The New Zealand Community Trust Chamber Music Contest, organised by Chamber Music New Zealand, is always an exciting event in Aotearoa's annual music calendar.
The NZCT Chamber Music Contest is the longest running youth music competition in the country. And many of its past participants have gone on to successful musical careers both here and overseas.
Ensembles put together from secondary schools all over New Zealand competed in the regionals. And from those, eight talented ensembles were selected to compete in this year’s National Finals, held at the Piano in Christchurch on 5 August.
Hear the full concert on RNZ Concert on 22 August at 8pm, in Music Alive. Or listen to the separate performances below.
Participants in the NZCT Chamber Music Contest 2023. Photo: Jeffery Wen
Since its inception in 1965, the Contest has provided a platform for thousands of New Zealand secondary school students to perform. For many young musicians this is their first experience of chamber ensemble performance.
This year the National Finals were adjudicated by Jonathan Cohen, Alistair Fraser, and Somi Kim.
Congratulations to all prize winners and finalists.
Judith Clark National FIRST Place Award
Babadjanian Trio, from Auckland
Archie Lamont-Bowden (violin), St Peter’s College
Eva Wu (cello), Crimson Global Academy
Charles Sang (piano), St Kentigern College
Babadjanian Trio. Photo: Jeffery Wen
Helen Young National SECOND Place Award
National KBB Music Award
St Peter's@Baradene Quatuor, from Auckland
Alina Chen (flute), Baradene College of the Sacred Heart
Alex Wu (oboe), St Peter’s College
Daehan Hwang (clarinet), St Peter’s College
Luke Davenport (bassoon), St Peter’s College
St Peter's@Baradene Quatuor. Photo: Jeffery Wen
Joan Kerr National THIRD Place Award
Czerny’s Attorneys, from Wellington
Rebekah Lin (piano), St Mary’s College Wellington
Joyce Chan (piano), Samuel Marsden Collegiate School
Francesca Rotolo (piano), Wellington High School
Czerny’s Attorneys Photo: Jeffrey Wen
National Award for the Best Performance of a New Zealand Work
Adjudicator's Award
Virtuoso Strings Quintet, from Wellington
Rochelle Pese (violin), Tawa College
Zung Bawm La Htaw (violin), Aotea College
Jillian Tupuse (viola), Tawa College
Edward Sneyd-Utting (viola), Tawa College
Veititi Alapati (cello), Tawa College
Virtuoso Strings with adjudicators Alistair Fraser, Jonathan Cohen and Somi Kim. Photo: Jeffery Wen
Original Composition overall winner
YuYang Ding – Westlake Boys' High School, Auckland.
This prize-winning composition by YuYang Ding was performed by Mark Menzies (violin), Thomas Hurnik (cello) and Yifan Yang (piano).
YuYang Ding with Chamber Music NZ CEO Rose Campbell. Photo: Jeffrey Wen
The remaining finalists were:
Greek Yoghurt, from Manawatū:
Hae Won Kim (violin), Palmerston North Girls’ High School
Isabella Li (cello), Palmerston North Girls’ High School
Angela Fang (piano), Palmerston North Girls’ High School
The Hillbillies, from Wellington:
Xavier Ngaro (violin), St Bernard’s College
Catherine Harrison (violin), Home Educated
Ryo Sribunwongsa (viola), St Patrick’s College Silverstream
Gemma Maurice (cello), Wellington Girls’ College
The Steel Rosettes, from Nelson/Marlborough:
Adam Teece (guitar), Waimea College
Oscar Perrott (guitar), Waimea College
Pyper Smith (guitar), Waimea College
Olly Busch (guitar), Waimea College
Viardot Quartet, from Canterbury:
Ella Chen (violin), Rangi Ruru Girls’ School
Juliet Park (viola), Rangi Ruru Girls’ School
Elise Tian (cello), Rangi Ruru Girls’ School
Polly Lee (piano), Rangi Ruru Girls’ School
Recorded 5 August 2023, The Piano, Christchurch by RNZ Concert
Producer/Engineer: Darryl Stack
Technical Assistant: Alex Harmer
