IncrediBows Win
The IncrediBows Announced as Winners of Musica Viva Australia's Strike A Chord 2025
Musica Viva Australia is thrilled to announce The IncrediBows as the winner of Strike A Chord 2025. The ensemble has been awarded the Robert Salzer First Prize, of $5,000.
Strike A Chord is Australia’s national competition for school aged chamber groups. Established in 2020, it aims to foster a love of chamber music amongst young people and provide an opportunity for students to develop their performance skills and discover the joy of making music with friends.
First Prize winners, The IncrediBows are a string quartet formed in 2022 by four childhood friends, united by enthusiasm and camaraderie. Coached by Tim Li, they were finalists in Strike A Chord that same year, later becoming the core of Take Six, which won 2nd Prize in Strike A Chord 2024. Individually, the members of the quartet bring extensive experience as soloists, scholarship recipients, orchestral leaders, and competition prize winners. Collectively, they strive to deepen their ensemble playing and expand their musical horizons.
The National Final featured outstanding performances from ensembles across the country, judged by a distinguished panel led by Musica Viva Australia’s Artistic Director of Competitions, Wilma Smith
The 2025 National Final jury is comprised of:
- Wilma Smith: Artistic Director of Competitions, Musica Viva Australia; Second Violinist, Flinders Quartet; guest concertmaster of orchestras throughout Australia and New Zealand.
- Trish Dean: CEO/co-Artistic Director of Ensemble Q, distinguished cello soloist, chamber musician, and educator.
- Anna McMichael: Monash University's Head of Strings, violinist, festival director, and artistic researcher with an extensive international performance career.
- Lloyd Van’t Hoff: Award-winning clarinettist, director, and educator, founding member of Arcadia Winds, the inaugural MVA FutureMakers. Lloyd leads AFCM Pathways and is Head of Woodwind at Elder Conservatorium.
- Timothy Young: Head of Piano at ANAM, training talented young musicians. A sought-after recitalist, Tim is also a founding member of Ensemble Liaison.
Musica Viva Australia CEO Anne Frankenberg said, “At Musica Viva Australia, it’s a joy and a privilege to support the next generation of musicians as they explore, create, and grow. Programs like Strike A Chord give young artists the chance to be inspired, challenged, and celebrated for their passion, talent, and dedication. We congratulate all the 2025 participants, and their teachers and families, for the music-making they’ve shared with us.”
The winners of the 2025 Strike A Chord National Final are:
|
PRIZE |
GROUP |
STATE |
|
FIRST PRIZE ($5,000) – The Robert Salzer Prize |
The IncrediBows |
QLD |
|
SECOND PRIZE ($4,000) – The Paul Morawetz Prize |
Kingussie Trio |
VIC |
|
THIRD PRIZE ($2,500) – Youth Music Foundation of Australia Prize |
ATC Trio |
QLD |
|
|
|
|
|
Other significant prizes awarded at the National Final: |
|
|
|
PRIZE |
GROUP |
STATE |
|
Craig Reynolds Encouragement Prize ($1,500) |
Hale Bravura String Quartet |
WA |
|
Monash Chamber Music Prize |
Quatuor Fabriqués |
VIC |
|
Australian Music Prize ($2,000) |
Roystead Trio |
VIC |
|
Flinders Quartet Mentorship Prize |
Quatuor Fabriqués |
VIC |
|
Firebird Trio Mentorship Prize |
LED Trio |
VIC |
|
3MBS Prize |
LED Trio |
VIC |
|
4MBS Prize |
Quartet Alla Zingarese |
QLD |
Wilma Smith, Jury Chair and Musica Viva Australia Artistic Director of Competitions said, “The Strike A Chord final never fails to bowl me over. Of course, we know now to expect performances of extremely high quality but each finalist group this year shared with us such compelling musicianship that I am once again moved and flabbergasted by their diligence, passion and conviction. Congratulations to all the groups and heartfelt thanks to the villages that enable each of these young musicians to flourish.”
Musica Viva Australia presents Strike A Chord with the support of Principal Partner Creative Victoria, Strategic Partner Melbourne Recital Centre, University Partner Monash University, and generous philanthropic support from the Chamber Music Foundation, Gandel Foundation, Patricia H Reid Endowment, Perpetual Foundation – Alan (AGL) Shaw Endowment, Robert Salzer Foundation, the Scobie & Claire Mackinnon Trust, and Tom Breen - Founding Patron of the National Development Program.
ENDS
For further information or interviews:
KABUKU PUBLIC RELATIONS
Natasha Vickery | natasha@kabukupr.com.au | 0424 193 553
Marygrace Lardizabal | marygrace@kabukupr.com.au | 0479 081 960
FIRST PRIZE - The Robert Salzer Prize: The IncrediBows, QLD. Photo by James Grant
SECOND PRIZE – The Paul Morawetz Prize: Kingussie Trio, VIC. Photo James Grant
THIRD PRIZE – Youth Music Foundation of Australia Prize: ATC Trio, QLD. Photo James Grant
Craig Reynolds Encouragement Prize - Hale Bravura String Quartet, WA. Photo James Grant
Flinders Quartet Mentorship Prize and Monash Chamber Music Prize - Quatuor Fabriqués, VIC. Photo James Grant
Australian Music Prize - Roystead Trio, VIC. Photo James Grant
Firebird Trio Mentorship Prize and 3MBS Prize - LED Trio, VIC. Photo James Grant