Paul Lowin Prizes 2025 Shortlist Announced
Seven Australian composers have been shortlisted for the 2025 Paul Lowin Orchestral and Song Cycle Prizes, two of the richest music composition prizes offered in Australia.
Today, the Australian Music Centre announced that the finalists are:
PAUL LOWIN SONG CYCLE PRIZE ($15,500)
Recognising excellence in Australian compositions for voices and chamber ensemble –
Dr Lou Bennet AM & Paul Stanhope for ‘Nyilamum Song Cycles’
Connor D’Netto for ‘Postcards’
Kevin March for ‘The Unknown Swimmer’
PAUL LOWIN ORCHESTRAL PRIZE ($30,000)
Recognising excellence in composition for modern chamber or symphony orchestra –
James Ledger for ‘The last thing’
Jessica Wells for ‘Concerto for Gushing and Orchestra’
Sam Wu for ‘Wind Map / Cetacean Songs’
The recipients of the Paul Lowin Prizes will be announced at a special invitation-only award ceremony in Sydney on Monday 13 October 2025 in a filmed private event with recordings due to be made public after the event.
The shortlisted works have been selected in a blind assessment for their merit in composition technique and contribution to the repertoire. With the spirit of the competition, the Paul Lowin Prizes commends works by Australian composers that showcase the complexity and variety of Australian art music.
This year, the awards ceremony will take place in conjunction with the annual Peggy Glanville-Hicks Address, with the keynote speech to be delivered by AMC Board Chair Marshall McGuire.
Previous recipients of the Paul Lowin Orchestral Prizes include Nigel Westlake, Lachlan Skipworth, Mary Finsterer, and Liza Lim. Previous recipients of the Paul Lowin Song Cycle Prize include Katy Abbott, Brett Dean, and Rosalind Page.
