FINALISTS FOR QMUSIC’S ANNUAL SUITE OF $15,000 SCHOLARSHIPS ANNOUNCED

From left: Tia Gostelow, Fred Leone, ixaras, Dana Gehrman

The 16 finalists for QMusic’s 2025 suite of scholarships have been selected, bringing them one step closer to winning one of four $15,000 cash prizes, which will be presented in Brisbane on Tuesday 25 March, at the Queensland Music Awards.

The awards feature four annual legacy honours, presented by QMusic and proudly supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland, celebrating the contributions of legendary music and cultural icons: Billy Thorpe, Carol Lloyd, Dennis ‘Mop’ Conlon, and Grant McLennan.

This year’s finalists feature a dynamic mix of Queensland’s rising stars and acclaimed names, like 18-year-old indie-pop powerhouse ixaras, hip-hop standout Miles Nautu, genre-blending songstress CLOE TERARE, Butchulla Songman Fred Leone and soundscape architect Sampology.

Minister for the Arts John-Paul Langbroek said supporting the promising careers of Queensland’s home-grown music artists is crucial to developing and sustaining a thriving live music sector.

“The Crisafulli Government is proud to invest in these scholarships, which champion the work of emerging and established contemporary music artists, while honouring the legacy of four Queensland music icons,” Minister Langbroek said.

“This year’s outstanding finalists are each contributing to a vibrant arts and cultural scene across the state, as they bring their own stories to Queensland’s rich contemporary music heritage.”

Previous scholarship winners include Sam Hales (The Jungle Giants), Ayla, Danny Harley (The Kite String Tangle) , Dean Brady, Beckah Amani, Greta Stanley, Hope D, Sahara Beck, Moreton, and Jeremy Neale.