NSW SECONDARY SCHOOLS CONCERTO COMPETITION Final Set For June

Six talented finalists will perform their selected concerto with the Ku-ring-gai Philharmonic Orchestra in the 2026 NSW Secondary Schools Concerto Competition at the Concourse, Chatswood, on Sunday afternoon 28 June. 

These young musicians – who have battled through heat and semi-final rounds to reach the prestigious event - are competing for invaluable performance opportunities and cash prizes up to $10,000. 

The competition, open to secondary school pupils in years 7–12 at schools throughout NSW and the ACT, is in its 42nd year and again attracted the maximum of 100 entries.

Regarded as a stepping stone to national and international success, the competition has been held annually since 1984 and provides an invaluable performance opportunity for young musicians to showcase their talents as concert soloists accompanied by orchestra. The list of previous winners is a Who's Who of famous Australian musicians including Amy Dickson, Natalie Chee, Alexander Gavrylyuk, Simon Tedeschi, Hyung Suk Bae and Anna da Silva Chen. 

Prizes include $6000 + engagement to perform with the KPO during the following year for the winner; The Barbara Cran & Barbara Robinson Awards: each worth $1,500 plus perpetual trophies to their schools; Dual Crescendo Award for Potential: $800; KPO Players' Award of $500 to the best performer in rehearsals;  All solo finalists receive $250 and a certificate.

20 young artists performed in the semifinals and six were highly commended. KPO Artistic Director and Conductor Paul Terracini (pictured below right) said: "The 2026 final of the NSW Secondary Schools Concerto Competition will feature some of the outstanding young performers in the state. This much-anticipated annual event is a highlight of Sydney's musical calendar – especially for ambitious young Australian musicians and their talent-spotters.”

The 2026 Finalists: