The 2024 Australian Women in Music Awards winners were announced at a ceremony last night at Brisbane’s Fortitude Music Hall, recognising the achievements of creative pioneers across the music industry in paving the way for female, non-binary and gender diverse artists.

Linda Thompson. Photo © Matt Nash

The inaugural Opera Australia Impact Award, acknowledging a significant impact on the development of opera, was presented to creative producer, stage director and soprano Linda Thompson.

Thompson has served as the founding Artistic Director and CEO of the Australian Contemporary Opera Company, a group that provides a platform for emerging artists and has presented more than 40 new operas and 12 Australian.

In 2022, she was inducted into the 2022 Victorian Honour Roll of Women for her services to Australian opera.

Sonya Lifschitz. Photo supplied

Pianist Sonya Lifschitz received the QPAC Excellence in Classical Music Award. An acclaimed soloist and chamber musician, Lifschitz has been a consistent advocate for Australian classical music, having premiered works from a range of Australian composers.

She has collaborated with groups including Ensemble Offspring, Topology, Clocked...