CHAMBER MUSIC

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32029, 2 July 1969, Page 6

CHAMBER MUSIC

25 Groups In Contest Finals

Twenty-five groups, comprising 90 players in all, took part in the Christchurch district finals of the 1969 school chamber music contest in the city at the week-end. The best performance of the contest was considered to be that of the Christ’s College Trio (Martin Lamb, piano; Richard Norman, clarinet; and Larry Rueter, violin). The contest was judged by Mr D. Franks. From all the regional contests about 10 groups will be chosen to compete in the national finals in Wellington on August 3. It is not yet know which groups, if any, will be chosen from Christchurch.

Entrants for the Prague International radio contest were also chosen at the Christchurch district finals. The contest is open to chamber music ensembles of up to five players, all but one of whom must not be born before January 1, 1953. Three groups satisfied the age qualification and standard of performance and were chosen to record in the Christchurch studios of the N.Z.B.C. They are: the Mondraven Trio, the Evirell Trio and the Cashmere Clarinet Trio. The N.Z.B.C. will submit to the Czechoslovak radio entries considered to be of a suitable standard. Mr Franks will judge 120 chamber music groups throughout the country for entry into the International competition. The very high response in Christchurch is considered to be directly attributable to the work of the Christchurch School of Instrumental Music. In Christchurch the district finals were conducted by the Christchurch Chamber Music Society.