Call for applications: YAMawards 2023

The awards, launched in 2008, honour creativity and innovation in the field of musical productions for young audiences, and celebrate the art of connecting young people and children with music and culture in ways that inspire, enlighten and delight.

Participation is open to all music-based live productions for audiences up to 18 years of age. Whether soloist, group, ensemble or orchestra, the main criteria are:

• Quality of music.
• Quality of performance.
• Relevance or necessity of the programme.
• Audience communication.
• International touring potential. 

Categories

The YAMawards 2023 will feature six different categories, each with its own winner:

• Best Small Ensemble for Young Audiences Award.
• Best Large Ensemble for Young Audiences Award (groups of more than eight, orchestras, etc).
• Best Opera for Young Audiences Award.
• Best School Concert for Young Audiences Award.
• Best Participatory Project with Young Audiences Award (projects where the participation of young audiences or the process are the main focus).
• Public Choice Award (selected from the top four nominees in each category, by public vote).

Prizes

YAMawards winners will receive cash prizes in the following categories:

• Best Small Ensemble for Young Audiences – €1 000.
• Best Large Ensemble for Young Audiences – €1 000.
• Best Opera for Young Audiences – €1 000.
• Best School Concert for Young Audiences – €1 000.
• Best Participation Project with Young Audiences – €1 000.
• Public Choice Award – €1 000.

Each nominee’s representative will be invited to the YAMawards ceremony in São Paulo or Tatuí, Brazil, on 10 November.

Eligibility

• All soloists, groups, ensembles or orchestras producing live music for audiences under 18 years of age are welcome to participate.
• Entries will be analysed and judged based on the quality of music, the quality of performance, the relevance/necessity of the programme, audience communication and international touring potential.

Application

All entries must be submitted by 15 May at 23.59pm CAT here.

On 10 October 2023, the nominations for the 2023 YAMawards will be announced on the YAMawards website and open for public voting. Voting will close on 10 November 2023 at 8pm CAT.

YAM is an official programme of JM International, the world’s largest youth music NGO. The platform is dedicated to bringing live music to children and youths worldwide (more than 20 000 concerts held annually) as well as providing support to professionals in this space.