23 June 2026
AYO talent shines in ABC Young Performer of the Year semifinal lineup
Five Australian Youth Orchestra musicians have been announced among the 12 semifinalists of the ABC Young Performers Awards, including current participant Maggie Wang and alumna Charlotte Miles who is a performing with AYO in Darwin in Sydney in July.
Cellists Maggie and Charlotte join AYO alumni percussionist Buddy Lovett, saxophonist Alice Morgan and flautist Lily Bryant in progressing to the live performance round of the prestigious competition in August.
The contest, open to solo instrumentalists aged 31 and under, has launched the careers of some of the most successful Australian musicians, including composer and violist Brett Dean, percussionist Claire Edwardes, violinist Emily Sun and most recently flautist Eliza Shephard.
Each applicant submitted a 40-minute performance video for the adjudication panel, including at least one piece of music by an Australian composer. The 12 semifinalists will each perform a live public solo recital in Sydney or Melbourne in August.
For Germany-based Charlotte Miles, who is already forging international career in Australia and Europe, her semifinal round recital will come just weeks after her guest soloist appearance with the Australian Youth Orchestra flagship ensemble in the Brave New Worlds concerts in Sydney and Darwin where she will be performing Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto no 1 under the baton of conductor Antony Hermus.
See Charlotte Miles in Brave New Worlds
For Melbourne-based Year 12 student and cellist Maggie Wang, who most recently performed with the AYO flagship orchestra in Melbourne at Sidney Myer Music Bowl in February, the competition comes as she studies for her VCE exams later this year.
She said she is “absolutely thrilled” to have been selected as a semifinalist.
“When I heard the news, I was overjoyed. I feel incredibly fortunate to be part of such a prestigious competition and to be performing alongside so many outstanding young musicians from across the country. This opportunity marks a very special milestone in my musical journey, and I’m excited to step onto such an inspiring stage and cherish the experience.”
Maggie Wang
Percussionist Buddy Lovetts’ first AYO program was in 2020 and he most recently performed with AYO’s flagship orchestra in Caloundra in 2025. Saxophonist Alice Morgan’s first AYO program was with the flagship orchestra in 2018, while flautist Lily Bryant attended AYO’s National Music Camp in 2016, 2019 and 2020 before joining the flagship orchestra in 2020.
“We extend our warmest congratulations to Maggie Wang, Charlotte Miles, and all of the outstanding semifinalists in this year’s ABC Young Performers Awards. To see so many Australian Youth Orchestra musicians recognised at this level is a wonderful reflection of their dedication, artistry and the countless hours of hard work they have invested in their craft,” said AYO CEO Kimbali Harding.
“At AYO, we are incredibly proud of the role we play in supporting and shaping the next generation of Australian musicians, and this achievement speaks to the exceptional calibre of talent within our programs. It is particularly exciting to see these young artists stepping confidently onto a national stage and sharing their musicianship with broader audiences.
Kimbali Harding, AYO CEO
“We are also thrilled to be working with Charlotte again as part of our Brave New Worlds concerts in July, and look forward to experiencing her artistry as a soloist. We wish Maggie, Charlotte and all semifinalists every success in the next stage of the competition – their passion and commitment are truly inspiring.”
Adjudication panel chair Marsall McGuire said the panel was impressed with breadth of talent displayed by all the semifinalists. “We were impressed with the overall level of skill, talent, musicality and commitment from all applicants and the energy they brought to this important competition,” says Marshall McGuire, the chair of the adjudication panel.
“Competitors who stood out to the panel were bold and imaginative and had a range of repertoire which allowed them to present a full palette of [musical] styles.”
Marshall McGuide, Adjudication panel chair
For many of the competitors, the ABC Young Performers Awards offers a rare national platform, with musicians competing for a variety of reasons.
For saxophonist Alice Morgan from Sydney, it’s a chance to showcase both her instrument and the Australian music she champions. Morgan has collaborated with composers including Andrew Howes and Holly Harrison, who have written music “with me as the performer in mind.”
Only three finalists will get the chance to compete for a cash prize, and will appear as soloists with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra in a televised performance at the Sydney Opera House in November.
Semifinalists in the 2026 ABC Young Performers Awards
- Alice Morgan (saxophone, NSW)
- Beatrice Colombis (violin, NSW)
- Buddy Lovett (percussion, Vic)
- Charlotte Miles (cello, Vic)
- Connor Whyte (classical guitar, ACT)
- Dillon Chan (piano, Vic)
- Dindin Jingyi Wang (violin, Vic)
- Joshua Han (piano, NSW)
- Lily Bryant (flute, NSW)
- Maggie Wang (cello, Vic)
- Sheng-Yuan Lynch (piano, Tas)
- Tom Lowe (saxophone, Vic)
You can find out more about each semifinalist on the ABC Classic website.
Watch the ABC Young Performers Awards semifinals
- Tuesday, 11th August in Sydney (Eugene Goossens Hall)
- Wednesday, 12th August in Melbourne (Iwaki Auditorium)
- Thursday, 13th August in Melbourne (Iwaki Auditorium)
On each day, there will be a recital at 12pm, 2pm, 4pm and 6pm.
Tickets are $10 per recital via the ABC Classic website.
If you can’t make it in person, recitals will be broadcast on ABC Classic later in the year.
The Grand Final performance will take place on November 3 at the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall, with each of the three grand finalists performing a concerto with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. The concert will also be broadcast on ABC TV and ABC Classic.
