Midsumma Presents: The Homophonic! Pride Prize!
Composition Competition for LGBTIQ+ identified Australian Composers.
Launched in 2019 with the support of Andrew Boyle, the Homophonic! Pride Prize is a unique opportunity for LGBTIQ+ Australian Composers to work with amazing soloists to create a new work to be performed at Homophonic! as part of the Midsumma Festival.
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2027's award is to write for Niki Johnson, a composer-performer percussionist based in Sydney, Australia who works across the fields of sculptural percussion, contemporary classical music, and performance art. Her practice involves creating experimental and playful works for uncommon materials-as-instruments including glass, mycelium, bread, concrete, rock, wood, and water. She has been commissioned to compose and perform solo percussion works for the Sydney Powerhouse Museum and Art Gallery of New South Wales, and has recorded percussion for the ABC, Sydney Opera House, Phoenix Central Park, and Trackdown Fox studios.
The winner of the award in 2027 will have their new work premiered as part of the Midsumma Festival
Generously supported by the Midsumma Festival, the winning composer is awarded $2500, and guaranteed performance and live video of performance.
Niki Johnson, Photo by Ian Whitney
"I am so excited to work with homophonic and meet new creative and innovative composers and musicians! I love how homophonic champions new voices, and brings to the limelight incredible works. It is an honour to get to work with this organisation and be a part of their positive innovation and fresh breeze into contemporary classical music in Australia."
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-Niki Johnson
To apply
All Australian composers who identify as LGBTIQ+ are encouraged to apply.
There are no age limits, career stages, or entry fees.
The work: 7-10 minutes for percussion, one performer. The theme of the 2027 show is "JOY".
For: Vibraphone, with option for small percussion and/or fixed electronics.
The prize:
$2500 and performance at Homophonic! February 2027
3 workshopping sessions with Niki Johnson (in person or online)
Tickets to the premiere, (no flights or accomodation can be provided)
Live video and audio from the performance.
Dates:
Applications open: 5th June
Applications close: 26th June
Completed work delivered: November 8th (Negotiable)
Performance: February, 2027.
Panel:
Artistic Director, Soloist: Miranda Hill
Soloist: Niki Johnson
Percussionist and Educator: Rebecca Lloyd-Jones.
Pianist and composer: Ronan Apcar
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Please note: The form is giving an error message with some browsers. If you can not access the form please try another browser. Alternately: download the questions here and email them to homophonicprideprize@gmail.com
Thank you. ​
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2020
Star PIcc*
Solo piccolo, bass drum, and vocoder.
Written by Stephen de Filippo
Performed by Laila Engle.
2021
Depth Disintegration
Double Belled Bass Trombone and fixed media.
Written by Shoeb Ahmad
Performed by Benjamin Anderson
Winner of ElectroAcoustic Work of the Year at the 2022 APRA AMCOS Art Music Awards.
2022
Dream State;
Solo violin.
Written by Jaslyn Robertson
Performed by Kyla Matsuura-Miller
2023
Invs Belmn
Solo Oboe and fixed Media
Written by James Rushford
Performed by Ben Opie.
2024
To Echoes and Lines
Soprano and wearable midi controller
Written by Sophie Rose
Performed by Judith Dodsworth.
Finalist in the 2025 APRA/AMCOS Art Music Awards Work of the Year Electro-Acoustic.
2025
Mesophilic
Piano and electronics
Written by Ashleigh Hazel
Performed by Jacob Abela
2026
Shakey
Double Bass and fixed media
Written by Samuel Carrick
Performed by Miranda Hill
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