workers, for arts career building; skills development; exploring new art form practice, methods and techniques; research towards creative and/or cultural development; and mentoring towards development of cultural and creative arts practices.

Fellowships to commence after 1 January 2026 and be completed by 31 December 2026.

Applications close Sunday 27 July.

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Proudly supported by the James & Diana Ramsay Foundation and valued at up to $7,500, the Helpmann Fellowships are self-driven and specific to emerging artists from all creative disciplines. Individuals or collectives can pursue customised professional development programs, larger-scale projects, or a combination of both. Applications close on Sunday 10 August at 11.59pm for activity occurring between 1 January 2026 and 31 December 2026.

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The Freedman Fellowship is a prestigious, career-defining opportunity that recognises and supports the next generation of leading jazz musicians. Awarded annually, the fellowship provides $30,000 to support the recipient while they undertake a major creative project. Applications are welcomed from artists under the age of 35, working in the field of jazz. The Fellowships are intended to assist musicians with an original voice in taking their next important career steps, for activities such as composing major new works, making recordings, or increasing their exposure and success through a significant program of performance. Applications close Monday 1 September 2025.

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Presented and operated by the Australian Piano Duo Festival (APDF), the Pamela Page and Max Olding Piano Duo Prize aims to support and promote young piano duos, fostering the art of duo pianism and providing opportunities for young musicians' development. The competition is open to young pianists (23 years and under) across Australia. The application deadline, including the submission of the video recording, will close on Friday 18 July.

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Applications are now open for the Melbourne Recital Centre's 2025 Great Romantics Competition. The Competition provides a national platform for young musicians between the ages of 18–25 who are passionate about Romantic repertoire, with the opportunity to perform in the Elisabeth Murdoch Hall on Sunday 21 September for the prestigious Great Romantics Prize ($8,000). Visit their website for competition guidelines and entry. Applications close at midnight on Wednesday 13 August 2025.

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The St Peter's Cathedral Music Foundation is proud to partner again to support the Adelaide Sacred Music Composition Prize 2025. They are also delighted to welcome as a partner the choir of Coventry Cathedral, UK.

First Prize: AUD $4,500
Second Prize: AUD $1,500

Submissions are sought for a piece for Advent, on a set text, for choir and solo oboe (with or without organ accompaniment). The competition is open now, and submissions close on Monday 15 September 2025.

The first-prize winning piece will be performed on Sunday 30 November 2025, in St Peter's Cathedral Adelaide, Coventry Cathedral in the UK, and in December at Pilgrim Uniting Church, Adelaide.

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The prestigious Singapore International Music Competition (SIMC) is launching its Australia Live Rounds in 2025, bringing a world-class performance and competition platform to talented young musicians across the country.

Now open for registration, the live rounds for Adelaide are scheduled to take place from Monday 29 September–Wednesday 1 October. Open to pianists and violinists under the age of 30, the competition offers young musicians and artists the chance to showcase their talent on a global stage right here at home. Selected top performers will also be invited to perform at the highly-anticipated Gala Concert Ceremony in Singapore.

Application Deadline: Saturday 20 September

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With support of Create SA and in partnership with MOD. (Museum of Discovery), Chamber Music Adelaide will commission two South Australian composers to write new chamber works specifically for CMA member ensembles.

The commissions will be performed at MOD. on Friday 14 November 2025. The commissions are for one established and one emerging/early-career composer.

Expressions of interest are due by Tuesday 5 August 2025.

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It's free to host an event and anyone can apply. They are particularly interested in authentic, diverse, and unusual ways of connecting to nature, so they're looking for many kinds of event hosts including artists, environmental orgs, nature connection practitioners, musicians, nature tourism operators, health and wellness, wineries, restaurants, or local businesses.

Key dates for event hosts for 2025:

Regional grand round open:
Friday 23 May–Monday 30 June

Event registrations open:
Monday 16 June

Event registrations close
Thursday 31 July

Program launch:
Tuesday 19 August

Nature Festival 2025:
Friday 26 September–Sunday 12 October

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Creative Original Music Adelaide (COMA) presents four seasons of programming across the year. Artists who are seeking to perform at COMA need to submit their proposed project via the link above. Following the closing date, the artistic panel will assess projects for suitability and applicants will be notified of the outcome in due time.

Applications for the Summer 2026 Season (January–March 2026), and/or time-sensitive special events, are currently open (please note that there is limited capacity for hosting interstate artists and/or Special Events within the COMA Program).

Please apply via the link below by Sunday 31 August.

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Helpmann Academy and the Elder Conservatorium of Music are excited to announce an Australian exclusive Open Masterclass with GRAMMY Award-winning bassist Linda May Han Oh.

Thursday 14 August 4.00pm
Madley Rehearsal Studio

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Join Kim Falconer, Principal Flute of the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, for an inspiring masterclass – a wonderful chance to learn from one of Australia's leading flautists!

Sunday 20 July 2.30pm
Unley Uniting Church

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MSA/SA members and other music scholars in the community are invited to present their work at the MSA/SA Chapter's Research Day, which will be held on Saturday 15 November from 9.00am–5.00pm.

20-minute presentations on any music research-related topic are invited. To present your work please provide an abstract of no more than 250 words to Anna Henwood (anna.henwood@adelaide.edu.au) by Monday 27 October.

If you are a postgraduate student, you may also elect to be considered for the 2025 Naomi Cumming Prize. If you are a postgraduate student at the Elder Conservatorium, you may also elect to be considered for the 2025 Elder Conservatorium Prize for Excellence in Postgraduate Research.

Attendance at the Research Day is open to all and free of charge.

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