Extract from ABC News
Cellist Charlotte Miles has been announced as the winner of the 2026 ABC Young Performers Awards. (ABC Classic: Cassandra Hannagan)
Charlotte Miles has won the 2026 ABC Young Performers Awards, performing Elgar's Cello Concerto for the competition grand final at the Sydney Opera House on November 3.
Performing with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra conducted by Benjamin Northey, this is the latest award in more than 100 music prizes for the 24-year-old cellist.
The competition opened in February with Miles making it through two competitive rounds to reach the grand final.
Originally from Victoria, Miles has been studying in the Kronberg Academy's professional program in Germany and returned to Australia to compete in the grand final.
Charlotte Miles with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra in her winning grand final performance. (ABC Classic: Cassandra Hannagan)
Miles regularly guests with the one of the world's most prestigious orchestras, the Berlin Philharmonic and was selected earlier this year to tour with French cellist, Gautier Capuçon.
Speaking to ABC Classic's Genevieve Lang following the performance, Miles said: "I felt really calm out there. I dared to share what I wanted to share with the audience and gave it everything."
Violinist Beatrice Colombis was named runner-up, with pianist Dillon Chan being awarded third place.
23-year-old Colombis performed Prokofiev's Second Violin Concerto while Chan, who was the youngest finalist at 14, played Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 2.
All finalists receive prizes to further their music careers
The winner takes home a $40,000 cash prize, as well as the opportunity to record a solo studio album under the ABC Classic label.
The runner-up receives a $15,000 cash prize and third place a $5,000 cash prize for furthering their musical careers.
Broadcast live on ABC Classic and hosted by Genevieve Lang, herself a previous competitor, the grand final concert featured each finalist performing a concerto with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.
The concert was also filmed for broadcast on ABC TV and ABC iview on November 5, with hosts Jeremy Fernandez and Megan Burslem.
The difficult decision was made by adjudicators Aura Go, Sophie Rowell, Adam Szabo and Eliza Shephard, chaired by harpist and arts leader Marshall McGuire.
Previous participants are among some of Australia's most successful musicians today, including pianist Andrea Lam, saxophonist Amy Dickson, pianist Simon Tedeschi, violinist Emily Sun and flautist Eliza Shephard, who is the most recent winner of the competition.
You can listen to the full concert on ABC Classic, or watch it on ABC TV and ABC iview on Thursday 5 November at 8:50pm.
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