Musica Viva Australia have announced Amogus Trio as the winners of Strike A Chord 2021. Hailing from Queensland, the ensemble has been awarded the Robert Salzer Prize, worth $5,000.
Strike A Chord is a national chamber music championship for secondary school ensembles. The competition was created to encourage the next generation of Australian musicians to experience the life-changing possibilities of chamber music, giving students the opportunity to explore their potential and discover the joy of making music with friends.
This year’s competition was presented online to ensure all ensembles across Australia were able to compete amid border closures and travel restrictions. Twelve ensembles competed in the Grand Final, with ensembles performing live in their home states where restrictions allowed.
The 2021 jury was comprised of Melbourne Recital Centre CEO, Euan Murdoch; Professor in Violin and Head of Strings at the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University, Michele Walsh; Ensemble Offspring’s Claire Edwardes; mezzo Dimity Shepherd; and pianist and composer Ian Munro.
Musica Viva Australia’s Artistic Director of Competitions Wilma Smith said, “Today’s Grand Final demonstrated that the future of Australian music is safe hands. Congratulations to all our young musicians for their wonderful performances. Accomplished and inspirational music making across the board made the jury’s job extremely difficult and signals a bright future for Australian music. The performance from the winning ensemble, the Amogus Trio, demonstrated an incredible level of maturity and sophistication for a student group. We will be watching out for these brilliant young musicians as they go on to forge their careers”.
The winners of the 2021 Strike A Chord Grand Final are:
FIRST PRIZE ($5,000) The Robert Salzer Prize
Amogus Trio, QLD
SECOND PRIZE ($4,000) The Paul Morawetz Prize
JPMS Ensemble Spirito, QLD
THIRD PRIZE ($2,500) The Laura Brown Prize
False Relations, NSW
AUDIENCE PRIZE ($2,000) The Peter Druce Prize
JPMS Ensemble Spirito, QLD
Featured image : The Amogus Trio, the winner of the ‘Strike A Chord’ First Prize, the Robert Salzer Prize