20 Aug 2024

NZCT Chamber Music Contest 2024

From Music Alive, 8:00 pm on 20 August 2024
NZCT Chamber Music Contest June Clifford Award winners

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