Announcing our 2025 Classical Awardees
We are proud to recognise twelve outstanding young Australian musicians as the recipients of our 2025 Classical Awards. These Awards are only possible thanks to your generosity and the vital support of our major donors: The Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust, The Goodridge Foundation, The Breen Family Foundation, Maestro Richard Bonynge AC CBE, the Donus Australia Foundation and the Lynn Foundation.
We had a record number of impressive applicants for the second year in a row.
The judging process took place over two months in two rounds and was finalised over summer.
We put a large amount of time into assessing each candidate and a lot of thought and attention into making the final selection. The panel this year consisted of:
Chair
Yvonne Kenny AM (Chair AMF UK / non-voting Chair final judging round): Soprano and Professor of Voice
Judges
Dene Olding AM (Chair AMF Australia): Violin
Linnhe Robertson (AMF UK Trustee): Piano Accompanist and Vocal Coach GSMD
Peter Robinson: Conductor
and we also consulted with instrument specialists:
Alan Vivian: Clarinet
The demand was greater than ever and highlights the impact your donation makes on our Awardee’s development and careers.
We are proud to announce that our Australian Music Foundation Classical Awardees for 2025 are:
Megan Yang
VIOLIN
OVERSEAS STUDY AWARD
supported by The Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust
James Emerson
BARITONE
YVONNE KENNY AWARD
supported by The Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust
Hayley Lau
VIOLA
AUSTRALIAN MUSIC FOUNDATION CLASSICAL AWARD
supported by The Goodridge Foundation
Anna Rabinowicz
FLUTE
AUSTRALIAN MUSIC FOUNDATION CLASSICAL AWARD
supported by The Goodridge Foundation
Emmalena Huning
VIOLIN
AUSTRALIAN MUSIC FOUNDATION CLASSICAL AWARD
supported by The Goodridge Foundation
Lewis Blanchard
CLARINET
AUSTRALIAN MUSIC FOUNDATION CLASSICAL AWARD
supported by the Breen Family Foundation
Leanne McGowan
CLARINET
AUSTRALIAN MUSIC FOUNDATION CLASSICAL AWARD
supported by the Breen Family Foundation
Eklavya Mudgil
ACCOMPANIST
RICHARD BONYNGE AWARD
donated by Maestro Richard Bonynge AC CBE
Victoria Wong
VIOLIN
AUSTRALIAN MUSIC FOUNDATION CLASSICAL AWARD
supported by the Donus Australia Foundation and the Australian Music Foundation
Bernice Chua
PIANO
AUSTRALIAN MUSIC FOUNDATION TRUSTEE AWARD
supported by the Trustees of the Australian Music Foundation
Ella Orehek-Coddington
MEZZO SOPRANO
YVONNE KENNY ENCOURAGEMENT AWARD
supported by The Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust
Josephine Chung
VIOLIN
AUSTRALIAN MUSIC FOUNDATION CLASSICAL AWARD
supported by the Lynn Foundation and the Australian Music Foundation
