Pythia Prize

The Pythia Prize is Rubiks’ annual commission project aimed at addressing equality and gender representation in contemporary Australian art music. The Prize is open to all Australian female-identifying and gender diverse composers, and provides the opportunity for a composer to collaborate with Rubiks to create a new work.

Past winners of the Pythia Prize are Samantha Wolf (2017), Christine McCombe (2018), Bianca Gannon (2019), Felicity Wilcox (2021) and Sylvia Lim (2022). The Pythia Prize commissions have been performed in Melbourne, Sydney, Darmstadt, Berlin, Manchester and Amsterdam, have been recorded for ABC Classic FM and have received multiple awards, including the Melbourne Recital Centre’s inaugural Percy Grainger Award in September 2021.

APPLICATIONS FOR THE NEXT PYTHIA PRIZE WILL OPEN IN 2024.

The Pythia composer will receive an honorarium of $4000, a premiere performance in Melbourne and a professional recording of Rubiks performing the new work. If the Pythia composer resides outside of Victoria but within Australia, interstate travel and accommodation will be provided for one workshopping period and the premiere performance.

Eligibility

The Pythia Prize is open to all female-identifying and gender diverse Australian composers. Applicants do not need to be currently residing in Australia, and there is no age limit for this prize. 

Key Dates

To be announced in 2024.

Submission Process

Applicants are asked to submit an application form, including examples of previous work and information about why they would like to collaborate with Rubiks. Applicants are welcome to submit either a written or video application. More information can be found on the application form.

Applications will be assessed by members of Rubiks Collective. Applicants will receive an acknowledgement receipt of materials within one week of submission.

For assistance with any queries related to the Pythia Prize or the application process, please contact the Rubiks team at hello@rubikscollective.com.

Past Winners
Sylvia Lim (2022)
Felicity Wilcox (2021)
Bianca Gannon (2019)
Christine McCombe (2018)
Samantha Wolf (2017)