Hopkins Bradford

2026 YOUTH CONCERTO COMPETITION

The HBYCC was founded in 2004 by the Frankston Symphony Orchestra and pianist Ivor Morgan (a pupil of Vera Bradford), and boasts a number of notable laureates. The 2026 Edition bears the names of two great Australian musicians, celebrating their legacy and shared belief that the strength of music lies in community and the nurturing of young talent.

John Hopkins (1927-2013)

John was a British-Australian conductor, and a towering influence on Australia’s musical landscape.

Following a distinguished career with the BBC Scottish and Northern orchestras and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, he served as Federal Director of Music for the ABC, Director of the NSW Conservatorium, and inaugural Dean of the Victorian College of the Arts.

Instrumental in establishing the Australian National Academy of Music, he also founded and supported numerous community ensembles such as the Darwin Symphony Orchestra.

Through his work with the National Music Camp (later AYO), Melbourne, and South African National Youth Orchestras, and his mentorship of generations of conductors as Professor of Conducting at the University of Melbourne, Hopkins left an enduring legacy of excellence, education, and inspiration.

Vera Bradford (1904-2004)

Vera was a concert pianist of radiant force in Australian music ‒ dazzling technique, expressive warmth, and formidable artistry.

A protégé of Percy Grainger, she gave many Australian premieres, including Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, Strauss’ Burleske, and Debussy’s Feux d’artifices, and was the first Australian woman to perform the Brahms Piano Concertos and the first pianist on Melbourne television.

Globally engaged yet devoted to teaching at the University of Melbourne and from her Frankston home, she was a founder of the Frankston Symphony Orchestra in 1967, championing young pianists like Ronald Farren-Price and Geoffrey Tozer.

Her legacy endures in every life she inspired through performance and mentorship.

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Competition Information :

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Competition Information

1st

$1000
+concert

2nd

$300

3rd

$200

Stage 1: Online Adjudication

Sunday 19th April, 11:59pm
(Applications close)

Specialist adjudicators will shortlist contestants to advance to Stage 2 of the competition.

Contestants will submit two videos:
1) Unaccompanied free choice (5-10 mins)
2) Accompanied concerto excerpt (5-10 mins)*

*Accompaniment may be with piano or ensemble

Stage 2: Public Performance

Saturday 20th June, 2:30pm
Peninsula Community Theatre, Mornington

Six successful Stage 1 contestants will be invited to perform, with piano accompaniment, in a public concert. Prizewinners will be determined by a live panel of specialist adjudicators.

Contestants will perform:
A concerto movement or movements, with piano accompaniment. A maximum of 20 minutes will be allocated to each contestant.

Stage 3: Concert Engagement

Saturday 5th September, 2:30pm
Peninsula Community Theatre, Mornington

The First Prize Winner will be engaged as soloist to perform a complete concerto, in the Frankston Symphony Orchestra's 2026 Season. Presentation of all prizes will occur at this event.

Music Regulations

A. Contestants’ concerto video for Stage 1 may differ from their intended concerto(s) for Stages 2 and 3.

B. The concerto movement(s) performed in Stage 2 must be drawn from the contestant’s intended concerto for performance in Stage 3.

C. Concerto selections must be from the Classical period or later.

D. Contestants are responsible for selecting concertos with standard orchestral instrumentation and readily available performance materials.

E. If the winner’s chosen concerto cannot be obtained or performed due to availability, logistics, or excessive cost, the FSO reserves the right to require an alternative work.

F. The winner’s concerto selection will be reviewed to ensure suitability for performance with a community orchestra. If deemed unsuitable, the FSO reserves the right to require an alternative work.

G. Contestants should omit repeats when performing in Stage 1 and 2, and the duration of concerto movement(s) should be calculated accordingly.

H. Piano contestants and collaborative pianists/accompanists for non-piano contestants will perform on a concert grand piano; those accompanying piano contestants will use a supplied high-quality digital piano.

I. Repertoire requiring prepared piano will not be permitted.

J. In accordance with copyright law, all contestants must use original published editions of their music, even if performing from memory.

K. A photocopy of the score must be provided for Stage 2 adjudicators. This copy will not be returned.

Eligibility

Age Limit:

Residence:

Eligible Instruments:

Application Fee:

Open to all contestants born in 2001 or later.

Open to residents of Victoria, Australia.

Piano; strings, woodwind, brass, percussion families.

A forty-five dollar ($45) non-refundable administration fee applies at application submission.

Required Materials

Application form plus attachments:
ID document confirming DOB and VIC residency
Biography of between 50-100 words
Artist photo (color, 300dpi)
Proposed concerto(s)
Stage 1 Videos

Please note: Youtube, Dropbox, and other filesharing platforms are accepted. Inaccessible or password protected video submissions will disqualify themselves automatically.

Conditions of Entry

Adjudication Conditions

Previous prizewinners are not eligible to compete again.
Students of any adjudicator are not eligible to enter.
Time limits will be strictly observed by both contestants and adjudicators to ensure fairness and consistency.
The decisions of the jury at all stages are final, and no correspondence will be entered into.
If the jury reaches an inconclusive outcome, it reserves the right to withhold any or all prizes, or to adjust prize structure or the distribution of the prize pool.
Contestants must not make contact with any adjudicator outside their official involvement in the competition.
Prizewinners will be asked to inform the organising committee of their intended use of prize funds, outlining how the award will support their future musical development.

Financial Conditions
Contestants are responsible for engaging their own collaborative pianist/accompanist, where required, for all stages of the competition.
All expenses related to participation in the competition, unless explicitly covered by the competition, are the responsibility of the contestant. These may include (but are not limited to) accommodation, collaborative pianist/accompanist fees, transport, meals, and other incidentals.
The 2026 HBYCC winner must be available for minimum 2 rehearsals with the Frankston Symphony Orchestra during the concert program rehearsal period.
The first prize cash award constitutes both the competition prize and soloist engagement fee. Should the winner be unable to perform, they forfeit the cash prize and the engagement shall be offered to the runner-up.
The application fee is non-refundable and covers administrative costs associated with the competition.
Each prizewinner will be issued (1) complimentary ticket for their attendance at the Stage 3 Concert to receive their prize.

Permissions & Circumstantial Conditions
By submitting an application, contestants grant permission for their name, biography, photographs, and recordings (audio or video) taken during the competition to be used for publicity purposes.
By submitting an application, the parent or legal guardian of a contestant under 18 years old agrees that they shall be solely responsible for the safety, supervision and care of the contestant during all relevant stages of the competition, and releases the competition from any liability.
Contestants are expected to arrive punctually for all scheduled events. The organising committee cannot guarantee participation if a contestant misses their scheduled time. In the event of extenuating circumstances, contestants must contact the committee as soon as possible.
While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of dates, venues, and times, the competition is not liable for any changes due to unforeseen circumstances.
Contestants submit their application in good faith, and to the best of their knowledge are available for all competition dates.

Notable Laureates

Kevin Chow, Piano

ABC Australian Young Performers Award, Maj Lind International Piano Competition, Deutsche Telekom Beethoven Competition. Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Thailand Philharmonic, Morocco Philharmonic Orchestra.

Karla Hanna, Violin

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Victoria. Soloist with Melbourne Chamber Orchestra, Melbourne Youth Orchestra, Concertmaster of Australian Youth Orchestra.

Hannah Shin, Piano

Lev Vlassenko Piano Competition, Zhuhai International Mozart Competition, Thailand International Piano Competition, ASEAN International Chopin Competition, Virginia Waring International Piano Competition. Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra, Ningbo Symphony Orchestra, Queensland Symphony Orchestra.

Jennifer Timmins, Flute

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Victoria, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra.

Generously supported by the Rosemary & John Hopkins Award at The University of Melbourne

Apply Here!

Applications close Sunday 19th April, 2026 11:59pm AEST

and all applications are accepted via this online form only.

Open Application Form