How has the competition evolved since you launched it in 2014?

The Matt Withers Australian Music Composition Competition began in 2014, originally for young composers who studied at university to enter a newly composed work for solo classical guitar. Since then it has gained great support and generated national excitement that, with feedback and requests from across the country, this unique competition has grown and is now open to all Australian composers, of any age.

Sponsorship has greatly increased and I’m proud to now be offering $2,000 cash for first place with a total of $3,250 in cash prizes for 2018 plus multiple performance opportunities around the country for the winning works, including an award for an Under 25 Emerging Artist prize.

Another major aspect for the growth of the 2018 competition is the inclusion of a professionally recorded and commercially released studio album that will give the music long term accessibility by audiences worldwide. The album will be licensed for release and digital distribution through ABC Classics.

Matt WithersGuitarist Matt Withers

What have you learnt through running this competition and performing the new works it has generated?

I have learnt that there is great...