About the ASME SA Young Composers’ Awards
The ASME SA Young Composers’ Award is an annual competition for composers established by the South Australian chapter of ASME in 1973. The suite of Awards provides a fantastic opportunity for students and young composers to showcase their creativity and share their original music, and provides an effective platform for the performance of their works. With dedicated sections for composers in Primary Years, contemporary composers, arrangers and early career composers aged 25 years and younger, there is a section for everyone! Encourage your students to get involved – we can’t wait to hear their compositions!
2026 SA Young Composers’ Awards
Entries for the 2026 ASME SA Young Composers’ Awards open early Term 3, with the deadline for entries being Friday September 25, 2026. In 2026 we will continue accepting entries via our new online entry form – upload your score and audio in one easy step! You’ll need a google account to upload files. You can create a google account with your existing address.
✨ Prefer the traditional way? Students or teachers can still email a PDF (combining the entry form your score) and your .mp3 or .wav file to ASME.sa.yca@gmail.com
✨ Not sure how to combine PDF files for your score and entry form? ADOBE Acrobat, Preview for mac, or online tools can combine files.
Please direct any enquiries via email to YCA Coordinator, Felicity Davies at: asme.sa.yca@gmail.com
YCA Categories for 2026:
SCHOOL CATEGORY
For South Australian composers or arrangers 18 years and under on 1st January in the year of competition. Entries must include ONE audio file and ONE pdf score* (including entry form if submitted by email)
Primary – Compositions and Arrangements
All compositions and arrangements by Primary aged students, or groups of Primary aged students. Works written for String Ensemble should be entered into Section F. All Primary aged entries may include a score or an alternative visual representation.
- Section A*: Composers in school Years R-6
- Section B*: Rock/Pop/EDM with or without Lyrics Years R-6
Secondary – Compositions for soloist or small ensemble
Compositions for up to 7 players, excepting string ensemble works for 4 or more players.
- Section C: Composers in school Years 7-8 (work for 1 to 7 players)
- Section D: Composers in school Years 9-10 (work for 1 to 7 players)
- Section E: Composers in school Year 11-12 (work for 1 to 7 players)
String Ensemble Compositions for 4 or more players
Compositions for 4 or more string players. For solos, duets or trios see Sections C, D or E. For arrangements, see Sections I and J.
- Section F: String Ensemble Composers in school Years R-8
- Section G: String Ensemble Composers in school Years 9-12
Large Ensembles (excluding String Ensembles – see Sections F or G)
Large Ensemble works can be written for any ensemble consisting of 8 or more players, such as Choir, Concert Band, Big Band, Symphony Orchestra, etc. For string ensembles see Sections F or G.
- Section H: Large Ensemble Composers in school Years 9-12
Arrangements Years 7 to 12
All arrangements for Secondary aged students, including those for string ensembles.
- Section I: Arrangers in school Years 7-9
- Section J: Arrangers in school Years 10-12
Rock/Pop/EDM Years 7 to 12*
Rock, pop, EDM and other electronic works for Secondary aged students or up to age 18. Entries may include a score or an alternative visual representation. See conditions of entry.
- Section K: Rock/Pop/EDM with lyrics Year 7-12 or up to age 18
- Section L: Rock/Pop/EDM Instrumental Year 7-12 or up to age 18
ADVANCED CATEGORY
For South Australian composers aged 25 years and under on 1st January in the year of competition. Entries must include ONE audio file and ONE pdf score* (including entry form if submitted by email).
Music for Schools
The intended Primary or Secondary Year/Grade level or range must be indicated on the score, supported by a written statement (maximum of 200 words).
- Section M: Music for Schools – Solo Instrument or Voice (accompaniment optional)
- Section N: Music for Schools – Instrumental Ensemble or Choir
Other Advanced Sections
- Section O: Solo Instrument or Voice (accompaniment optional)
- Section P: Ensemble or Choir
- Section Q*: Rock/Pop/EDM with or without lyrics
Conditions of entry
- Entries must adhere to the specifications as outlined in each Section.
- All documents must be submitted together as one PDF, and one .mp3 or .wav audio file, clearly labelled: e.g. First_Last_Title_Section_F.pdf and First_Last_Title_Section_F.mp3
- Entrants for the School Category must be 18 years or under on 1st January in the year of competition and be enrolled in primary or secondary education in South Australia.
- Entrants of the Advanced Category must be 25 years or under on 1st January in the year of competition and be a resident of South Australia.
- A separate entry is required for each composition/arrangement.
- A work may only be entered into one section only.
- Entrants may submit multiple works to a section, as separate entries.
- Entrants may enter works into multiple sections, as separate entries.
- A work which has won an award in any previous or different public competition may not be submitted.
- *Submissions must include notated score for all Sections except A, B, K, L or Q. For these Sections, a chart, outline, graphic score, or DAW screen shot is also accepted.
- Entries must be submitted using the linked Google form or emailed to asme.sa.yca@gmail.com. Emailed entries must include this official entry form from.
- Selected entrants will be invited to present their compositions at the Awards Ceremony. These entrants will be expected to provide their own performers.
- The winner and runner-up in each section will be eligible for a prize and certificate.
- ASME reserves the right not to award a winner or runner-up, or to award shared places.
- All entries will be eligible for an adjudicator’s report.
Previous Awards
2025
The 2025 SA Young Composers Awards Showcase and Concert was held on Sunday 23 November 2025 at Seymour College. Results of the 2025 SA Young Composers Awards are listed here.
2024
The 2024 SA Young Composers Awards Showcase and Concert was held on Sunday 1 December 2024 in the Brother Stephen Debourg Performing Arts Centre at Sacred Heart College. Results for 2024 SA Young Composers Awards are listed here.
*** You can view the 2024 SA Young Composers Awards concert on the ASME Youtube Channel via this link.***
2023
Celebration of 50 years of the SA Young Composers’ Award
The 50th Anniversary Young Composers Awards Concert and Ceremony was held in the beautiful Elder Hall, University of Adelaide, North Terrace, Adelaide SA, 5000, on Sunday November 19, 2023. As well as performances from our 2023 award winners, we celebrated 50 years of the competition through performances of works by past winners and contemporary composers. These included works from Rachel Bruerville, Anne Cawrse, David John-Lang, Nathan Cummins and Quentin Grant, performed by the Eurelia Trio and special guests. You can view a video recording of the concert through the Media section on the Resource Hub.
Results of the 2023 SA Young Composers Awards are listed here.
