ARIA Award for Best Classical Album
The ARIA Music Award for Best Classical Album, is an award presented within the Fine Arts Awards at the annual ARIA Music Awards. The ARIA Awards recognise "the many achievements of Aussie artists across all music genres", and have been given by the Australian Recording Industry Association since 1987.
Classical albums by Australian solo artists and groups are eligible, as well as Australian featured artists or soloists involved with non-Australian ensembles or orchestras. It is judged by a specialist judging school of between 40 and 100 representatives experienced with classical music.
The Australian Brandenburg Orchestra has received the award five times. The Australian Chamber Orchestra has been a three-time winner, with the ACO’s Richard Tognetti receiving a further two awards for his solo violin recordings.
Winners and nominees
In the following table, the winner is highlighted in a separate colour, and in boldface; the nominees are those that are not highlighted or in boldface. Nominees from 1988 are not available in published sources.| Year | Winner | Album title |
| 1987 | - | - |
| 1987 | Barry Conyngham | Southern Cross Ice Carving |
| 1987 | Australian Chamber Orchestra | Mozart In Delphi |
| 1987 | Grant Foster | Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra |
| 1987 | Robert Allworth | Last Look at Bronte |
| 1987 | Sydney University Chamber Choir | The Victoria Requiem |
| 1988 | Australian Opera | Voss |
| 1989 | - | - |
| 1989 | Flederman | Flederman |
| 1989 | George Dreyfus | Rush - The Adventures of Sebastian the Fox and Other Goodies |
| 1989 | Jennifer McGregor | The Jennifer McGregor Album |
| 1989 | Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Australian Youth Orchestra, Joan Carden, John Howard | Australia Day / Child of Australia |
| 1989 | Various Artists | Tropic of Capricorn |
| 1990 | - | - |
| 1990 | Tasmanian Symphony Chamber Players | Vivaldi: The Four Seasons |
| 1990 | Australian Youth Orchestra | Works of Koehne, Stravinsky, Messiaen, Ravel |
| 1990 | Geoffrey Collins & David Miller | Flute Australia Volume 2 |
| 1990 | Jane Rutter | Nocturnes & Preludes for Flutes |
| 1990 | Various Artists | Landscapes |
| 1991 | - | - |
| 1991 | Stuart Challender, Sydney Symphony Orchestra | Sculthorpe: Orchestral Works |
| 1991 | David Helfgott | David Helgott |
| 1991 | Geoffrey Simon, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra | Percy Grainger: Orchestral Works |
| 1991 | Hartley Newnham & Nicholas Routley | Hermit of Green Light |
| 1991 | The Choir of Christ Church St Laurence | Victoria: Missa Surge Propera |
| 1992 | - | - |
| 1992 | Stuart Challender, Sydney Symphony Orchestra | Vine: 3 Symphonies |
| 1992 | Australian Ensemble | Cafe Concertino |
| 1992 | The Australian Opera | Mozart Arias & Scenes |
| 1992 | Geoffrey Lancaster | Fortepiano |
| 1992 | Roger Woodward | Prokofiev Piano Works |
| 1993 | - | - |
| 1993 | Australian Chamber Orchestra & Richard Tognetti | Janáček: Kreutzer Sonata for Strings, Barber: Adagio for Strings, Walton: Sonata for Strings |
| 1993 | The Brandenburg Orchestra | The Brandenburg Orchestra |
| 1993 | West Australian Symphony Orchestra | The Transposed Heads |
| 1993 | Geoffrey Lancaster | Mozart Sonatas for Fortepiano |
| 1993 | Roger Woodward | The Music of Frédéric Chopin |
| 1994 | - | - |
| 1994 | Dene Olding, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Challender, Porcelijn | Ross Edwards Orchestral Works |
| 1994 | Australian Chamber Orchestra & Richard Tognetti | Mendelssohn: Octet in E Flat for Strings Op. 20 Sinfonia No. 9 in C. Swiss |
| 1994 | Australian Chamber Orchestra & Richard Tognetti | Symphony Serenades and Suites |
| 1994 | Nigel Butterley | John Cage |
| 1994 | Dene Olding, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Iwaki | Violin Concertos |
| 1995 | - | - |
| 1995 | Yvonne Kenny, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Vladimir Kamirski | Simple Gifts |
| 1995 | Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, David Porcelijn, János Fürst | Powerhouse Three Poems of Byron – Capriccio Nocturnes Unchained Melody |
| 1995 | Duncan Gifford | Debussy Preludes Books I & II |
| 1995 | Slava Grigoryan | Spirit of Spain |
| 1995 | Graham Pushee, Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, Paul Dyer | Handel: Opera Arias |
| 1996 | - | - |
| 1996 | Australian Chamber Orchestra | Peter Sculthorpe: Music for Strings |
| 1996 | Australian Chamber Orchestra | Spirit |
| 1996 | Australian Ensemble | Shostakovich |
| 1996 | Macquarie Trio | Beethoven Piano Trios |
| 1996 | Marshall McGuire | Awakening |
| 1997 | - | - |
| 1997 | Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, David Porcelijn | Peter Sculthorpe: Sun Music |
| 1997 | Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, David Porcelijn | Peter Sculthorpe: The Fifth Continent |
| 1997 | Tamara Anna Cislowska | The Enchanted Isle |
| 1997 | Renaissance Players | Mirror of Light |
| 1997 | Australian Chamber Orchestra | Il Tramonto - The Sunset |
| 1998 | - | - |
| 1998 | Yvonne Kenny, Paul Dyer, Australian Brandenburg Orchestra | Handel: Arias |
| 1998 | Tamara Anna Cislowska | The Persian Hours |
| 1998 | Slava Grigoryan | Dance of the Angels |
| 1998 | Karin Schaupp | Leyenda |
| 1998 | Sydney Alpha Ensemble | Elena Kats-Chernin: Clocks |
| 1999 | - | - |
| 1999 | Gerard Willems | Piano: Beethoven Sonatas Volume 1 |
| 1999 | Sara Macliver, Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, Paul Dyer | If Love's a Sweet Passion |
| 1999 | Tamara Anna Cislowska | Piano: The Russian Album |
| 1999 | Paul Dean, Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Richard Mills | Ariel's Music |
| 1999 | Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Vernon Handley | The Eternal Rhythm |
| 2000 | - | - |
| 2000 | Gerard Willems | Beethoven: Complete Piano Sonatas |
| 2000 | Rosamund Illing, Richard Bonynge, Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra | Amoureuse: Sacred and Profane Arias |
| 2000 | Michael Kieran Harvey | Messiaen: Twenty Contemplations of the Infant Jesus |
| 2000 | Simon Tedeschi | Simon Tedeschi |
| 2000 | Richard Tognetti, Australian Chamber Orchestra | Beethoven Violin Concerto & Mozart Symphony No. 40 |
| 2001 | - | - |
| 2001 | Genevieve Lacey, Brandenburg Orchestra, Paul Dyer | Vivaldi - Ii Flauto Dolce |
| 2001 | Macquarie Trio | Schubert: Complete Piano Trios |
| 2001 | Shu Cheen Yu | Lotus Moon |
| 2001 | Stephanie McCallum | Perfume |
| 2001 | Woof! | Tuneful Percussion |
| 2002 | - | - |
| 2002 | Slava Grigoryan | Sonatas & Fantasies |
| 2002 | David Hobson | Handel: Arias |
| 2002 | Genevieve Lacey, Linda Kent | Piracy |
| 2002 | Geoffrey Lancaster | Haydn: Keyboard Sonatas Volume 1 |
| 2002 | Yvonne Kenny, Adelaide Symphony Orchestra | Gorecki: Symphony No. 3 |
| 2003 | - | - |
| 2003 | Saffire | Saffire - The Australian Guitar Quartet |
| 2003 | Marshall McGuire | The 20th Century Harp |
| 2003 | Slava Grigoryan, Leonard Grigoryan | Play |
| 2003 | Teddy Tahu Rhodes | Mozart Arias |
| 2003 | Yvonne Kenny | Make Believe |
| 2004 | - | - |
| 2004 | Teddy Tahu Rhodes | The Voice |
| 2004 | Diana Doherty | Souvenirs |
| 2004 | Sara Macliver, Sally-Anne Russell | Bach Arias and Duets |
| 2004 | William Barton, The Queensland Orchestra | Sculthorpe: Songs of Sea and Sky |
| 2004 | Gerard Willems, Sinfonia Australis | Beethoven Complete Piano Concertos |
| 2005 | - | - |
| 2005 | Australian Brandenburg Orchestra | Sanctuary |
| 2005 | Elena Kats-Chernin | Wild Swans |
| 2005 | Michael Kieran Harvey | Rabid Bay |
| 2005 | Sara Macliver & Sally-Anne Russell | Baroque Duets |
| 2005 | Slava Grigoryan | Afterimage |
| 2006 | - | - |
| 2006 | Richard Tognetti | Bach Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin |
| 2006 | Amelia Farrugia | Joie De Vivre |
| 2006 | Niki Vasilakis, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, Sebastian Lang-Lessing | Mendelssohn, Bruch, Ravel |
| 2006 | Simon Tedeschi, The Queensland Orchestra, Richard Bonynge | Piano Concertos: Tchaikovsky, Grieg |
| 2006 | Slava Grigoryan, Leonard Grigoryan, The Queensland Orchestra, Brett Kelly | Rodrigo Guitar Concertos |
| 2007 | - | - |
| 2007 | Richard Tognetti, Australian Chamber Orchestra | Bach Violin Concertos |
| 2007 | Accademia Arcadia | Trio Sonatas |
| 2007 | Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, Arvo Volmer | Sculthorpe Requiem and Orchestral Works |
| 2007 | Michael Kieran Harvey | Carl Vine Piano Music 1990-2006 |
| 2007 | Slava Grigoryan, Leonard Grigoryan | Impressions |
| 2007 | State Opera of South Australia, Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, Asher Fisch | Wagner: Das Rheingold |
| 2008 | - | - |
| 2008 | Richard Tognetti, Neal Peres Da Costa, Daniel Yeadon | Bach Sonatas for Violin & Keyboard |
| 2008 | Brett Dean, Sydney Symphony | Brett Dean |
| 2008 | Elena Kats-Chernin | Slow Food |
| 2008 | Roger Woodward | Johann Sebastian Bach: Chromatic Fantasia & Fugue, Partita no. 2 & Partita no. 6 |
| 2008 | Slava Grigoryan, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, Benjamin Northey | Baroque Guitar Concertos |
| 2009 | - | - |
| 2009 | Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, Paul Dyer | Handel: Concerti Grossi Opus 6 |
| 2009 | Australian Chamber Orchestra | Classical Destinations II |
| 2009 | Emma Matthews | Emma Matthews in Monte Carlo |
| 2009 | Slava & Leonard Grigoryan | Distance |
| 2009 | Teddy Tahu Rhodes, David Hobson | You'll Never Walk Alone |
| 2009 | Goldner String Quartet | Beethoven: The Complete String Quartets |
| 2010 | - | - |
| 2010 | Australian Brandenburg Orchestra & Paul Dyer | Tapas - Tastes of the Baroque |
| 2010 | Aleksandr Tsiboulski | Australian Guitar Music |
| 2010 | Li-Wei Qin | Beethoven Cello Sonatas |
| 2010 | David Hobson | Enchanted Way |
| 2010 | Geoffrey Lancaster | Haydn: Complete Keyboard Sonatas, Vol. 1 |
| 2010 | Richard Tognetti, Christopher Moore & Australian Chamber Orchestra | Mozart Violin Concertos |
| 2010 | Teddy Tahu Rhodes | Bach Arias |
| 2011 | - | - |
| 2011 | Sally Whitwell | Mad Rush: Piano Music of Philip Glass |
| 2011 | Karin Schaupp & Flinders Quartet | Fandango |
| 2011 | Latitude 37 | Latitude 37 |
| 2011 | Richard Tognetti, Australian Chamber Orchestra | Mozart Violin Concertos Vol 2 |
| 2011 | Teddy Tahu Rhodes | Serious Songs |
| 2012 | - | - |
| 2012 | William Barton | Kalkadungu |
| 2012 | Jose Carbo with Slava and Leonard Grigoryan | My Latin Heart |
| 2012 | Orchestra of the Antipodes | Bach: Brandenburg Concertos |
| 2012 | Sally Whitwell | The Good, the Bad and the Awkward |
| 2012 | Sydney Symphony, Vladimir Ashkenazy | Elgar: The Dream of Gerontius |
| 2013 | - | - |
| 2013 | Sally Whitwell | All Imperfect Things: Solo Piano Music of Michael Nyman |
| 2013 | Amy Dickson, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra | Catch Me If You Can |
| 2013 | David Hansen | Rivals: Arias for Farinelli & Co. |
| 2013 | Jane Sheldon | North + South |
| 2013 | Nigel Westlake, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra | Missa Solis: Requiem for Eli |
| 2014 | - | - |
| 2014 | Nigel Westlake, Lior and Sydney Symphony Orchestra | Compassion |
| 2014 | Australian World Orchestra, Zubin Mehta | Stravinsky Rite of Spring / Mahler Symphony No. 1 |
| 2014 | Emma Matthews, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, Marko Letonja | Mozart Arias |
| 2014 | Joe Chindamo & Zoë Black | Dido's Lament |
| 2014 | Latitude 37 | Empires |
| 2014 | Andrew Macleod, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Benjamin Northey, Markus Stenz | Ades Polaris / Stanhope Piccolo Concerto |
| 2014 | Topology | Share House |
| 2015 | - | - |
| 2015 | Tamara-Anna Cislowska | Peter Sculthorpe: Complete Works for Solo Piano |
| 2015 | Amy Dickson | Island Songs |
| 2015 | Australian Brandenburg Orchestra | Brandenburg Celebrates |
| 2015 | Grigoryan Brothers | This Time |
| 2015 | Sally Whitwell | I Was Flying |
| 2016 | - | - |
| 2016 | Flight Facilities | Live with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra |
| 2016 | Joe Chindamo & Zoë Black | The New Goldberg Variations |
| 2016 | Katie Noonan & Brodsky Quartet | With Love and Fury |
| 2016 | Nicole Car | This Kiss |
| 2016 | Richard Tognetti & Australian Chamber Orchestra | Mozart's Last Symphonies |
| 2017 | - | - |
| 2017 | Slava Grigoryan | Bach: Cello Suites Volume I |
| 2017 | Grigoryan Brothers | Songs Without Words |
| 2017 | Jayson Gillham, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra & Benjamin Northey | Medtner: Piano Concerto No 1 / Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No 2 |
| 2017 | Kate Miller-Heidke & Sydney Symphony Orchestra | Live at the Sydney Opera House |
| 2017 | Tamara-Anna Cislowska | Elena Kats-Chernin: Unsent Love Letters - Meditations on Erik Satie |
| 2018 | - | - |
| 2018 | Slava Grigoryan | Bach: Cello Suites Volume II |
| 2018 | Greta Bradman, Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, Adelaide Chamber Singers & Luke Dollman | Home |
| 2018 | Ray Chen | The Golden Age |
| 2018 | Sally Whitwell | Philip Glass: Complete Etudes for Solo Piano |
| 2018 | Tamara Anna Cislowska, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra & Johannes Fritzsch | Into Silence: Part|Vasks|Gorecki|Pelecis |
| 2019 | - | - |
| 2019 | Paul Kelly, James Ledger | Thirteen Ways to Look at Birds |
| 2019 | Diana Doherty, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Nigel Westlake, David Robertson, Synergy Vocals | Nigel Westlake: Spirit of the Wild / Steve Reich: The Desert Music |
| 2019 | Genevieve Lacey | Soliloquy: Telemann Solo Fantasias |
| 2019 | Grigoryan Brothers, Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, Benjamin Northey | Bach Concertos |
| 2019 | Nicole Car, Australian Chamber Orchestra, Richard Tognetti | Heroines |