APRA Professional Development Awards (PDA)
The APRA Professional Development Awards provide cash, travel and recognition to music composers and song writers in the early stages of their careers. Each Award is worth $11 500.
Download an Infomation Brochure
Photo: 2006 PDA Winners
About the PDAs
The APRA Professional Development Awards are conducted every two years by APRA in conjunction with various music organisations and institutions involved in the representation or education of Australian music writers. The Awards offer cash, travel and recognition to both composers and song writers in the early stages of their careers. The cash component for the awards is $10,000 with a further $1,500 to assist with travel costs.
The PDAs are for Australian composers or songwriters who can demonstrate that they possess outstanding potential in their field. Up to six professional composers and songwriters will receive Awards. Assistance will be provided in the form of overseas travel to enable recipients to further their careers by attending music education courses, song writing workshops, composer seminars, participation in co-writing activities or other relevant opportunities.
2006 PDA Winners
Natalie Williams is the recipient of the 2005 APRA PDA award in the Classical genre. Selected from over 20 outstanding applicants, Williams is thrilled to have won this award and intends to travel abroad to pursue postgraduate study in music theory and composition. She is currently deciding between offers at 3 different universities in North America, and from these, hopes to commence a Doctor of Music in Composition at Indiana University in Bloomington, where she would be studying under composers such as Don Freund and Professor Claude Baker.
While Williams seeks to develop her skills as a Music Theorist, it is composing that is her true driving passion. Since working with Graeme Koehne at the University of Adelaide and also Professor Brenton Broadstock at the University of Melbourne’s Faculty of Music, she says that "composition has always been the central part of my life. Since having one of my pieces workshopped by the Australian Chamber Orchestra in 1993, I've felt compelled to write and develop an individual voice through my work since then. I’ve been fortunate to receive some high profile commissions and have strived to shape and cultivate my musical language through these new works. Having worked with symphony orchestras, in theatre, film and with chamber ensembles, I’m hoping to use the APRA PDA Award to enable my work to expand onto the international stage". Other composition teachers have included John Polgase and Stephen Whittington.
Williams believes that being given an opportunity to study somewhere like the United States will not only build her skills as a composer and academic, but provide an international platform for her to begin networking with practitioners worldwide.
Other 2006 APRA PDA recipients include Johannes Luebbers (Jazz), Ashley Klose (Film/TV),Amira Pyliotis, Damian Crosbie (Popular Contemporary) and Tom Curtain (Country). See the APRA website for more details.
Award Guidelines
Please note the following guidelines when submitting to APRA's Professional Development Awards:
- Nominees must not be less than 18 years of age on 1st January 2006.
- Nominees must be Australian citizens or have been a legal resident in Australia for a minimum of two consecutive years on 1st January 2006.
- Nominees may only apply for one category of Award.
- Nominations may only be made by individual writers. Co-writers should nominate separately.
- Previous winners of an APRA Professional Development Award are ineligible to apply.
Download details of the Awards and Application here.
The Centre adminsters the PDAs. For hard copy brochures or any enquires please contact Philippa Horn at the Australian Music Centre p:(02) 9247 4677; e:
