Awards
Young Folk Artist Awards 2024
FolkFedNSW is delighted to announce Ais O'Neill (Under 19) and Sam Fletcher (Under 25) as the 2024 Awardees.
For more information about, and to hear performances by our 2024 Award recipients, please scoll down the page. FolkFedNSW would like to thank all those who applied. You are all to be congratulated on the high standard of your submissions making our task a difficult one. Please note that our 2025 Award applications will open next April.
The Folk Federation of NSW offers two Young Folk Artist awards annually in under 19 years of age and under 25 years of age categories to support young musicians for solo or group performance of song and/or music in a folk style. The aim of these awards is to foster an interest in folk music and to assist young people in developing their performance skills.
Each award includes $500 cash, along with a number of mentoring and performance opportunities over the year of the award. Andy Busuttil of Blue Mountains Sound is offering a 3-track demo for each of the Young Artist Awards. This includes recording, mixing and mastering.
View our Full Terms and Conditions Here
2022 & 23 Awardees pictured with tutors & Program Coordinator Craig Sinclair.
Bodhi Turner, the 2021 Under 21yrs Awardee speaks about her Award and how it has helped her as a young performing artist.
2024 FolkFedNSW Young Folk Awards Announced
FolkFedNSW is delighted to announce the 2024 Awardees, Ais O'Neill (Under 19 Awardee) and Sam Fletcher (Under 25 Awardee). Young Folk Artist Program Coordinator Craig Sinclair said, “We’ve been excited to see the interest in this program and, yet again the excellent quality of applications received. It was a very hard decision for our panel but we couldn’t be happier to announce these awards and to support these young artists as they take the next steps on their journey.
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Ais O'Neill (Under 19 years Awardee)
“I feel incredibly grateful and honoured to have won this award. Through the amazing opportunities it provides, I cannot wait to further develop my skills and experience and share folk music with others.”
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Sam Fletcher (Under 25 years Awardee)
"I have been building my musical career since teenage years, trying really hard. As the first significant accolade I have received in music, I feel moved that a respected body has recognised my effort.”
Listen to our 2024 Young Folk Awardees
Hear Ais performing the traditional tune ‘An Chearc is a hÁl’, accompanied by Ken O’Neill on guitar-bouzouki.
Sam Fletcher, Under 25yrs Young Folk Artist performing his original song 'West Of The Mountains'
Meet Our Previous Young Folk Award Recipients
The 2023 Young Folk Artists
Rory Phillips (left) received the 2023 Under 25yrs Award and Tristan and Millicent White (right) were joint the Under 19 yrs Awardees.
The 2022 Young Folk Artists
Emma Foote (left) received the 2022 Under 19yrs Award and Sean Cooper (right) was the Under 25 yrs Awardee.
The 2021 Young Folk Artists
Charlie Gastineau-Hills (left) received the 2021 Under 16yrs Award and Bodhi Turner (right) was the Under 21 yrs Awardee.
The 2020 Young Folk Artists
Freya Peterson (left) received the 2020 Under 16yrs Junior Award and Felicity Dowd (right) was the Under 21 yrs Senior Awardee.
The 2019 Young Folk Artists
Allegra Dunning (left) was the Under 16yrs Junior Awardee and Josh Maynard received the Under 21yrs Senior Award.