2025 NZSO Todd Young Composer Awards candidates, from left to right: Ryan Youens (Composer Mentor), Wayne Gao, Nic Brownlie (Orchestra Choice), Georgina Palmer, Jamal Hassan Hussein, Estella Wallace, Pascale Parenteau (Senior Manager: Education & Community Engagement), Lauren Doherty, Rafael Hosking (Winner), Daniel Harris, Hamish McKeich (Conductor)

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

2026 NZSO Todd Young Composer Awards (Thu 26 – Fri 27 Nov) 

Now in its 22nd year, the NZSO Todd Young Composer Awards are 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. 

An expert composer mentor is selected to support up to eight young composers through the process to 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. 

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