2026 National Finalists
Kingussie Trio (VIC) First Prize, The Robert Salzer Prize. Photo by Lucien Fischer.
Quartet Avenoir (TAS/QLD/NSW/VIC) Second Prize, The Paul Morawetz Prize; Monash Chamber Music Prize. Photo by Lucien Fischer.
ATC Trio (QLD) Third Prize, Youth Music Foundation of Australia Prize; 4MBS Prize. Photo by Lucien Fischer.
Vanta Quartet (NSW) Craig Reynolds Encouragement Award; 2MBS Prize. Photo by Lucien Fischer.
Quatuor Fabriqués (VIC) Australian Music Prize. Photo by Lucien Fischer.
ELIJA Quartet (QLD) Flinders Quartet Mentorship Prize. Photo by Lucien Fischer.
Nightingale Trio (VIC) Firebird Trio Mentorship Prize. Photo by Lucien Fischer.
LED Trio (VIC) 3MBS Prize. Photo by Lucien Fischer.
The Celeste Quartet (SA) 5MBS Prize. Photo by Lucien Fischer.
Kingsland Piano Trio (ACT) ArtSound FM Prize. Photo by Lucien Fischer.
CHROMOS Trio (WA) Radio Fremantle Prize. Photo by Lucien Fischer.
CHROMOS Trio (WA) Radio Fremantle Prize. Photo by Lucien Fischer.
2026 Strike A Chord A National Final
Kingussie Trio (VIC)
Kingussie Trio brings together three music scholars from Camberwell Grammar School: pianist Dillon Chan, violinist David Chon and cellist Gabriel Liu, coached by Rachel Atkinson. Making their third consecutive National Final appearance after a 2024 debut and second place in 2025, the trio received First Prize for their performance.
Performed: Franz Schubert – Piano Trio in E-flat major, D. 929, Op. 100 (1827): I Allegro
Quartet Avenoir (TAS/QLD/NSW/VIC)
Second Prize – The Paul Morawetz Prize
An interstate quartet formed through the Australian Youth Orchestra, Quartet Avenoir brings together violinists Samuel Hooper (Hobart) and Liam Beak (Brisbane), violist Juah Hyun (Sydney) and cellist Jun Gardiner (Melbourne) under the guidance of Jos Jonker. The group was awarded Second Prize and the Monash Chamber Music Prize for their performance.
Performed: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky – String Quartet No. 1 in D major, Op. 11 (1871): III Scherzo, IV Finale
ATC Trio (QLD)
Third Prize – Youth Music Foundation of Australia Prize, and 4MBS Prize
ATC Trio comprises violinist Ellie Kyoung, cellist Patrick Phillips and pianist Isabella Oxenbridge, all holders of Licentiate Diplomas with Distinction, and was formed through the University of Queensland School of Music Chamber Music Academy. The trio received Third Prize and the 4MBS Prize as the top group from Queensland.
Performed: Franz Schubert – Trio in B-flat major, D. 898, Op. 99 (1828): I Allegro moderato
Vanta Quartet (NSW)
A self-tutored group formed in late 2025, Vanta Quartet comprises Rolan Xu, Haruki Muramatsu, Roy Zhang and Kevin Chu, and won the Sydney Eisteddfod Chamber Music Any Age category in their first year together. The group received the Craig Reynolds Encouragement Award and the 2MBS Prize as the top group from New South Wales.
Performed: Richard Strauss – Piano Quartet in C minor, Op. 13 (1884–85): I Allegro