1750 Contestants For Chamber Music Contest

1750 Contestants Nationwide For School Chamber Music Contest

MEDIACOM-RELEASE-CHAMBERMUSIC-NZ

1750 CONTESTANTS NATIONWIDE FOR SCHOOL CHAMBER MUSIC CONTEST

1750 secondary students have entered for Chamber Music New Zealand's 2000 School Chamber Music Contest, sponsored by the de Croy Arts Trust.

This year the Contest, organised by Chamber Music New Zealand for the past 36 years, has attracted 451 entries, involving 1750 secondary school students from Auckland to Invercargill.

13 District Contests will take place in centres around New Zealand from 14 to 25 June, with the best eight groups competing in the National Final to be held at the Wellington Town Hall on 26 August.

Auckland has the highest number of entries, with 98 groups involving over 350 students, followed by Napier, Christchurch and Dunedin. 13 students have also entered the Original Composition section of the Contest, which will be judged by leading New Zealand composer and conductor Peter Scholes.

Chamber Music New Zealand General Manager Brian Budd said that the high number of entries from throughout the country was testimony to the talent and enthusiasm of thousands of young New Zealanders, as well as the support and commitment of their parents and teachers. "We're especially pleased that Tauranga is again hosting a District Contest. It's support at the local level that has made the School Chamber Music Contest New Zealand's longest running youth arts event."

The School Chamber Music Contest was established in 1965 by Chamber Music New Zealand, which this year is celebrating fifty years of bringing world class chamber musicians to audiences throughout New Zealand. The Contest's sponsor, the de Croy Arts Trust, was founded by Auckland businessman Adrien de Croy of software company Qbik New Zealand Ltd in 1999.

Chamber Music New Zealand acknowledges major funding from Creative New Zealand.

ENDS

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