Cellist Charlotte Miles won Australia's young performers prize
She played Elgar's cello concerto with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra at the Opera House. The award is $40,000 and a solo album with ABC Classic.
Read the original
The reporting lives at ABC News. Our summary is checked against it, and we link it on every story.
Charlotte Miles won the 2026 ABC Young Performers Awards after playing Elgar's cello concerto with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra at the Sydney Opera House. ABC News reported the result on November 3, 2026. Benjamin Northey conducted. The 24-year-old cellist, originally from Victoria, has been in the Kronberg Academy's professional program in Germany and returned for the final. She came through two earlier rounds after the contest opened in February.
The first prize is $40,000 and a solo studio album on the ABC Classic label. The runner-up receives $15,000 and third place $5,000. The final was broadcast live on ABC Classic and will air on ABC TV on November 5. ABC said Miles has more than 100 music prizes already, has guested with the Berlin Philharmonic, and was picked this year to tour with cellist Gautier Capuçon. The adjudicators were Aura Go, Sophie Rowell, Adam Szabo, and Eliza Shephard, chaired by Marshall McGuire. The news is this final and these prizes. It is not a list of every score she has played.
For the classroom
Charlotte Miles, 24, won the 2026 ABC Young Performers Awards. ABC News reported it on November 3. She played Elgar's cello concerto with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra at the Sydney Opera House. The prize is $40,000 and a chance to record a solo album. Second place receives $15,000 and third place $5,000. Miles grew up in Victoria and studies in Germany. She came home for the final. She has also played as a guest with the Berlin Philharmonic. The news is this prize, not a list of every award she has earned.
- What does a musician have to do between the first round of a contest and the concert people see?
- Why might playing with a full orchestra feel different from practicing alone?
For a teacher to read with a class. Print the story of the day · Morning announcements · All classroom stories · This week's Good News Friday pack
More good news
Other stories in the same neighborhood of kindness.
CommunityOne Meal in Sutherland Shire marks ten years of no-questions groceries
The volunteer charity still hands out food with no paperwork, and its breakfast clubs now reach about 100 high-school students a week across six schools.
Verified · St George and Sutherland Shire Leader
CommunityKensington Gardens reopened a playground built for more kinds of play
Burnside replaced worn equipment with a flying fox, a bird-hide climber, and paths a pram can use. The playground opened on October 28.
Verified · Glam Adelaide
CommunityBeverley students are learning Auslan and teaching the signs onward
From pre-primary to Year 8, Beverley District High treats Australian Sign Language as a school language. Students have already used it to teach everyday signs at a local lodge.
Verified · ABC News