ABOUT THE PRIZE
Peter Tahourdin (1928-2009) was a composer who looked forward. From establishing Australia's first electronic music course at the University of Adelaide in 1969, to his lifelong engagement with new technologies and forms, Peter embodied the belief that musical practice grows through curiosity and courage.

The Peter Tahourdin Memorial Composition Prize honours that spirit. Offered annually through the Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music and Performance at Monash University, the $1,000 prize will be awarded to a student composer from anywhere in the world for a piece notated in “animated notation”* - a living frontier of contemporary music.

The winning work will be performed and recorded by the Monash Animated Notation Ensemble (MANE), a performer/composer collective directed by Professor Cat Hope and resident at Monash University.

*Animated notation can be defined as '“a predominately graphic music notation that engages dynamic characteristics of screen media” (Hope, 2019). Examples of this kind of notation can be found at http://animatednotation.blogspot.com and http://animatednotation.com.]

ELIGIBILITY
To apply you must be a current undergraduate/ honours or HDR student in a university music department. There is no age limit on the prize.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Complete this form ensuring you include accessible links to the work and a recording of previous work if you don't have one for the work submitted (add password if required). Please provide a biography, including details of your current program enrolment, [200 word maximum] and a program note [100 words] for your work. Attach any required instructions. There is no fee to apply.

SELECTION CRITERIA
The Peter Tahourdin Memorial Composition Prize is open to composers of any nationality or program in Australia or overseas. (undergraduate, honours, postgraduate). Indigenous, female identifying and gender nonconforming composers are encouraged to apply. There is no age limit for this prize.

The winning work will be:

• a new or existing work. Preference to works that are yet to be performed.
• between 5 and 10 minutes long
• in an animated score format
• be innovative and creative
• have clear instructions for any associated technology
• Be for open instrumentation or for any combination of 1 - 8 players from cello, double bass, clarinet, viola, flute, percussion and/or electronics

SUBMISSION DEADLINE
Applications due: 5pm, 31 July 2026

IMPORTANT DATES
Applications due: Friday 5pm, 31 July
Notification of application outcome: Tuesday 4 August
Work performed: Thursday, 20 August 1 - 2pm, Main Auditorium, Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music

NEED MORE INFORMATION?
Please submit all queries about this prize to Professor Cat Hope by email, cat.hope@monash.edu.
For more information on Peter Tahourdin go here.
The Peter Tahourdin Composition prize was originally established by Dr Thomas Rainer at Monash University.