Artists of the Year
In partnership with
Voting has closed the for 2025 Limelight Artists of the Year
Winners will be announced on Monday 2 February.
Limelight's readers and critics have voted for the Australian and international artists who raised their heart rates in 2024.
Their votes have been tallied, and we are thrilled to announce the winners.
People's Choice
Australian Artist of the Year
Jayson Gillham
It was about more than just the music. Jayson Gillham’s impact on the wider culture has generated headlines worldwide.
Runners-Up
Simone Young
Simone Young was both maestro and master storyteller in her perfect reading of Die Walküre, with the SSO and an all-star cast at the top of their game.
Siobhan Stagg
Stagg’s performance was a constant wonder and her glorious tone was focused and consistently resplendent across the full range.
William Barton
With William Barton creating a highly coloured soundscape on his didgeridoo, a world of sound came alive.
Kathryn Selby
Kathryn Selby continued to reveal great sensitivity and awareness as a chamber musician, and proved herself a genuine Mozartian ... very special.
Sally Walker
Walker, who moves to the music, added a vibrancy on top of the string quartet ... she stood out with her clear tonal presence.
International Artist of the Year
Andreas Scholl
Alongside the Australian World Orchestra, Scholl was able to instil an extraordinary range of emotions, nuance and drama.
Runners-Up
Yuja Wang
In 2024, Wang won the Grammy for Classical Instrumental Solo for her album The American Project, released by Deutsche Grammophon.
Angela Hewitt
The singing, beautifully shaped phrasing, faultless touch and poetic awareness all made for a complete listening experience.
Herbie Hancock
Herbie Hancock rocked the Sydney Opera House with a brilliant band and 90 minutes of hard-driving, funk-infused jazz.
Stephen Hough
After a stellar collaboration with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, Australians keenly await Hough's return to the SSO, QSO and ASO.
Esmé Quartet
An intense, compact listening experience from a young quartet with an enviable reputation for elegance, precision and energy.
Critics' Choice
Australian Artist of the Year
Jayson Gillham
It was about more than just the music. Jayson Gillham’s impact on the wider culture has generated headlines worldwide.
Runners-Up
Simone Young
In July 2024, the Australian conductor became the first woman to conduct Wagner's tetralogy at Bayreuth, and in November covered for Thielemann at La Scala.
Goldner Quartet
Music lovers gave heavenly thanks as they farewelled the incomparable Goldner String Quartet after 30 years in the room where it all began.
Brett Dean
Six years after its first Australian outing, Brett Dean’s must-see opera Hamlet was back with Allan Clayton recreating his bravura portrayal of the titular Dane.
Clarke gave a "technically secure, acoustically gorgeous and dramatically convincing" as Cleopatra in Handel's Julius Caesar for Pinchgut Opera.
William Barton
William Barton continued to expand the horizons of the instrument of which he is arguably Australia’s leading player.
International Artist of the Year
Allan Clayton
Clayton delivers an exceptionally fine performance ... it is hard to imagine a better portrayal of the ill-fated Dane in any genre.
Runners-Up
Víkingur Ólafsson
Ólafsson’s control of dynamic is almost freakish – sometimes it is almost as if he has pushed the mute button and we hear the ghost of melody.
Herbie Hancock
Herbie Hancock rocked the Opera House with a brilliant band and 90 minutes of hard-driving, funk-infused jazz.
Yuja Wang
In 2024, Wang won the Grammy for Classical Instrumental Solo for her album The American Project, released by Deutsche Grammophon.
Roderick Williams
His expressiveness is extraordinary ... a veritable storyteller, conveying drama through thoughtful phrasing and dynamic shifts.
Giving Culture Award
Our readers' favourite performance of 2024
Die Walküre
Sydney Symphony Orchestra
★★★★★
Simone Young is both maestro and master storyteller in this perfect reading of Die Walküre, with the SSO and an all-star cast at the top of their game.
2024 Nominees
2023
Jessica Pratt
Australian Artist of the Year
People’s Choice
Sir Simon Rattle
International Artist of the Year
People’s Choice
Erin Helyard
Australian Artist of the Year
Critics’ Choice
Sir Simon Rattle
International Artist of the Year
Critics’ Choice
2022
Australian World Orchestra
Australian Artist of the Year
People’s Choice
Hilary Hahn
International Artist of the Year
People’s Choice
Simone Young
Australian Artist of the Year
Critics’ Choice
Allan Clayton
International Artist of the Year
Critics’ Choice
2021
Melbourne Digital Concert Hall
Australian Artist of the Year
People’s Choice
VOCES8
International Artist of the Year
People’s Choice
William Barton
Australian Artist of the Year
Critics’ Choice
Igor Levit
International Artist of the Year
Critics’ Choice
2019
Alondra de la Parra
Australian Artist of the Year
People’s Choice
Jessye Norman
International Artist of the Year
People’s Choice
Deborah Cheetham
Australian Artist of the Year
Critics’ Choice
Víkingur Ólafsson
International Artist of the Year
Critics’ Choice
2018
Benjamin Northey
Australian Artist of the Year
People’s Choice
Anne-Sophie Mutter
International Artist of the Year
People’s Choice
Simone Young
Australian Artist of the Year
Critics’ Choice
Jordi Savall
International Artist of the Year
Critics’ Choice
2017
Brett Dean
Australian Artist of the Year
Selected by readers and critics
Jonas Kaufmann
International Artist of the Year
Selected by critics and readers
2016
Emma Matthews
Australian Artist of the Year
Selected by readers and critics
Stephen Hough
International Artist of the Year
Selected by readers and critics
2015
Greta Bradman
Australian Artist of the Year
Selected by readers and critics
Sir Simon Rattle
International Artist of the Year
Selected by readers and critics