APRA have announced five recipients of the 2024 Professional Development Award. They are Diaz Grimm, Gussie Larkin (Mermaidens, Earth Tongue), Paloma Schneideman (PollyHill), Garling Wu, and James Mac (Beachware).

Each PDA recipient receives a $10,000 contribution towards the next step of their career enhancement. 

Cameron Clarke aka Diaz Grimm (Ngāwhā, Ngāpuhi) plans to use the prize to upskill his lyricism, rhyming, performance, freestyling, cultural knowledge, and voice control. 

Garling Wu, a composer and sonic artist, plans research by attending three contemporary festivals over the next year, taking part in workshops, master classes and conferences.

Currently a Silver Scroll Award finalist Gussie Larkin intends to use her award for professional mentoring sessions, production upskilling and songwriting sessions locally and internationally.

Seasoned session musician and musical director James McDonald will be using his award to attend the Electronic Creatives MasterTrack course in Los Angeles.

Paloma Schneideman will attend the School of Synthesis in Melbourne for a six-week training course in the specific field of live engineering, and also intends to shadow an established composer for film and television.