CONTENT COURTESY MUSICA VIVA AUSTRALIA
Musica Viva Australia has announced Affinity Quartet as the winner of the Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition 2023. Affinity Quartet, formed in Melbourne, has been awarded the Monash University Grand Prize ($30,000), the Robert Salzer Foundation String Quartet 1st Prize ($30,000) and the Audience Prize for String Quartet ($8,000).
Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition (MICMC) is a week-long international chamber music championship open to string quartets and piano trios where all members are under the age of 37. It was one of the first worldwide music competitions bringing international competitors to Australia.
Of the 13 competing Ensembles just six, three trios and three quartets, went through to the Grand Final, which took place on Sunday 9 July at Melbourne Recital Centre. The finalists were: Trio Orelon, Trio Pantoum, Trio Bohémo, Terra String Quartet, Affinity Quartet and Risus Quartet.
The 2023 International jury was comprised of Kirsten Dawes, Lukas Hagen, Louise Hopkins, Hsin-Yun Huang, Amandine Savary, Timo-Veikko Valve and Wilma Smith (Musica Viva Australia’s Artistic Director of Competitions).
Musica Viva Australia’s artistic director of Competitions and juror Wilma Smith said: “It has been a real privilege for all of us in Melbourne to welcome 13 extraordinary trios and quartets to our competition this week. They have given us exhilarating and moving performances, reminding us of the unique and important role this wonderful event fills in the life of our city. The support given to the groups by volunteer hosts, generous donors and by droves of passionate chamber music listeners – in the hall and around Australia and the world – gives MICMC a warm, extended-family feel which flows to the competitors too.”
Musica Viva Australia’s CEO Anne Frankenberg said: “One of the dreams of MICMC’s founders was that it would lead to Australian groups competing at an international standard in their home country. It’s wonderful to see this vision realised so powerfully, with the Affinity Quartet’s sensational performance of Schubert’s ‘Death and the Maiden’ on the stage of the Melbourne Recital Centre earning the coveted Monash University Grand Prize.”
Monash University Grand Prize, $30,000
AFFINITY QUARTET
STRING QUARTET PRIZES
1ST Prize – Robert Salzer Foundation Prize – $30,000
AFFINITY QUARTET
2nd Prize – Patricia H. Reid Endowment Fund Prize – $20,000
TERRA STRING QUARTET
3rd Prize – $10,000
RISUS QUARTET
Audience Prize for String Quartet – $8,000
AFFINITY QUARTET
Quartet Commission Prize – Rowland-Jones and Immelman Commission Performance Prize – $4,000
RISUS QUARTET
PIANO TRIO PRIZES
1st Prize – Tony Berg Prize – $22,500
TRIO ORELON
2nd Prize – In Memory of Paul Morawetz – $15,000
TRIO PANTOUM
3rd Prize – Musica Viva Australia Victorian Committee Prize – $7,500
TRIO BOHÉMO
Audience Prize for Piano Trio $7,500
TRIO BOHÉMO
Trio Commission Prize – Barry Jones Commission Performance Prize – $3,000 TRIO ORELON
Audience Prize for Piano Trio, $6,000
TRIO BOHÉMO
MICMC is presented by Musica Viva Australia with generous support from the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria, and in conjunction with major partners Monash University, the Melbourne Recital Centre and the City of Boroondara.
