Great Start Fellowship - 2026

The promoter is: Yamaha Music Australia Pty Ltd (YMA), whose registered office is at 80 Market St, South Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

There is no entry fee and no purchase necessary to apply for this Fellowship.

YMA accepts no responsibility for applications not received for any reason.

The promoter reserves the right to cancel, amend or suspend the Fellowship and/or these terms and conditions at any time and without notice in the event of unforeseen circumstances, including but not limited to natural disasters, civil disturbances, changes in law, war, civil or military disturbance, act of God, or any actual or anticipated breach of any applicable law or regulation, any other event outside of YMA’s control, or for any reason.

YMA is not responsible for inaccurate details supplied by any third party connected with this Fellowship.

No cash alternative is available. The Fellowship components are non-transferable and may not be exchanged for cash or other benefits. YMA reserves the right to substitute any Fellowship component with another of equal value if required, and without notice.

By entering an application for this Fellowship, an entrant indicates his/her agreement to be bound by these terms and conditions.

The Fellowship and these terms and conditions are governed by Australian law, and any disputes will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of Australia's courts.

Submitting an application will be deemed as acceptance of these terms and conditions.

This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook, Twitter, or any other social media platform. Applicants provide information to Yamaha Music Australia and their Selection Panel and not to any other party. The information provided will be used in conjunction with the Privacy Policy found at au.yamaha.com.

Application process:

• Applications must be received between January 27, 2026, and April 13, 2026
• Applications must be submitted via au.yamaha.com/en/support/greatstart/fellowship.
• Recipients will be notified by May 30, 2026.

Applicants must make themselves available for an interview between April 15, 2026, and May 30, 2026, if requested and identified as a finalist. Failure to attend may result in ineligibility.

Eligibility

• Applicants must be Australian residents
• Applicants must be early-career music educators working in primary or secondary education (full-time, part-time or on a casual/contract/peripatetic basis)
• Applicants must hold a valid Working With Children Check or equivalent
• Applicants must demonstrate active involvement in instrumental music education (eg, band/ensemble direction, instrumental teaching, etc).
• Applicants must be 18 years or older.

3 successful applicants will be chosen by YMA according to the Selection Panel selection criteria. The applicants will be eligible to receive:

• 12 months of mentoring from Yamaha-affiliated educators/clinicians
• 3-year ABODA membership
• Trip to the Midwest Clinic in December 2026

Travel Inclusions
The following costs will be covered by Yamaha Music Australia as part of the Fellowship

• Return economy airfare from the Fellow’s nearest Australian capital city to Chicago, USA
• Minimum 5 nights accommodation in Chicago, including hotel taxes and booking fees
• Midwest Clinic registration (full attendee pass)
• Hotel transfers within the USA as arranged by YMA (eg. Airport to hotel)

Travel Exclusions
The following costs are not included and are the responsibility of the Fellowship recipient:

• Transport to and from the nearest Australian capital city airport
• Additional baggage fees beyond standard airline baggage allowance
• Optional or incidental hotel charges, such as:
  • room service
  • mini bar
  • laundry
  • paid internet upgrades
• Passport and visa processing fees, including any costs related to visa, entry, vaccination, or health requirements for international travel
• Meals, sightseeing, and personal leisure activities not explicitly included in the official Fellowship itinerary
• Travel insurance, which the Fellow is strongly encouraged to obtain

Travel Requirements:

• Fellowship recipients must hold a valid passport with sufficient validity for international travel.
• Recipients are responsible for meeting any visa, entry, vaccination, or health requirements for travel.
• YMA reserves the right to amend travel plans if unforeseen circumstances arise

Representation & Conduct:

• Recipients acknowledge that they may be seen as representatives of Yamaha Music Australia during related activities.
• YMA reserves the right to withdraw Fellowship participation if a recipient engages in behaviour deemed inappropriate, unsafe, or harmful to YMA’s reputation.

Accuracy of information:

• Providing false, misleading, or incomplete information may result in disqualification or revocation of the Fellowship.

If a Fellowship recipient’s employment, eligibility, or personal circumstances change significantly before or during the Fellowship period, YMA reserves the right to review or revoke the Fellowship

Selection Process:

• Recipients will be selected by a panel appointed by YMA
• Decisions are final and no correspondence will be entered into about the decisions

Marketing & Media

• Fellowship recipients may be required to participate in interviews, photography, or video recordings for promotional use across YMA channels (including digital, print, and social media).
• By accepting the Fellowship, recipients grant YMA permission to use their name and likeness in reasonable promotional activities.
• The recipient school will allow YMA to use their name as Grant's recipient in promotion, such as (including but not limited to) print, digital, and video marketing.