2026 Australian Music Foundation
First Nations Awardees
We are delighted to announce the three outstanding young musicians selected as the principal recipients of our inaugural Australian Music Foundation First Nations Awards.
Created in collaboration with Australian Music Foundation First Nations Advisor and acclaimed soprano Nina Korbe, the Awards recognise talented young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander musicians and support them as they continue to develop their musical potential.
This inaugural year marks an important beginning for the programme. Following the judging process, three principal Award recipients were selected, with a total of twelve young musicians recognised through the First Nations Awards programme.
The Awards provide financial support towards each musician’s continued development, including lessons, instrument costs, travel and other opportunities, together with ongoing encouragement, mentorship and career guidance through the Australian Music Foundation.
We are enormously grateful to the donors and supporters whose generosity has made these inaugural Awards possible and enabled us to invest in the next generation of First Nations musical talent.
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
To me Trombone is a way that I can express myself. It allows me to explore emotions and feelings. I grew up around music as my Father is a bass trombone player, so it has always been around the house and this developed a love for music from a young age.
In the future, I hope to study internationally in the United States to further my studies in music, broaden my opportunities, experiences and pursue a career in music.
I am 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.