The composer, artist, writer and broadcaster has won the Classical section in this year’s awards, taking home a $15,000 prize.

Composer Julian Day was won the Classical section of the 2017 APRA Professional Development Awards, APRA AMCOS announced today. The composer, artist, broadcaster and Limelight contributor will receive a cash prize of $15,000.

“I can’t quite believe it!” Day told Limelight. “This year’s finalists are incredible (shout outs to Amanda Cole, Katy Abbott, Nicole Murphy and Tristan Coelho) so I’m feeling very humbled. I’ve actually been entering for over six years and kind of gave up on winning a long time ago. So remember kids – never give up.”

^{Composer Julian Day. Photo © Felicity Jenkins}

The biennial awards are designed to create career boosting opportunities for highly talented songwriters and composers across different genres. Ainslie Wills, Julia Jacklin and Sophie Payten (Gordi) have won awards in the Popular Contemporary category, Jess Beck won the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander category, Fanny Lumsden won Country, Nick Drabble (Set Mo) won Dance/Electronic, Damien Lane won Film and Television and Andrea Keller took out Jazz.

Composer and poet Eric Avery was...