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Presented by QMusic, the QMAs are one of Queensland’s most significant music industry events, celebrating excellence across contemporary music genres and recognising outstanding achievements from artists and industry professionals across the state.
Judged by more than 100 industry experts, the awards continue to play an important role in supporting and elevating Queensland’s music community.
Representing SAE on the ground were Bre Ramsay-Orr, Gene Castillo and Andy Vollmer, alongside six SAE students who participated in placement opportunities throughout the event.
Real-World Industry Experience for SAE Students
As part of SAE’s ongoing commitment to industry engagement and career-ready learning, six students completed placement opportunities at the QMAs, gaining valuable behind-the-scenes experience at a major live music industry event.
Students were exposed to professional event workflows, live production environments and networking opportunities with artists, producers and industry representatives from across Queensland’s music sector. Experiences like these provide our students with valuable, practical insight into the realities of the industry while also helping to build professional confidence and connections.
The placements form part of SAE Marketing’s 12-month partnership with QMusic, which supports student engagement across a range of key industry initiatives and events, including:
- Queensland Music Awards
- Friends of Parliament
- Industry Connect Regional Program
- BIGSOUND
- And additional networking and professional development opportunities throughout the year.
SAE Faculty and Alumni Recognised
SAE faculty and alumni were also recognised at the highest level during the evening, highlighting the impact of SAE’s creative community within the broader music industry.
Emily Hopley took home the award for the Heavy category with Upsetter, while Mitch Pattugalan was recognised as producer for BADASSMUTHA, winners of the Soul/Funk/R&B category.
Adding to the celebrations, SAE alum Sunny Luwe delivered a live performance on the night, representing graduate success within a major industry setting and showcasing the calibre of talent emerging from the SAE community.
SAE proudly congratulates all winners, finalists and participants involved in this year’s Queensland Music Awards. We look forward to continuing our partnership with QMusic in supporting the future of Queensland’s music industry.
For the full list of winners, visit the official QMusic page: https://www.qmusic.com.au/qma/2026-winners
