A Message from the Concerto Competition Organisers

Thank you to all of our Concerto Competition Entrants. We are looking forward to hearing your concerto recordings in the First Round in March (keep practising!!)

We are astounded at how fast we reached the 100 Entrants this year - in just four days!! There are entrants from far and wide around Sydney and NSW who are keen to participate. Many people missed out last year and were determined to get their application in early this year. We acknowledge that some students, parents and teachers may be very disappointed that entries have now closed for 2026 but there is no waiting list as very, very few entrants ever withdraw. Please plan for 2027 and put a reminder in your phone for the 1st of December 2026 when the 2027 Entries will open. Music is alive and well in NSW!!

Dates for 2026

  • Registrations open: Monday 1 December 2025.
  • Registrations close: When 100 Solo Entries are reached or 10 pm Monday 16 February 2026 (whichever comes first). NB the last two years we have reached 100 solo entries well before February.
  • Submission of recordings for the 100 entrants close 10 pm Monday 23 February 2026.
  • Stage 1, viewing the video auditions Sunday 8 March 2026 (3 adjudicators together at a private venue).
  • Stage 2, The 20 Semi-Finalists perform live to an open audience, Sunday 29 March 2026, from 11.00 am to 5.00 pm at Abbotsleigh Senior School, Wahroonga (venue to be confirmed)
  • Stage 3, the Finals Concert: Sunday 28 June 2026 at 3.00 pm at The Concourse, Chatswood.


Finals Concert Details Here

2025 Prize Winners

Congratulations to all of the Performers at the KPO NSW Secondary Schools Concerto Competition Finals Concert.

The winners of the Multiple Instrument Concerto Award are:
Connie Liu, violin and Symphony Shi, piano from Meriden School.

The winner of the 2025 KPO Players’ Award is:
Elijah Baker, trombone from The Conservatorium High School.

The winner of the Dual Crescendo Award for Potential is:
Mirabelle Chen, oboe from Barker College.

The recipient of the 2025 Barbara Cran Award is:
Diana Kim, harp from Wahroonga Adventist School.

The recipient of the 2025 Barbara Robinson Award is:
Jessica Ma, violin from Abbotsleigh.

The Overall Winner of the 2025 NSW Secondary Schools Concerto Competition is:
Amily He, flute from The Conservatorium High School.

How to Enter the Competition

Prizes

  • Overall Winner: $6000 + engagement to perform with the KPO during the following year
  • Barbara Cran Award: $1,500
  • Barbara Robinson Award: $1,500
  • Dual Crescendo Award for Potential: $800
  • Perpetual Cups: awarded to the schools of the overall winner, Barbara Robinson award winner and the Barbara Cran award winner
  • KPO Players' Award: $500 to the best solo performer during rehearsals with the orchestra (KPO players’ choice)
  • All solo finalists will receive $250 and a certificate
  • Multiple Instruments Concerto Prize: $400 each (biennial NOT in 2026)
  • Emily Sun Violin Prize: a triennial loan of a 1946 A E Smith violin from Professor Emily Sun (triennial NOT in 2026)

FAQs

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Competition Rules

Download here

Donate to the NSW Secondary Schools Concerto Competition

Donations over $2 are tax deductible.

Donate online here

Contact

If you have any questions regarding your participation in the Concerto Competition please email the Concerto Competition Committee.

More Concerto Competition Information

More Concerto Competition Information
About the Competition
The NSW Secondary Schools Concerto Competition is a prestigious classical music competition for secondary school students in NSW and the ACT.
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More Concerto Competition Information
History of the Competition
The competition, first known as the KPO Concerto Competition, was conceived in 1984, when two Ku-ring-gai Philharmonic Orchestra (KPO) players, Barbara Cran and Barbara Robinson proposed the idea of rewarding local music students, who were in secondary school and taking their music seriously, by providing them with the opportunity to play a concerto with an orchestra (the KPO).
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More Concerto Competition Information
Past Winners
A comprehensive list of the winners and finalists in The Competition.
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What people say about the competition
"I would like to first of all thank you all for being such dedicated musicians. It is great to see such a strong musical community supporting the youngsters of the musical world through The Concerto Competition."
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