Adele Schonhardt OAM - 2026 UNSW Alumni Award Winner for Art & Culture

"When you think about what you did during the pandemic, during those dark years where you were stuck at home, you turned to music."

Meet the winner of the 2026 UNSW Alumni Award for Art & Culture, Adele Schonhardt OAM.

Adele Schonhardt OAM is an arts executive with experience across Australia, Germany and the United States. A Melbourne Conservatorium of Music graduate, she holds an Executive MBA from AGSM, UNSW. Adele is Executive Director of Melbourne Chamber Orchestra, following leadership roles with Musica Viva Australia, Germany’s classical music sector and the League of American Orchestras in New York.

In 2020, she co-founded the Australian Digital Concert Hall, which streamed more than 1,000 performances and generated over $4 million for artists and arts organisations. A recipient of multiple awards, Adele was awarded the OAM for service to the arts in 2024.


Experience Adele's story here: https://www.unsw.edu.au/alumni/our-impact/alumni-awards

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