Music contest announces National Finalists

MEDIA RELEASE: Music contest announces National Finalists
For immediate release / 21 June 2005 / 362 words

Eight groups have been selected to compete in the National Final of the 2005 New Zealand Community Trust Chamber Music Contest. The groups are from Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.

They are Arnó (Kings College & Northcote College), Sur Le Pont (St Cuthbert's College), Czechpoint (Auckland Grammar School, Kings College & St Cuthbert's College), 4 Strauss (Westlake Girls High School) and Steinway and Strings (Rangitoto College and Westlake Girls' High School), from Auckland; Melodikus (Queen Margaret College, Rathkeale College, Wellington Girls' College) from Wellington and Over Time Trio (Christ's College) and Scena Mere (Burnside High School) from Christchurch.

National Organiser Megan Mannering met with the adjudicators yesterday to facilitate the selection of the finalists. The five District Contest adjudicators discuss the potential groups in detail and the final decision is very considered.

The National Finalists are in to win prizes and musical accolades. Each member of the winning group will receive the Arthur Hilton Memorial prize of $400 each, plus a relevant musical text valued at $100. (Arthur Hilton is a former president of CMNZ who started the contest in 1965.)

The winner of the Original Composition section was Wellington student Karlo Margetic. This is the second year in a row that Karlo has won the prize.

Karlo was advised of his win last night (Sunday 19 June) by National Organiser Megan Mannering. Megan said she could hear screams of delight coming from members of Karlo's family in the background. "I'm really excited to go to the National Final again", says Karlo. "The whole experience; the positive encouragement as a composer and performer and the social aspect is all great fun!"

The SOUNZ prize of $500 is awarded Karlo for his winning composition. His composition will be performed alongside competing groups at the National Final.

The National Final of the contest will be held in the Auckland Town Hall on Saturday 6 August and will be adjudicated by touring chamber music group, Dean-Emmerson-Dean.

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

For more information visit www.chambermusic.co.nz, email info@chambermusic.co.nz or phone 0800 CONCERT (266 2378).

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2005 NEW ZEALAND COMMUNITY TRUST
CHAMBER MUSIC CONTEST: NATIONAL FINAL

The best young musicians battle it out at the National Final of New Zealand's longest running music contest, the New Zealand Community Trust Chamber Music Contest. National Finalists are in to win cash and music prizes. The National Final will also feature a performance of the winning Original Composition.

AUCKLAND
Saturday 6 August, Auckland Town Hall, 7pm
Book at Ticketek, ph (09) 307 5000 (service fees apply)

About the New Zealand Community Trust Chamber Music 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.

A record number of groups entered this year's New Zealand Community Trust Chamber Music Contest, attracting 562 entries from Whangarei to Southland received nationwide, involving 2115 students. District Contests were held in fourteen centres nationwide throughout June, adjudicated by musicians Gretchen Dunsmore, Kenneth Young, Iaan and Sarah Wilson and Catherine McKay.

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

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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