2026 Australian Music Foundation
First Nations Awardees
We are delighted to announce the three outstanding young Australian musicians selected to receive our inaugural Australian Music Foundation First Nations Awards.
These Awards provide vital support as our recipients pursue advanced training and build their careers in Australia and internationally. They are made possible through the generosity of our donors and the invaluable commitment of our major supporters: The Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust, the Breen Family Foundation, the Donus Australia Foundation and Ida Lichter, whose Award is given in memory of David Constable. This year, we are also grateful to the Breen family for generously funding a one-off Special Encouragement Award.
Once again, the standard of applications was exceptionally high. Following a rigorous two-stage judging process during July and August, our panel selected musicians who demonstrated remarkable talent, dedication and artistic potential.
The need for this support continues to grow. Every donation helps create opportunities that can make a lasting difference to the development and future careers of these exceptional young musicians.
Meet our First Nations Awardees
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Jack Saltmere
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Hunter Loustarinen
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Naomi Sansness
About our First Nations Awardees
TROMBONE
AUSTRALIAN MUSIC FOUNDATION
FIRST NATIONS AWARD
The trombone is such an intriguing instrument to me. There are so many possibilities with its sound, as to my ears it lies between the rest of the brass instruments and the human voice.
I hope to further my musical education at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music next year and develop my abilities so that I can pursue a career in performance.
I’m an Indjulandji-Dhidanhu man from Camooweal, Queensland. I have ties to my father’s mother’s country in the upper Georgina River Basin, and to my father’s father’s country at Alpurrurulam and Alyawarre connections in the Sandover region.
Jack Saltmere
TROMBONE
AUSTRALIAN MUSIC FOUNDATION
FIRST NATIONS AWARD
Hunter recently had the amazing opportunity to spend some time at Juilliard in New York and hopes international study is on the cards in his future.
Hunter is Butchalla/Darumbal.
Hunter Loustarinen
CELLO
AUSTRALIAN MUSIC FOUNDATION
FIRST NATIONS ENCOURAGEMENT AWARD
I love the cello because of how versatile it is. I can play the melody of any song but I can also bust out a funky bass line as well. There's so many ways to play it even just with the bow. It's beautifully emotive and it always excites me whenever I hear a cello be played in a piece of music.
I want to be able to teach cello in the future as a private teacher, as I've always loved teaching and teaching would also help me improve as well.
I am a descendant of the Guugu Yimithirr, Birri Gubba, Erub Nations.
Naomi Sansness
Our previous Australian Music Foundation Awardees
Please visit the ALUMNI page for details of all previous Australian Music Foundation Awardees.