2023 NZSO Todd Young Composer Awards candidates, from left to right: Nicholas Brownlie, Camryn Nel, Mallory Elmo, Henry Meng (Winner), Thorin Williams, Sai Natarajan (Orchestra Choice), Wayne Gao

NZSO Todd Young Composer Awards is an exciting opportunity for young New Zealanders to have their compositions workshopped and performed by the NZSO.

2024 NZSO Todd Young Composer Awards

Now in its 20th year, the NZSO Todd Young Composer Awards is a unique opportunity for young New Zealand composers to have their compositions workshopped and performed by the NZSO, as well as recorded by RNZ Concert.

Two expert composer mentors are selected to mentor up to eight young composers through the process to help ensure the highest level of success. The piece of music will be performed by the NZSO and led by Principal Conductor in Residence Hamish McKeich.

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.

If selected, flights and accommodation will be provided for those who live outside of Wellington.

Entry process

• Please apply by completing the application form

• We require the following documents and files for your application:

  • PDF score of your composition (with your name on the score)

  • PDF score of your composition with all identifying information removed

  • Programme notes for your composition

  • Composer biography and headshot

  • Audio file of your composition (computer-generated audio is fine)

• Entrants must be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident

• Composers must be 25 years of age or younger as of 11 June 2024

• One entry per person

Guidelines for Submission

The Composition

• 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, 2 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 NZSO guidelines

• A complete and accurate instrumentation listing and duration must be provided at the beginning of the score.

Additional Composer Information

• NZSO reserve 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 4 October

• Any non-standard items such as string practice mutes must be provided by the composer

• All eligible scores will be assessed for inclusion by a panel including NZSO Musicians, Education and Library staff, the Composer-Mentor, and the Conductor. This assessment will be carried out using anonymised scores to avoid any bias or conflict of interest

• All guidelines must be strictly adhered to, or your work will not be eligible for consideration

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For further information, please contact our Education team: education@nzso.co.nz.

Important Dates

Fri, 22 Mar Applications Open     
Tue, 11 Jun Applications Close
Fri, 21 Jun Results Announced
Fri, 04 Oct Deadline for Revised Scores
Tue-Wed, 05-06 Nov Programme Dates 

For further information, please contact the NZSO Education team at education@nzso.co.nz.