The Australian Guild of Screen Composers (AGSC) has unveiled the four winners of the 2025 Johnny Dennis Music Awards, recognising exceptional Australian composers in the tradition of light music.

Each recipient will receive a $5,000 cash prize, part of the biennial awards established through the legacy of English-born entertainer Dennis John Mole, known professionally as Johnny Dennis.

This year’s winners are Ayda Akbal, Biddy Connor, James Peter Brown and Jesse Watt, selected from more than 30 high-quality submissions judged for their artistic merit and alignment with the spirit of the awards.

Clockwise: Jesse Watt, Biddy Connor, James Peter Brown and Ayda Akbal.

AGSC Executive Director Kingston Anderson said the judges faced a “challenging task” narrowing the field to four composers who best reflect Dennis’s legacy.

Each award supports projects that foster creativity and professional development, including composition for screen, performance, research, travel and mentorship. The awards aim to provide recipients with both the financial freedom and recognition to advance their careers.

Jesse Watt said the prize gives him – a “young-ish” composer – “a rare chance to create music driven purely by love, purpose and artistic truth.”

Said James Peter Brown, “This award means a great deal, as it supports my ideas around using music as a meditative tool for focus and relaxation for young children.”

Ayda Akbal and Biddy Connor echoed gratitude, both emphasising the award’s affirmation of their work and future projects.

Administered by the AGSC on behalf of Perpetual Trustee Company Limited, the Johnny Dennis Music Awards continue a tradition of celebrating composers who contribute to Australia’s cultural landscape through compelling light music.