NZCT Chamber Music Contest Finalists Photo: Dianna Thomson Photography, courtesy of CMNZ
Thousands of Kiwi secondary school musicians and composers perform together and enjoy the thrill of making music each year in the largest and longest running chamber music event of its kind.
The Chamber Music Contest is always an exciting event in Aotearoa's annual music calendar. It is the largest and longest running youth chamber music competition in Aotearoa and many of its past participants have gone on to successful musical careers both here and overseas.
The adjudicators for the 2024 National Final are Bridget Douglas, Monique Lapins and Liam Wooding.
RNZ Concert’s Music Alive host Clarissa Dunn was the MC for the Contest Final Friday 2 August at Wellington's Michael Fowler Centre.
NZCT Chamber Music Finals First Place Winners - Shostos
NZCT Chamber Music Contest 1st Place Winners: Shostos (Cantebury) Front: Chloe Jiang, Elise Tian, Polly Lee Behind: Liam Wooding, Bridget Douglas, Monique Lapins Photo: Dianna Thomson Photography, courtesy of CMNZ
First Place was given to the Shostos. The Adjudicators praised their maturity beyond their years, a deep sense of communication, and a sense of tacking the listener on a special journey. 'It was a complete performance in all respects'.
Helen Young Second Place Winners - Virtuoso Strings Octet
NZCT Chamber Music Contest Helen Young National Second Place Award, Virtuoso Strings Octet (Wellington) Xavier Ngaro, violin, Zung Bawm La Htaw, violin, TiaLei Iakopo, violin, Beaumia Lemisio, violin, Teddy Sneyd-Utting, viola, Dylan Gao, viola, Laie Vatuvei, viola, Luke Barlow, piano Photo: Dianna Thomson Photography, courtesy of CMNZ
'This group exuded joy, passion, fun, [and] humour. The performance was incredibly engaging through its physical presence.'
The Helen Young Second Place Award was giving to the Virtuoso Strings Octet from Wellington. They were also awarded the SOUNZ Best Performance of a New Zealand Work.
Joan Kerr National Third Place Winners - Milhaud à Rio
NZCT Chamber Music Contest Joan Kerr National Third Place Award, Milhaud à Rio (Auckland) Keegan Fong, piano, William Lee, clarinet, Alex Wu, oboe, Elisa Wu, flute Photo: Dianna Thomson Photography, courtesy of CMNZ
The Joan Kerr National Third Place Award, and the National KBB Award (for non-strings or piano) were awarded to Milhaud à Rio (Auckland).
Adjudicators praised the outstanding wind players on three very different instruments that blended and balanced beautifully together and had a real musical connection on the stage.
Adjudicators Award Winners - The Thermann Violins
NZCT Chamber Music Contest: National Adjudicators’ Award, The Thermann Triolins (Canterbury) Vivian Gao, violin, Fifian Zhao, violin, Janetta Pechybortseva, violin Photo: Dianna Thomson Photography, courtesy of CMNZ
The Adjudicators decided to give a special 'Adjudicators Award' to The Thermann Violins (Christchurch) who "exuded joy for playing for an audience and playing with each other."
Debussy Trio
Auckland
Claude Debussy | Sonata for Flute, Viola and Harp
Ella Yihan Zhang, flute – Diocesan School for Girls
Angel Wen Tao, viola – Diocesan School for Girls
Jade Elizabeth Lyles, harp – Pinehurst School
Milhaud a Rio
Auckland
Darius Milhaud | Sonata for Clarinet, Oboe, Flute and Piano, mvts I, III & IV
Elisa Wu, flute – St Kentigern College
Alex Wu, oboe – St Peter’s College, Auckland
William Lee, clarinet – Macleans College
Keegan Fong, piano – St Peter’s College
Trio Élégiaque
Auckland
Sergei Rachmaninoff | Trio Élégiaque No. 1 in G minor
Tianai (Amy) Chen, violin – St Kentigern College
Hyun Jae Lee, cello – Pinehurst School
Ho Tian Peter Hu, piano – St Kentigern College
The Hillbillies
Wellington
Maurice Ravel | String Quartet in F major, mvts I & IV
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 Thermann Triolins
Canterbury
Friedrich Hermann | Suite for Three Violins Op. 17, mvts IV & V
Janetta Pechybortseva, violin – Burnside High School
Vivian Gao, violin - Burnside High School
Fifian Zhao, violin – Burnside High School
Shostos
Canterbury
Dmitri Shostakovich | Piano Trio No. 1 in C minor Op. 8
Chloe Jiang, violin – Rangi Ruru Girls’ School
Elise Tian, cello – Rangi Ruru Girls’ School
Polly Lee, piano – Rangi Ruru Girls’ School
Chiron Junior
Auckland
Friedrich Kuhlau | Trio in E minor for Three Flutes Op. 86
Ella Yihan Zhang, flute – Diocesan School for Girls
Ryan Chen, flute – St Kentigern College
Renia Shang, flute – ACG Parnell
Virtuoso Strings Octet
Wellington
Craig Utting (NZ) | Four Scenes for Octet mvt. I 'Frankie in the Garden', mvt. II 'Elegy for Elaine, mvt. III 'Romance with Elizabeth', mvt. IV 'Duel among friends'
Xavier Ngaro, violin – St Bernard’s College
Zung Bawm La Htaw, violin – Aotea College
TiaLei Iakopo, violin - St Mary’s College, Wellington
Beaumia Lemisio, violin – Whitby Collegiate
Teddy Sneyd-Utting, viola – Tawa College
Dylan Gao, viola – Scot’s College
Laie Vatuvei, viola – Whitby College
Luke Barlow, piano – Hutt Valley High School
2024 Original Composition Winner
Sea-am Thompson (St Andrew’s College), Piano Trio No. 2
Written for violin, cello and piano
Lucas Baker, violin
Benjamin Sneyd-Utting, cello
Otis Prescott-Mason, piano
