Opportunities for Students and Alumni

hire-elder-hall

Below is a list of relevant career-development opportunities that are currently available for students and recent graduates of the Elder Conservatorium of Music.


Professional Development Events

  • String Quartet Courses 2025

    Calling all emerging string quartets! Join us for two weekends of intensive string quartet tuition at the Elder Conservatorium, with tutors including Elizabeth Layton (violin), Elizabeth Sellars (violin), Stephen King (viola), Caroline Henbest (viola), Keith Crellin (viola), Edith Salzmann (cello) and the Australian String Quartet. Open to all Australian and New Zealand string players.

    For more information, please contact Edith Salzmann at edith.salzmann@adelaide.edu.au.

    * Scholarships are available. Please contact Edith Salzmann to enquire.

    Dates:
    Saturday 24–Sunday 25 May | Saturday 9–Sunday 10 August

    Time: 9.30am–7.00pm

    Location: Elder Hall

    Tuition Fees: $500 per ensemble

     

    MORE INFO AND REGISTER

  • Money Matters Workshop (Helpmann Academy)

    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 16 July 11.00am–12.00pm
    Helpmann Academy, Suite 417, Level 4/147 Pirie St, Adelaide SA 5000


    MORE INFO AND TICKETS

  • Wagner Society Opportunity

    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.

Grants and Scholarships

  • Development Grant 2025 (Helpmann Academy)

    Do you have a bold idea, or project ready to take flight, or a skill you're itching to master? The Helpmann Academy's Development Grant (previously known as Creative Development Grant) offers up to $3,000 to help emerging creatives turn ambition into action – to kickstart new projects, research and develop ideas or new works, or build skills, markets and creative practices.

    Applications close: Sunday 22 June

    MORE INFO AND APPLY

  • EMR Travel Scholarship in Classical Performance

    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

    MORE INFO AND APPLY

  • Carclew Project and Development Grants – Round 1 2026

    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.
     

    MORE INFO AND APPLY

Fellowships and Residencies

  • Carclew Fellowships 2026

    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.


    MORE INFO AND APPLY

Awards

  • Helpmann Academy Langley Award for Jazz 2025

    The Helpmann Academy Langley Award for Jazz supports South Australian jazz musicians to embark on vital career-development projects. Jazz musicians who are final-year students or graduates from the Elder Conservatorium are invited to apply. Valued at $7,500, this award provides an outstanding early-career jazz musician or group with the opportunity to undertake pivotal career development projects, enabling you to take steps towards establishing yourself as a professional musician. Applications open on Monday 12 May and close: Friday 29 June.

    MORE INFO AND APPLY

  • Helpmann Academy Award for Voice 2025

    The Helpmann Academy Award for Voice supports and inspires the future endeavours of South Australia's emerging vocalists. Graduates or final-year students from selected programs at the Elder Conservatorium are invited to apply. Generously supported by Dr Rob Lyons, the $5,000 award will empower the recipient to train in their area of interest, develop work, record, tour, gain valuable experience, and build networks. The funding enables the vocalist to develop their skills and experience locally, nationally, or internationally.

    Applications open on Monday 12 May and will close on Friday 29 June.


    MORE INFO AND APPLY

  • Helpmann Academy First Nations Award 2025

    Celebrating excellence and opportunity, the Helpmann Academy First Nations Award 2025 supports an early-career artist to realise a project or develop their practice. This $5,000 cash award will enable a First Nations artist (individual or group) in their first five years out of graduation to focus on their creative practice. The award acknowledges the artist's early career achievements and recognises their potential. Applicants are encouraged to propose a project or creative development that the $5,000 prize can assist in realising.

    Applications open on Monday 12 May and close on Friday 29 June.


    MORE INFO AND APPLY

Competitions

  • Nexas Quartet Composition Competition 2025

    This initiative reinforces Nexas Quartet's commitment and desire to enrich and extend chamber music repertoire for this ensemble by reaching out to and making close connections with the current generation of composers. The chosen work will receive a workshop with Nexas Quartet, a public performance and recording (to be aired on Fine Music FM in 2025) and $500 prize money. Applications close on Sunday 1 June.

    MORE INFO AND APPLY

  • Pamela Page and Max Olding Piano Duo Prize 2025

    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.

    MORE INFO AND APPLY

Performance Opportunities

  • Recitals Australia Spring Lunch Hour Series

    The Recitals Australia Lunch Hour Series provides emerging artists with performance experience in front of a live audience, as well as supplying a high-quality live stream for excellent learning opportunities, and for sharing with family and friends. Entries for the Spring Lunch Hour Series (commencing in August) are now open.
     

    MORE INFO AND APPLY

Masterclasses

Conferences

  • Music and Mediation Conference

    Mediation, in all its possible senses, from transmission to conflict resolution, is particularly relevant in times of technological innovation, sustainability challenges, forced displacement and struggles for equality or survival. This conference, generously supported by the Musicological Society of Australia (MSA), is concerned with the ways music and the study of music contribute to the many theories and practices around mediation.

    Monday 9–Tuesday 10 June
    Level 5, Union House,
    The University of Adelaide


    MORE INFO

  • Queensland Music Education Conference 2025

    The Australian Music Examinations Board (AMEB), proudly supported by the Queensland Department of Education, invites you to attend the upcoming Queensland Music Education Conference, taking place in Brisbane/Meanjin from Monday 7–Wednesday 9 July 2025. This conference is an opportunity to connect with fellow music educators, share insights, and explore the latest developments in music education.

    MORE INFO