APRA AMCOS 2025 Professional Development Awards to celebrate Indigenous creatives

Phoebe Blogg - August 12, 2024

music

Promotional campaign graphics for the upcoming Professional Development Awards. (Image: supplied)

APRA AMCOS has announced applications for the official 2025 Professional Development Awards are now open.

The Professional Development Awards (PDAs) awards aim to create serious career-boosting opportunities for both songwriters and composers.

With 13 individual winners each taking home $10,000, these awards have the power to benefit and change participant's careers.

The funds are designed to help recipients with their professional development through attending workshops, music education courses, composer seminars, co-writing sessions and other relevant activities, either locally or internationally.

Three of the 13 awards will be presented to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members by the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Music Office (NATSIMO), supporting music creators at different life stages, but each at a dynamic stage of career development of their careers.

*2024 Professional Development Award winners. Back from left to right: Vanessa Perica, Michael Allen, Mel O'Brien (Mel & Sam), Sara Berki, Warren Mason.*

Previous notable winners include Angie McMahon, Baker Boy, Elsy Wameyo, Gotye, Jem Cassar-Daley, Melanie Dyer, Morgan Evans, Ngaiire, Rebecca Bracewell and Yirrmal.

2024 NATSIMO Youth Award winner, Amelia Thompson, shared how winning an award opened up the young creative to a wealth of new opportunities.

"The award allowed me to open doors for my music that I wouldn't have had otherwise and provide me with a multitude of other opportunities. Being recognised as a musician was so important and I am still so happy and humbled," she said.

*Head of membership at APRA AMCOS Karen Don. (Image: supplied)*

2024 Classical/Experimental Award winner Rebecca Bracewell said receiving the Professional Development Award has enabled her to "broaden the scope" of her practice considerably.

"It was incredibly special to be given the means to determine my own path forward, and so far, I have been able to attend arts residencies, meet and collaborate with amazing artists, and continue to develop my approach to art making," she said.

This year's award categories include: Country/Americana, Classical & Experimental, Dance/Electronic, Hip Hop/Rap, Jazz and Improvised Music, Music Theatre/Stage - workshop funding only ,Popular Contemporary - (two awards) includes Pop, Rock, Alternative, Blues, Roots, Folk, Metal, Christian and Children's, R&B/Soul, Screen Composition (Film, TV, Games), NATSIMO General - all genres , NATSIMO Youth (under 25) - all genres entrants must be under the age of 25, and NATSIMO Senior (+50) all genres entrants must be over the age of 50.

Head of membership at APRA AMCOS Karen Don said she was eager to see the awards return next year, encouraging more talented music creators to put themselves forward and apply.

"We're thrilled to announce that applications for next year's awards are now open, and encourage music creators from all genres to apply," she said.

"The awards, which are now in their 14th year, are part of our ongoing commitment to support Australian songwriters and composers through every stage of their career, to help them build a strong foundation and bolster the next generation of Australian music creators."

Applications for the 2025 awards close at 5pm (AEST) on Tuesday the 24th of September. Winners will be announced in early 2025.

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