Musicians gear up for District Contests

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Musicians gear up for District Contests

For immediate release / 26 May 2005 / 351 words

Music students across the country are preparing to battle it out at the District Contests of the New Zealand Community Trust Chamber Music Contest, held in fourteen centres in June.

The adjudicators for this year’s contest are some of the country’s best musicians, many of whom began their musical careers as participants in the contest. Adjudicating this year’s District Contests are conductor and composer Kenneth Young, clarinettist Gretchen Dunsmore, trumpet player Iaan Wilson, pianist Catherine McKay and trumpet player Sarah Wilson.

This year the contest received a record number of entries, with 562 groups entering nationwide. Because of the high entry numbers, Kenneth Young, Gretchen Dunsmore and Iaan Wilson will be each assigned to a region, splitting the country into thirds. Catherine McKay and Sarah Wilson will co-adjudicate with the regional adjudicators where 80 groups or more are entered.

Members of the winning group at each District Contest will receive the Chamber Music New Zealand prize of $100 each. An adjudicator’s award may be made to a group, other than the winning one, that the adjudicator considers worthy of special mention.

The contest is also a platform for New Zealand’s up and coming composers. The contest’s Original Composition section allows youngsters to put their music writing skills into practice, with up and coming composers encouraged to enter an original work suitable for a chamber music ensemble.

The winner of the Original Composition section will receive the SOUNZ prize of $500 and have their piece performed at the National Final alongside the competing groups.

The 19 entries in the Original Composition section will also be performed at the District Contests and will be judged by New Zealand composer Eve de Castro Robinson.

“It's intriguing to see anonymous scores, knowing they're from all over the country, and may be by male or female, beginner or advanced school age composers. I have to approach each one fresh and completely objectively”, says Eve. “The standard of presentation is extremely high. As a composer who still produces handwritten scores I feel even more in a minority!”

At the conclusion of the District Contests, the adjudicators will meet to select up to eight groups nationwide to compete in the National Final to be held in the Auckland Town Hall on Saturday 6 August.

All of the District Contest sessions are open to members of the public and discounts to attend multiple sessions are available.

In presenting the New Zealand Community Trust Chamber Music Contest, Chamber Music New Zealand acknowledges funding from the New Zealand Community Trust and Creative New Zealand.

ENDS

NEW ZEALAND COMMUNITY TRUST CHAMBER MUSIC CONTEST:
DISTRICT CONTEST SESSIONS

The District Contests run from early June. Eight groups will then be selected from all entries nationwide, to compete at the National Final will be held at the Auckland Town Hall on August 6, 2005.

WHANGAREI
St Johns Church Centre, Kamo Rd, Whangarei
Tuesday 7 June: 2.00pm, 4.00pm & 7.00pm

AUCKLAND
The Beattie Centre, Dilworth School, Erin Street, Epsom, Auckland
Thursday 9 June: 5pm – 9pm
Friday 10 June: 5pm – 9pm
Saturday 11 June: 9.30am – 9pm
Sunday 12 June: 10am – 1pm
Auckland District Final: Sunday 12 June, Concert Chamber, Auckland Town Hall: 7pm

HAMILTON
The WEL Academy of Performing Arts, Waikato University
Tuesday 14 June: 2pm & 6.30pm

TAURANGA
Otumoetai College Hall
Wednesday 15 June: 9.30am & 1.30pm

GISBORNE
War Memorial Theatre, Bright St, Gisborne
Friday 17 June: 5.30pm

HAWKES BAY
Century Theatre, Napier
Friday 10 June: 1.30pm, 4.30pm, 7.30pm
Saturday 11 June: 9.30am, 1pm, 4.30pm
Hawkes Bay District Final: Sunday 12 June, 6pm

MANAWATU
The Speirs Centre, Palmerston North Boys' High School
Wednesday 8 June: 3.00pm, 5.00pm & 7.00pm

WANGANUI
Prince Edward Auditorium, Wanganui Collegiate School, Grey St
Tuesday 15 June: 2.30pm & 6.30pm

WELLINGTON
Adam Concert Room, Victoria University School of Music
Saturday 18 June: 10.00am, 1.30pm
Sunday 19 June: 10.00am

NELSON
Nelson School of Music
Wednesday 14 June: 6.30pm

CHRISTCHURCH
The Chapel, Music Centre of Christchurch, 140 Barbadoes St
Thursday 16 June: 7pm
Friday 17 June: 9am, 1pm & 7pm
Saturday 18 June: 1pm & 7pm
Christchurch District Final: Sunday 19 June: 7.30pm

TIMARU
Roncalli College Hall
Tuesday 15 June: 4pm & 7.30pm

DUNEDIN
Marama Hall, University of Otago
Friday 10 June: 5.30pm
Saturday 11 June: 9am, 11.30am, 2.30pm, 5pm
Sunday 12 June: 9.30am, 12pm
Dunedin District Final: Sunday 12 June: 6.30pm

SOUTHLAND
First Church, Tay Street, Invercargill
Wednesday 8 June: 3.30pm, 7pm
NEW ZEALAND COMMUNITY TRUST CHAMBER MUSIC CONTEST
About the contest

The New Zealand Community Trust Chamber Music Contest is the longest running youth music competition in New Zealand and is the only national chamber music competition for young musicians and composers in the country.

The contest celebrated its 40th birthday this year with a soirée at Government House in Wellington in May.

A record number of groups entered this year’s New Zealand Community Trust Chamber Music Contest 2005. The 2005 contest attracted entries from Whangarei to Southland with a total of 562 entries comprising 2115 students received nationwide.

The New Zealand Community Trust Chamber Music Contest is also New Zealand’s only national chamber music competition for young musicians and composers. Nineteen entries have been received for the contest’s Original Composition section this year.

Chamber Music New Zealand Chief Executive Brian Budd says “Every year the contest encourages creativity amongst young people and provides an accessible platform for New Zealand’s young musicians and composers.”

About Chamber Music New Zealand

Chamber Music New Zealand presents local and international chamber music ensembles throughout New Zealand. Its annual Celebrity Season showcases premier international artists, while the Associate Societies programme focuses on New Zealand performers. The New Zealand Community Trust Chamber Music Contest, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, fosters the musical stars of the future.

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