NZSO Todd Young Composer Awards
The NZSO Todd Young Composer Awards celebrate and support the next generation of New Zealand composers.
Now in its 22nd year, the Todd Young Composer Awards are a unique opportunity for young New Zealand composers to have their compositions workshopped and performed by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, as well as recorded by RNZ Concert.
Applications for the 2026 NZSO Todd Young Composer Awards have now closed.
Applications for the 2027 Todd Young Composer Awards open in November 2026.
Programme
Dates:
Thu 26 Nov – Fri 27 Nov
An experienced composer mentor is selected to support up to eight young composers throughout the creative process, helping them achieve the best possible outcomes. Each work will be performed by the NZSO under the direction of Principal Conductor in Residence, Hamish McKeich.
If selected, composers who live outside the Wellington Region will be provided with flights and accommodation.
The winner will receive the NZSO Todd Young Composer Award and a cash prize of $1000. The composer with the most votes from the NZSO players will receive the Orchestra’s Choice Award and a cash prize of $500.
Guidelines for Submission
All guidelines must be strictly adhered to, or your work will not be eligible for consideration.
- Maximum duration of 5 minutes
- Work to be for symphony orchestra without soloists, amplification or electronic elements
- Maximum instrumentation is as follows: 3 flutes, 3 oboes, 3 clarinets, 3 bassoons, 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, 1 tuba, 1 timpani, 3 percussion, harp and strings (the following woodwind auxiliary instruments are available: piccolo, alto flute, bass flute, cor anglais, bass clarinet, Eb Clarinet and contrabassoon). Please refer to the documents on the left when writing for harp and percussion.
- A complete and accurate instrumentation list and duration must be provided at the beginning of the score.
- NZSO reserves the right to ask composers to revisit any composition that includes extended techniques that may damage instruments.
- Revisions to the score and parts other than those requested by the NZSO library will not be accepted after Friday 08 August.
- Any non-standard items must be provided by the composer.
Application
Important Dates:
11 Nov 2025 – Applications open
08 Jun 2026 – Applications close
22 Jun 2026 – Results are sent out
11 Aug 2026 – Deadline for revised scores
How to Apply:
Applications for the 2026 NZSO Todd Young Composer Awards have now closed. Application information for the 2027 Todd Young Composer Awards will be available in November 2026.
Eligibility:
Applicants must be a New Zealand resident, citizen, student (including exchange students) or visa holder.
Applicants must be 25 years of age or younger at the time of application close date.
One application per person.
Application Information:
We require the following documents and files for your application:
- Composer biography
- A landscape publicity photo of yourself (refer to the artist image guide for requirements)
- Programme notes for your composition with all identifying information removed (this is to keep the selection process anonymous)
- Programme notes for your composition
- PDF score of your composition with your name on the score
- PDF score of your composition with all identifying information removed (this is to keep the selection process anonymous)
- Audio file of your composition (computer-generated audio is fine).
All scores must be submitted in accordance with the NZSO Requirements for Score & Parts Preparation.
All eligible scores will be assessed for inclusion by a panel including NZSO Musicians, Education staff, the Composer Mentors, and the Conductor. This assessment will be carried out using anonymised scores to avoid any potential bias or conflict of interest.
Downloads
Writing For Harp In Orchestra
pdf (0.83mb) | May 2024
NZSO Percussion Guidelines
pdf (0.83mb) | May 2024
Requirements for Score & Parts Preparation
pdf (0.83mb) | May 2024
2026 Composer Mentor
Composer Maria Grenfell, whose music has been called "expansive, effusive and energetic," has had her orchestral work commissioned, performed or recorded by every major Australian and New Zealand symphony orchestra, as well as the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and the Seattle Philharmonic, alongside two Tasmanian State Awards at the Australian Art Music Awards.
In association with
Previous finalists
2010
Finalists
Arna Shaw
Headache (Winner)
Alex Taylor
Six Pieces for Orchestra (Orchestra Choice)
Jonathan Mandeno
Primordial Chaos (Highly Commended)
Corwin Newall
Avalanche
Joanie Chung Yee Lee
Wind Reflection
Lizzie Dobson
Planare
Matthew Childs
Polgara's Lament
Robbie Ellis
Fanfare 10
Thomas Jensen
Trench
Umar Zakaria
The persistence of our Youth
2009
Finalists
Natalie Hunt
Rain II (Winner)
Robbie Ellis
Feral (Orchestra Choice)
Ajita Goh
Freedom is not free
Alex Taylor
Fray
Arna Shaw
Timatanga
Corwin Newall
Significant Figures
Hannah Gilmour
Though it lingers
Lizzie Dobson
A Study in Scarlet
Mathew Childs
Alone in the Night
Minto Fung
The Chase
Pieta Hextall
Portrait
Tabea Squire
Vee Dub and little tiger go wandering
2008
Finalists
Alexandra Hay
Bellum Nocturnis (Winner)
Robin Toan
Aquarium and Puppets – Postcards from Barcelona (Highly Commended)
Anita Goh
Reflection
Hannah Gilmour
Eloi, Eloi, lama sbachthani?
Joanie Chung Yee Lee
Drum Dancers
June Dams
Homeostasis – An Endless Sad Dance of Life and Death
Katie Johnson
Prelude to the Unspoken
Lizzie Dobson
Ricercare di Vita
Pieta Hextall
Impetus
Ryan Youens
Somnium
Umar Zakaria
Dreams of Power
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FAQ
Applicants must be 25 or younger at the application closing date and be a New Zealand resident, citizen, student or visa holder. One application is permitted per person.
Up to eight young composers will have their works workshopped and performed by the NZSO, with support from an experienced composer mentor. Performances will be conducted by Principal Conductor in Residence Hamish McKeich and recorded by RNZ Concert.
Works must be no longer than five minutes and written for symphony orchestra without soloists, amplification or electronic elements. Full instrumentation requirements and score preparation guidelines must be followed for a work to be eligible.
The Todd Young Composer Award winner receives a $1000 cash prize. The composer chosen by NZSO musicians receives the Orchestra’s Choice Award and a $500 cash prize. Selected composers from outside the Wellington Region will also receive flights and accommodation.
If selected, composers who live outside the Wellington Region will be provided with flights and accommodation.
Eligible works are assessed by a panel including NZSO musicians, Education staff, the composer mentors and the conductor. Scores are anonymised during assessment to help ensure a fair selection process.
Related Programmes
NZSO x SOUNZ NZ Composer Sessions
