WELCOME

It is my great pleasure and privilege to welcome you to the 2021 Finals of Strike A Chord, Musica Viva’s National Chamber Music Championship. Twelve accomplished Finalist groups from all over Australia will perform live, where restrictions allow, for our expert jury of five of Australia’s finest chamber musicians and an audience of passionate chamber music lovers.

I can’t wait to soak up a day of inspiring music-making by our fantastic young musicians countrywide. Once again, with over a hundred ensembles entering Strike A Chord this year, we can expect an absolute aural treat from those selected to perform in the Final. The standard overall was again extremely high and our distinguished First Round jurors, Elyane Laussade and Blair Harris, carried out their very difficult task with thoughtful care. They have already awarded special prizes to groups who did particularly well in their specific categories in the First Round but did not progress to the Final. All groups who participated received feedback from the judges and a certificate to celebrate their participation. That underscores the guiding principle behind Strike A Chord – to encourage young musicians of any level to experience the challenge and the joy of playing chamber music with others. This year, we introduced a new Novice category for groups whose members haven’t been playing their instruments for long and fifteen intrepid groups seized the opportunity. Chamber music is indeed for everyone at any stage of their musical journey!

It takes a village to bring each of these 100+ performances to life and

I’m very grateful to all the dedicated parents, teachers and administrators who make music lessons happen, who help put groups together and who guide the musicians as they choose a piece to play and get to grips with honing their ensemble skills. But most of all, I congratulate the hundreds of young musicians who gave their time and energy to this noble pursuit so close to my heart. I’m sure that these early experiences will nurture a love of making and listening to chamber music for the rest of your lives.

I know I speak for all of my incredibly hardworking, motivated colleagues in the Musica Viva

Australia Strike A Chord team when I say that you are why we do what we do.

Wilma Smith, Artistic Director Strike A Chord 3 ] WELCOME 5 ] GRAND FINAL SCHEDULE 2021 7 ] THE CHAMPIONSHIP 8 ] THE JURY 10 ] THE PRIZES

12 ] ♦ JPMS ENSEMBLE SPIRITO ♦ JAMES CAMPBELL STRING QUARTET 13 ] ♦ BARTHOLDY TRIO ♦ FOUR STRINGS

14 ] ♦ TRIO FINIFUGAL ♦ PICCOLO STRING QUARTET 15 ] ♦ SHELL-SHOCKED PERCUSSION QUARTET ♦ PIRULÍ STRING QUARTET 16 ] ♦ FALSE RELATIONS ♦ AMOGUS TRIO

17 ] ♦ THE CANBERRA REDS ♦ VDUB

20 ] ALL ENTRIES 2020 21 ] FIRST ROUND PRIZES 23 ] NOVICE SECTION 23 ] ABOUT MUSIVA VIVA 24 ] BEQUEST 25 ] PARTNERS + DONORS 24 ] COACHING PROGRAM 25 ] ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Welcome to the second iteration of Strike A Chord, the national chamber music competition that shines a spotlight on the most outstanding secondary school musicians, and celebrates the achievements of students at all stages of their musical journeys.

Strike A Chord, like its internationally-recognised relative, the Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition, is a Victorian-based program with a much wider reach. This year finalists come together virtually from all over Australia to compete in the livestreamed final, and the Victorian Government is proud to support it.

I applaud the work that the Musica Viva Australia team, and their many collaborators, have done to ensure that the reach of this initiative is as wide as possible, and to be prepared to deliver it’s flexibly as needed. It’s particularly pleasing to see that the new Yamaha Novice Section, designed to encourage musicians in the early stages of their learning journey, has engaged so many regional students, from Mt Isa to Nhill. I congratulate each and every one of the more than 400 young musicians, and their teachers, who have come through the bumpy ride of this past 18 months to take on the challenge and reward of making music together.

Thank you for persevering, and for sharing your talents.

Danny Pearson MP, Minister for Creative Industries, Victoria Strike A Chord was launched in 2020 - a year in which so much performance activity was not possible. To be able to celebrate the energy, enthusiasm and versatility of so many young musicians was truly a bright spot in dark times.

We would not have been able to realise Wilma Smith’s compelling vision for a competition that would engage students around Australia with the joy of making chamber music if it were not for the support of Creative Victoria, and we have valued their flexibility and counsel.

This initiative has also brought together organisations and individuals who have shared Wilma’s vision and helped us to bring it to reality, and I thank them all. I acknowledge in particular our Strategic Partners, the Melbourne Recital Centre and Australian National Academy of Music, the visionary multiyear investment of Tom Breen which has made the national coaching program possible, and the generous support of Gandel Philanthropy, Yamaha Australia, the Robert Salzer Foundation, Marjorie Nicholas OAM and the Mercer Family Foundation.

Finally, I acknowledge the work of the Musica Viva Australia team, who launched Strike A Chord last year against the odds, and continue to evolve it as needed.

Strike A Chord exemplifies Musica Viva’s commitment to excellence, and is an ideal example of our determination to nurture the musical development of young Australians.

Hywel Sims, CEO Musica Viva Australia