APRA AMCOS has announced the winners of the 2025 APRA Professional Development Award winners at a ceremony today at its Sydney headquarters.

The PDAs grant 13 artists a $10,000 cash prize to be spent on projects towards career and creative development, including workshops, courses, seminars and co-writing sessions.

The 2025 PDA winners. Photo © Maria Boyadgis

Perth-based composer-performer Josten Myburgh has earned the Classical & Experimental Professional Development Award.

As a saxophonist, Myburgh explores ideas of durational performance and resonances; as a composer, he blends field recordings, electroacoustic techniques and improvisation. Through his record label, Tone List, Myburgh has run the Audible Edge Festival since 2017, an “experimental music bender” platforming local and international exploratory, genre-defying music; this year’s edition takes place across 3-6 April.

“Everything I do is connected to the way we organise community,” Myburgh said, accepting the award.

“I’m committed to build towards peace, freedom and beautiful music.”

Playwright, director and actor Cassie Hamilton has won the Musical Theatre award for A Transgender Woman on the Internet, Crying – “a colourful collison of love, identity and joyous techno pop“.

Her works have been performed at Adelaide Cabaret Festival, Theatre Works and...