LUMINA COMPOSITION AWARD 2026

presented in conjunction with the University of Melbourne

The LUMINA Composition Award, established by the Melbourne Women’s International Jazz Festival (MWIJF) and University of Melbourne in 2024, is a prize awarded to an outstanding young female / gender diverse composer who creates compositions in the spirit of jazz and improvisation.

Who can apply?

Female and gender diverse musicians who are 25 and under (as at 9th November 2026). Entrants must be Victorian residents.

What to submit:

A lead sheet or score of your composition (pdf)

A recording of your composition (mp3 or link to audio file on Soundcloud, YouTube, Dropbox, or similar)

*Only 1 entry per person

Submissions due 9th November 2026, 5pm

Winner announced Sunday 13th December at the Jazzlab (27 Leslie Street, Brunswick) at the MWIJF.

Judges: Andrea Keller, Gian Slater, Angela Davis, Sonja Horbelt & Guest Judge Xani Kolac

Award: $1,250 + a gig at the 2027 MWIJF

To enter click HERE