Photo: 2025 NZCT Chamber Music Contest Finals at the Auckland Town Hall, courtesy of CMNZ - Thomas Hamill Photography
Each year, this landmark event brings together thousands of talented secondary school performers and composers from across the country. It is a cornerstone of New Zealand's musical landscape and has a celebrated history of nurturing future stars who have gone on to achieve national and international acclaim.
The historic Auckland Town Hall hosted the 2025 National Final of the Chamber Music Contest, Aotearoa's most prestigious and enduring competition for young musicians.
Eight ensembles—five from Auckland and three from Canterbury—competed in the Contest Final, presenting a program celebrated for its musical variety. Audiences were treated to a wide-ranging selection that included an innovative 80s jazz-fusion piece, an arrangement of Piazzolla’s tango opera, and a classic performance of Smetana’s emotional Piano Trio in G minor.
RNZ Concert’s Music Alive host Clarissa Dunn was the MC for the Contest Final.
The adjudicators for finals were Julia Joyce, Jian Liu, and Ashley Brown.
Judith Clark National First Place Award: Nino Rota Trio – Auckland
- Ella Yihan Zhang, flute – King’s College
- Angel Wen Tao, violin – Diocesan School for Girls
- Iris Youran Guo, piano – ACG Parnell
Photo: Judith Clark National First Place Award: Nino Rota Trio – Ella Yihan Zhang (flute) Angel Wen Tao (violin), and Iris Youran Guo (piano), courtesy of CMNZ - Thomas Hamill Photography
Helen Young National Second Place Award: Vzpomĭnka – Canterbury
- Hayley Jiang, violin – Rangi Ruru Girls’ School
- Elise Tian, cello – Rangi Ruru Girls’ School
- Polly Lee, piano – Rangi Ruru Girls’ School
Photo: Helen Young National Second Place Award: Vzpomĭnka – Hayley Jiang (violin), Elise Tian (cello), Polly Lee (piano), courtesy of CMNZ - Thomas Hamill Photography
Joan Kerr National Third Place Award: The Betwieners – Canterbury
- Keina Rollinson, vibraphone – Rangi Ruru Girls’ School
- Ivy Liu, marimba – Rangi Ruru Girls’ School
- Tiantian Chen, marimba – Rangi Ruru Girls’ School
- Millie Liu, drum kit – Rangi Ruru Girls’ School
Photo: Millie Liu on the drum kit for The Betwieners, Joan Kerr National Third Place Award, courtesy of CMNZ - Thomas Hamill Photography
National KBB Music Award: Los Piazzolanos – Auckland
- Dimitrios Koulianos, trumpet – Saint Peter’s College
- Paul Kassir, trombone – Saint Peter’s College
- Kilian Casey, tuba – Saint Peter’s College
- Keegan Fong, piano – Saint Peter’s College
Photo: Paul Kassir on the trombone for Los Piazzolanos, National KBB Music Award, courtesy of CMNZ - Thomas Hamill Photography
Adjudicators’ Award: Fellas with Cellas – Auckland
- Hyun Jae Lee, cello – Pinehurst School
- Ryan Yeh, cello – Auckland Grammar School
- Jaydon Ma, cello – Kristin School
- Qian Wan, cello – Saint Kentigern College
Photo: Fellas with Cellas, Adjudicators’ Award, courtesy of CMNZ - Thomas Hamill Photography
June Clifford National Finalist Awards
Les Mousquetaires – Auckland
- Liam Zhao, flute – Saint Kentigern College
- Alex Wu, oboe – Saint Peter’s College
- Dennis Liu, clarinet – Saint Peter’s College
- Keegan Fong, piano – Saint Peter’s College
4tissimo – Canterbury
- Janetta Pechybortseva, violin – Burnside High School
- Vivian Gao, violin – Burnside High School
- Fifian Zhao, violin – Burnside High School
- Olina Zeng, violin – Burnside High School
Mérimée Quartet – Auckland
- Lifeng Song, piano – Auckland Grammar School
- Ethan Wang, piano – Auckland Grammar School
- Ryan Yeh, piano – Auckland Grammar School
- Brian Zou, piano – Auckland Grammar School
National Composition Award – ‘Three Hallucinations’ for piano septet by Eddy Sneyd-Utting (Tawa College)
Marie Vanderwart Award – Robert Ibell
National winners of the Best Performance of a New Zealand Work award – Virtuoso Strings Septet
- Dylan Gao – Violin
- Rodi Ngwa – Violin
- Laie Nimarota – Violin
- Teddy Sneyd-Utting – Viola
- Beaumia Lemisio – Viola
- Evelyn Patterson – Double Bass
- Chloe Shi – Piano
Work performed: Craig Utting and Teddy Sneyd-Utting – Septet in 4 movements: 1. Prelude, 2. Jasmine, 3. Carnival, 4. Cascade
Recorded by RNZ Concert, Auckland Town Hall, 2 August 2025
Producer: Emre Ekici
Engineer: Adrian Hollay
