The winners of the 2025 Art Music Awards were revealed tonight, Thursday 21 August, in a ceremony at Sydney’s City Recital Hall.

Presented by APRA AMCOS and the Australian Music Centre, the annual awards honour outstanding achievements in contemporary classical, jazz, experimental and sound art across Australia.

Jeremy Kleeman in Gilgamesh. Photo Daniel Boud

Composer, pianist and Artistic Director of Sydney Chamber Opera Jack Symonds was the night’s biggest winner, taking home two trophies for State Luminary Award and for Work of the Year – Dramatic for his opera Gilgamesh, which saw its world premiere at Carriageworks in September 2024. The production bought the Mesopotamian epic to life on stage, tracing the journey of Gilgamesh, his divinely destined bond with Enkidu, and their quest to find Uta-Napishti, holder of the secret to eternal life.

Gilgamesh also took home the gold for Performance of the Year Award in Notated Composition, awarded to Sydney Chamber Opera, Opera Australia, the Australian String Quartet and Ensemble Offspring; in his acceptance speech, Symonds thanked former Opera Australia Artistic Director Jo Davies for her work with the project.

“Jack Symonds’ brilliant new opera Gilgamesh … succinctly juxtaposes epic themes with more intimate...