Rising Star Competition

Supporting the next generation of musicians and talent across Tasmania with the annual Rising Star Competition.

Presented by Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra

Supporting the next generation of musicians and talent across Tasmania with the annual Rising Star Competition.

Presented by Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra

A woman playing violin in-concert with the TSO.

Applications open soon for the 2025 Rising Star Competition!

We’re thrilled to support the next generation of musicians and unearth the talent across Tasmania. Ensuring our young people have the backing they need to thrive in their musical education and careers is so important to the future of our industry – we believe it’s in safe hands with our Rising Stars!

Rising Star provides a young instrumentalist or classical vocalist with a leg-up to the next level of their learning.

Applications are currently closed and will open in Feb 2025. Sign up to here about more TSO programs here.

Applications are open now for the 2025 Rising Star Competition!

Rising Star provides a young instrumentalist or classical vocalist with a leg-up to the next level of their learning.

To apply, you must be a Tasmanian resident, 22 years of age or under and be of at least 8^th Grade AMEB or equivalent standard.

The selected Rising Star will receive;

Tim Bugg AM Rising Star Award worth $2500 to further the winner’s musical education
The opportunity to perform as a soloist with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra
A feature on TSO’s social media accounts and website

In 2025, we’re proud to also introduce the Tim Bugg AM Rising Star Encouragement Award worth $750. This encouragement award will be presented to a second young musician to support them in their musical endeavours. This has been made possible through generous benefactors in memory of Tim Bugg AM.

Applications close 5pm, Monday 17 March 2025. Apply here, or sign up to here about more TSO programs here.

Apply Here

HOW TO APPLY

Read and ensure you meet the requirements in the Guidelines & Eligibility Information Pack.
Fill in the application form here.

For any further questions please contact Learning & Community Projects Manager Jack Machin.

KEY DATES

Entries close: 5pm, Monday 17 Mar 2025
Audition times issued: Monday 24 Mar 2025
Audition date: Monday 31 Mar 2025 at TSO Studio, Nipaluna / Hobart
Audition results issued: Friday 4 Apr 2025
Performance rehearsal: Wednesday 18 Jun 2025 at Federation Concert Hall, Nipaluna / Hobart
Performance date: 10am and 6pm, Thursday 19 Jun 2025 at Federation Concert Hall, Nipaluna / Hobart

Samuel Hooper, photo by Toby Frost.

Meet the 2024 Rising Star, Samuel Hooper

Samuel Hooper is 14 years old and has a passion for music. He studied violin for 10 years with local teacher Dan Evans and now studies with Emma McGrath, Concertmaster of the TSO.

Samuel completed his AMEB 8th grade violin exam in 2022 and, for this, was awarded the Australian Strings Association (AUSTA) Tasmania Prize for the most outstanding candidate in strings.

At both the 2022 and 2023 Hobart Eisteddfods, Samuel was awarded the Celeste Thomsen (Quinn) Trophy and Memorial Award for the most outstanding string performer aged 16 years & under. At the Sydney Eisteddfod in 2022, Samuel was the inaugural recipient of the Most Promising Young String Player Award. In 2023 at the Sydney Eisteddfod, Samuel was awarded second place in the Open Age String Sonata section and also performed in the 90th Anniversary Gala Concert in the alumni orchestra. Samuel has been accepted into the 2024 Australian Youth Orchestra Young Symphonists program.

He would like to be a soloist and chamber musician and to teach violin.

Read the full news announcement here.

Players performing at the TSO Big Rehearsal.

The Tim Bugg AM Award

Tim Bugg AM is remembered as a well-respected and admired member of the Tasmanian community. A significant figure in legal practice nationally and beyond, Tim was also a great supporter of the TSO through over 7 years as a Board member and as a music lover.

This award has been named in honour of Tim and the work he undertook as a champion of emerging talent – a cause that he was truly passionate about. In his professional line of work Tim mentored, advocated and fostered emerging lawyers. This award celebrates the same spirit Tim showed to innumerable emerging professionals, and we are proud to continue his vision of championing and recognising young talent through the Rising Star Competition.

The TSO is immeasurably grateful to the generous benefactor who has ensured the Tim Bugg AM Rising Star Award will continue to provide opportunities for emerging musicians for years to come.

Past Winners

"The TSO Rising Star Competition gave me something to really work towards and strive for and it brought me to the next stage of my development as a musician. It has kickstarted my career in music."
– Samuel Hooper, 2024 RISING STAR