For the fourth year running, Limelight critics have created a shortlist of 40 outstanding musicians and ensembles – 20 Australian and 20 International artists – for our annual Limelight Artists of the Year Awards.

Some are established artists and some are relative newcomers. Several of the international artists have thrilled Australian audiences in performance while others have released stunning recordings or have achieved accomplishments of note in their field. The nominees include performers, composers, ensembles, conductors and directors, all of whom are in the running to win one of two Limelight Artist of the Year Awards.

Now it’s your chance to be involved. We’d like you, Limelight readers, to vote for the Australian and international artist that you would most like to see honoured. The announcement of the winners will be made in our special bumper holiday issue of Limelight, on sale January 3, 2019.

And please note, for the purposes of these awards, a non-Australian who leads an Australian orchestra or arts organisation has been counted as an Australian artist rather than International.