Further information and interviews contact:
Kate Mazoudier on 0403 497 424
kmazoudier@chambermusicaustralia.com.au
Media Announcement
COMPETITORS ANNOUNCED
2013 ASIA-PACIFIC CHAMBER MUSIC COMPETITION
Wednesday 8 May2013, Melbourne, Australia: Chamber Music Australia (CMA) is proud to
announce the eight young ensembles who have been selected via audition to compete in the 2013
Asia-Pacific Chamber Music Competition, in Melbourne from 8-14 July.
Piano Trios
String Quartets
ARC Trio - Japan
Senso Trio - China
Viazza Trio – Australia/USA
Lyrebird Trio - Australia
Amber String Quartet – China
Auric Quartet – Australia
Orava String Quartet –Australia
Duomo Quartet – Singapore
“It was a remarkably strong field of applicants this year which reflects the international standing
of this competition,” said Benjamin Woodroffe, General Manager of Chamber Music Australia.
“Many of these ensembles had their genesis at the most prestigious music training institutions in
the Asia-Pacific region where the Western classical tradition of chamber music performance is in
extremely skilled hands.
“The caliber of the young musicians selected to compete promises a lively and tremendously
exciting week of chamber music competition and cultural exchange in Melbourne this July,” he
said.
Welcoming the announcement, the Victorian Minister for the Arts, The Hon Heidi Victoria
commented: “Melbourne can feel very proud to host a competition with such strong standing in
the region. The eyes and ears of the international classical music world will be closely watching
Melbourne as our competition uncovers the next generation of fine young musicians and sets
them on the path of a professional performance career.”
The Asia-Pacific Chamber Music Competition is presented every four years by Chamber Music
Australia in partnership with Melbourne Recital Centre: Australia’s state-of-the-art chamber
music performance venue located in the heart of the Melbourne Arts precinct.
Mary Vallentine AO, Melbourne Recital Centre’s CEO said, “The Centre is delighted to again host
the competition, which contributes significantly to the vibrancy of Melbourne’s music scene.
Several past competitors perform regularly at Melbourne Recital Centre as part of our Local
Heroes program, and their enthusiasm for performing and their rapport with their audience is
inspiring.”
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About the Competition
The Asia-Pacific Chamber Music Competition is open to the best young piano trios and string
quartets from the Asia-Pacific region and is presented by Chamber Music Australia in association
with Melbourne Recital Centre.
Over the seven days from 8-14 July 2013 the ensembles will compete in public concerts at the ABC
Iwaki Auditorium in Southbank with the finals to be held at Melbourne Recital Centre on Sunday
14 July. The entire competition will be broadcast live on ABC Classic FM.
The individual age of competitors must be 35 years or under as of 8 July 2013. The combined age
for a Piano Trio must not exceed 90 years. The combined age for a String Quartet must not exceed
120 years.
The Jury will be chaired by Wilma Smith (Concert Master, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra) and
will include Li-Wei Qin (cellist, Associate Professor at Yong Siew Toh Conservatory), Natsuko
Yoshimoto (Concert Master of the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra), and Euan Murdoch (cellist and
CEO, Chamber Music New Zealand).
Significant cash prizes and performance opportunities in festivals and concert halls throughout
Australia and Asia are offered to prizewinners from well-respected presenters and venues
throughout the region.
ENSEMBLE BIOGRAPHIES: PIANO TRIOS
ARC Trio - Japan
Kae Ozawa, Piano | Masanobu Yoda, Violin | Ryo Onoki, Cello
The ARC Trio was formed in 2011 at the Suntory Hall Chamber Music Academy and has since
performed extensively throughout Japan in places such as the Suntory Hall Chamber Music Garden
and the Toyama music festival. ARC Trio has been mentored by Professor Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi,
Professor Akira Wakabayashi, and the Quartet Excelsior. The ARC trio consists of accomplished
and award winning musicians: Kae Ozawa received first prize in the Petrov International
Competition, and has performed in Tokyo and Siena; Masanobu Yoda is currently a guest
concertmaster in the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra; Ryo Onoki has performed extensively
throughout Tokyo and was the Prize winner at the tenth Viva Hall Cello competition.
Senso Trio - China
Qiyun Dai Piano | Jiajia Xia Violin | Shukai Tang Cello
Senso Trio founded in 2012 at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing and has since
performed throughout China in venues such as the Qingdao Poly Grand Theatre and the Central
Conservatory of Music. The Senso Trio is mentored by professor Shi Jiajia and professor Sun
Xiaoqi. Mr. Wu Ying, the Dean of Piano at the Central Conservatory of Music said ‘These are three
very talented youth musician. Their playing is full of passion. The most precious things in chamber
music, which are the harmonious voice and tremendous power, can be found in their
communication in music with perfect tacit understanding’.
Viazza Trio – Australia/USA
Young-Kwon Choi, Piano | Katherine Lukey, Violin | Paul Ghica, Cello
Viazza was formed earlier this year in Chicago by three award-winning artists who share a passion
for chamber music. Katherine Lukey is a core player with the Melbourne Chamber Orchestra
(MCO) and currently trialling as Principal First Violin with the MSO. Katherine was a string finalist
in the 2009 ABC Young Performers Awards and winner of the National Kendall Violin Competition,
Hephzibah Menuhin Award and Musica Viva Prize for Chamber Music. Cellist, Paul Ghica is best
known as the critically-acclaimed soloist from The Hunchback Variations in New York. A diverse
musician, he has performed with Emanuel Ax, is co-principal of Chicago’s Civic Orchestra, and has
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collaborated on Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Project outreach program. Australian/Korean pianist YoungKwon Choi was recently announced the keyboard winner of the 2012 ABC Young Performers
Awards. A protege of the late Alexandr Satz and Dimitri Alexeev, he studied abroad at the
University for Music and Dramatic Arts, Graz, Austria and at the Royal Academy of Music, London.
His recent concerts have been broadcast on BBC 3, ORF 1, and ABC Classic FM.
Lyrebird Trio - Australia
Angela Turner, piano | Glenn Christensen, violin | Simon Cobcroft, cello
The Lyrebird Trio formed in 2013 and is comprised of three distinguished graduates of the
Queensland Conservatorium. Together, they bring considerable professional experiences as
members of Australian and international chamber ensembles and orchestras. Presently, Glenn
and Simon are principal players in the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, while Angela lectures in a
wide range of practical and academic areas at the Queensland Conservatorium. Each of the trio’s
members are regularly invited to perform in concert series and festivals within South-East
Queensland, and are featured in the 2013 Mason and Hamlin Recital Series.
ENSEMBLE BIOGRAPHIES: STRING QUARTETS
Amber String Quartet - China
Fangliang Ning, Violin | Yajing Su, Violin | Wang Qi, Viola | Yichen Yang, Cello
The Amber Quartet was formed in 2007 at the Central Conservatory of Music in China. Since its
conception, the quartet has received first prize in the Central Conservatory Chamber Music
Competition and second prize in the Golden Bell String Quartet Competition. The ensemble has
performed both nationally and internationally in countries such as England, France, Germany,
Australia, America, Denmark and Japan. In early 2013, the quartet was accepted into the Institute
International de Musica de Camara de Madrid to study with Gunter Pichler from the Alban Berg
Quartet.
Auric Quartet - Australia
Francesca Hiew, Violin | Kate Sullivan, Violin | Matthew Laing, Viola | Jarrad Mathie, Cello
The Auric Quartet was formed in 2012 to perform quartets by Zemlinsky and Britten as part of a
fellowship project at the Australian National Academy of Music. Encouraged by positive reviews,
an ease of collaboration and a shared passion for quartet playing, the goal of forming a
professional ensemble was a natural ambition. In early 2013, the quartet performed Bartok,
Britten and Ades at the Perth International Arts Festival Quartetthaus as part of the Writer’s
Festival with guest cellist Michael Dahlenberg. Commencing in May, the quartet has been invited to
undertake three one-month residencies in Bermagui NSW. The Auric quartet was also selected to
participate in the Australian String Quartet’s “Quartet Project” program for aspiring quartets in
2013, involving mentoring and tutoring from the ASQ throughout the year. The yearlong program
will culminate in a week of tutorials, public masterclasses and concerts at the Elder Hall in
Adelaide.
Orava String Quartet - Australia
Daniel Kowalik, Violin | Karol Kowalik, Cello | David Dalseno, Violin | Thomas Chawner, Viola
The Orava Quartet was founded in 2007 and is based in Sydney, Australia. The ensemble has
performed both locally and nationally in venues such as the Utzon Room in the Sydney Opera
House, the Melbourne Recital Centre and the City Recital Hall, Angel Place. Orava has performed
internationally in Canada, China, the United Arab Emirates and Hong Kong, and in 2010 completed
a highly successful tour of Asia for Musica Viva with world-renowned didgeridoo performer and
composer William Barton. The quartet regularly performs at festivals including the Musica Viva
Festival and the Sydney Vivid Festival, and has performed for Queen Sofia of Spain and Pope
Benedict XVI. The Orava Quartet has received many scholarships including the Chamber Music
Residency at the prestigious Banff Arts Centre in Canada, and in 2009 was selected as one of six
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finalists for the Asia-Pacific Chamber Music Competition. Orava has also been featured on the
2MBS Rising Stars On-Air program as part of the Musica Viva Rising Stars Series.
Duomo Quartet – Singapore
Monique Lapins, Violin | Jing Ding, Violin | Kin Chung (Benjamin) Wong, Viola | Thomas Marlin,
Cello
The Duomo Quartet was formed in 2011 at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music. Based in
Singapore, the group is composed of members from Australia, Hong Kong and China. The
ensemble has quickly established itself in the chamber music scene, and has performed at
internationally renowned festivals in Prague, France and Singapore. In 2012 they were invited by
Orchestre de Champs-Elysees in France to participate in the Jeune Orchestre Atlantique program.
The quartet has worked under leading musicians such as Gabor Takacs-Nagy, Philippe
Herreweghe, Jos Van Immerseel, Steven Isserlis and the T’ang Quartet. The quartet regularly
performs concerts throughout Singapore.
ENDS
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