Victorian cellist Charlotte Miles has won the 2026 ABC Young Performers Awards after performing Elgar’s Cello Concerto with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra at the Sydney Opera House last night.

Charlotte Miles: winner of the ABC Young Performers Award. Photo © Cassandra Hannagan

The 24-year-old, who is currently studying in the professional program at Germany’s Kronberg Academy, returned to Australia for the competition’s Grand Final, where each of the three finalists performed a concerto with the orchestra in the Concert Hall.

Miles’s performance of Elgar’s Cello Concerto secured her the $40,000 first prize and the opportunity to record a solo studio album for ABC Classic. Miles has already amassed more than 100 Australian and international competition prizes, including the Special Prize of the Mozart-Gesellschaft München at the 2024 ARD International Cello Competition.

Violinist Beatrice Colombis was named runner-up, receiving $15,000, while third place went to pianist Dillon Chan, who receives $5000.

The cash prizes are supported by the Triffitt Bequest, through Symphony Services Australia, and the ABC.

The Grand Final marked the culmination of a nine-month competition, which began with applications in February before progressing through a series of selection rounds and semi-finals.

Finalists were assessed on technical precision, artistry, authenticity and storytelling by a judging panel led by harpist and arts leader Marshall McGuire.

Established in 1944, the ABC Young Performers Awards is Australia’s longest-running classical music competition. Previous winners include pianists Simon Tedeschi and Andrea Lam, whose careers have gone on to international recognition.

Watch the 2026 Grand Final Thursday 5 November at 8.50pm AEDT on ABC TV and ABC iview.