Monash University Percussion Award

Congratulations to our 2025 winners Grace James and Olivia Murphy

OVERVIEW

This prize celebrates excellence in percussion performance at the Undergraduate or Honours level.

Sponsored by Yamaha Music Australia.

The Monash Percussion Studio present the third annual 'Monash University Percussion Prize', a showcase concert of solo works performed by undergraduate students from the Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music. Sponsored by Yamaha Australia, this concert celebrates music for percussion and our student achievements in 2025.

Monash Percussion Studio concerts champion the music of our time and place via the exploration of Australian percussion music alongside significant works of the international percussion canon and interdisciplinary collaborations. Students develop professional skills in interpretation of notated repertoire, improvisation, arranging and recording, and regularly engage with a host of local and international musical luminaries who visit our campus for performances, workshops and special events. Recent guests include Sammy J (Aus), Eric Whitacre (UK), Kuniko Kato (Japan), Thomas Meadowcroft (Aus/Germany), Claire Edwardes (Aus), Fritz Hauser (Switzerland), as well as organisations Speak Percussion (Aus) and The Sound Collectors Lab (Aus). Monash Percussion Studio was founded in 2021 by Dr Louise Devenish, and brings together undergraduate and postgraduate musicians from Monash University.

AWARD

The final round winner(s) will be deemed the recipient(s) of the “2025 Monash University Percussion Award” as well as awarded $1000 prize money.

ELIGIBILITY

The 2025 Percussion Award is open to all Undergraduate and Honours classical percussion music students of the Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music and Performance.

SELECTION CRITERIA

  • Students will perform their repertoire at the lunchtime concert in week 5, semester 2.
  • This is a public concert open to the public.
  • A judging panel of up to 3 will assess and award the prize at the end of the concert.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Candidates are invited to perform solo percussion or percussion ensemble work (up to 10 minutes in duration). Any percussion instrument, including percussion and electronics is accepted. Candidates are encouraged to consider repertoire that aligns with the School's values around equity, diversity and inclusion.

IMPORTANT DATES

Applications due: Week 4, semester 2
Notification of winner: Thursday, week 5, semester 2

ENQUIRIES  

Please email Louise Devenish, louise.devenish@monash.edu.