2026 National Finalists

CHROMOS Trio draws its name from the Greek word khrôma, meaning colour, and the element Chromium, which creates a vivid spectrum of colour in compound. CHROMOS Trio seeks to explore colour and expression in the realm of sound as they make music together. Lucas Allmark studies violin with Kylie Liang and Zacharias Zethner studies cello with Xiaole Wu. Both are members of the Western Australian Youth Orchestra. Pianist Michael Cui studies with Mr Yoon Sen Lee and is aninternational prize winner, recently performing as concerto soloist in Italy.

Lucas Allmark - Violin, Perth Modern School, Year 9 
Zacharias Zethner - Cello, Bob Hawke College, Year 9 
Michael Cui - Piano, Christ Church Grammar School, Year 9 

Since 2022, the award-winning JPMS Ensemble Sonore has travelled across Australia, earning praise for performances that bring the music to life. Frederick Chen first experienced the Strike A Chord finals buzz as a 10-year-old, and is thrilled to share that adrenaline rush once more alongside friends Anita, Chaska, Charleigh, Hue, Joyce, Lucas, and Timothy. All accomplished soloists, they have been working at weaving their individual creative perspectives into a collective interpretation of Sparklefrog. Committed to exploring nuances, they look forward to sharing a playful yet complex soundscape, welcoming listeners into a rhythmic ecosystem alive with unexpected colours.

Hue Tan - Percussion, St. Patrick's College, Year 12 
Charleigh Sing - Percussion, St Thomas More College, Year 12
Joyce Wong - Percussion, St Aidan's Anglican Girls' School, Year 11 
Anita Lin - Percussion, Holland Park State High School, Year 11 
Lucas Zhou - Percussion, Brisbane State High School, Year 11
Chaska Hung - Percussion, Mansfield State High School, Year 11 
Timothy Lee - Percussion, Brisbane State High School, Year 10
Frederick Chen - Percussion, Brisbane State High School, Year 9

The Kingsland Piano Trio brings together violinist Evie Kurzawa, cellist Sylvia Kurzawa, and pianist Ryan Xing. Formed in late 2024, the trio builds on a longstanding musical partnership developed over three years in Canberra Symphony Orchestra Future Pathways ensembles. Within its first year, the trio won First Prize in the 18 Years and Under Chamber Music Section of the Australian National Eisteddfod and First Prize in the Open Age Chamber Music Section of the ACT Music Academy Competition. Selection as 2026 Strike A Chord Championship Section Finalists is an exciting achievement for these young musicians.

Evie Kurzawa - Violin, Covenant Christian School, Year 7 
Sylvia Kurzawa - Cello, Covenant Christian School, Year 6
Ryan Xing - Piano, Canberra Grammar School, Year 9

The Kingussie Trio makes its third consecutive appearance at the Strike A Chord National Final this year. Comprising three music scholars from Camberwell Grammar School, the ensemble is coached by Rachel Atkinson. The Trio has achieved notable success at Victorian Eisteddfods, and individually, Dillon, David, and Gabriel have won prizes at national and international competitions. Dillon studies with Ian Munro, David with Sulki Yu, and Gabriel studies under the tutelage of David Berlin and Howard Penny.

The Trio has performed in masterclasses for Tair Khisambeev, Sophie Rowell, Danny Gu, Caroline Almonte, and Gil Sullivan, and has been broadcast frequently on 3MBS Fine Music.

David Chon - Violin, Camberwell Grammar School, Year 10
Gabriel Liu - Cello, Camberwell Grammar School, Year 10 
Dillon Chan - Piano, Camberwell Grammar School, Year 9

The LED Trio is a chamber group consisting of Emma Li (violin), Lieun Park (cello) and Diego Yu (piano), studying with Fintan Murphy, David Berlin and Glenn Riddle respectively. These three musicians were brought together through Melbourne String Ensemble and their shared love for music.

The trio was a finalist in the Strike A Chord 2025 competition, receiving the 3MBS Prize as well as the Firebird Trio Mentorship prize. The trio aims to continue their collaboration and development as both solo and chamber musicians.

Emma Li - Violin, Lowther Hall Anglican Grammar School, Year 11
Lieun Park - Cello, Caulfield Grammar School, Year 12 
Diego Yu - Piano, Wesley College, Year 11

The Nightingale Trio is a Melbourne-based piano trio comprising pianist Charlie Wu, violinist Angela Deng and cellist Anny Wang from Caulfield Grammar School, Strathcona Girls Grammar School, and VCASS.

As individual musicians, the Trio’s members have received numerous awards at competitions. Guided by a shared commitment to artistic excellence and collaboration, the Trio enjoys exploring a variety of repertoire and sharing their love of chamber music with diverse audiences. 

Angela Deng - Violin, Strathcona Girls Grammar, Year 9
Anny Wang - Cello, Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School, Year 11
Charlie Wu - Piano, Caulfield Grammar, Year 8

Quartet Avenoir is an interstate-based string quartet consisting of violinists Samuel Hooper and Liam Beak, violist Juah Hyun and cellist Jun Gardiner, who met as participants in the Australian Youth Orchestra. Under the guidance of Jos Jonker, these young performers from Tasmania, Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria continue to develop their artistic vision and, through close musical collaboration, bring a unified musical voice to performances that are distinctly their own.

Performing at the Melbourne Recital Centre represents a long-standing artistic ambition, and Quartet Avenoir is thrilled to have the opportunity to perform for the Strike A Chord audience. 

Samuel Hooper - Violin, Taroona High School, Hobart, Year 10
Liam Beak - Violin, Brisbane Boys' College, Brisbane, Year 11
Juah Hyun - Viola, MLC School, Sydney, Year 12
Jun Gardiner - Cello, Scotch College, Melbourne, Year 10

Formed in 2023, Quatuor Fabriqués comprises Kane Shum, Kieran Lin, Wiliam Cheah and Jun Gardiner from Scotch College. The quartet takes its name from the French word 'to make’, reflecting their collaborative approach to chamber music.

Mentored by Rollin Zhao, they were awarded the Monash Chamber Music Prize and the Flinders Quartet Mentorship Prize at the 2025 Strike A Chord National Finals, and have worked with faculty from the Zelman Cowan School of Music and members of the Flinders Quartet throughout 2026. They look forward to performing at this year’s Strike A Chord as a culmination of their time together at Scotch.

Kane Shum - Violin, Scotch College, Year 12
Kieran Lin - Violin, Scotch College, Year 11
William Cheah - Viola, Scotch College, Year 12
Jun Gardiner - Cello, Scotch College, Year 10

Vanta Quartet is a self-tutored group formed in late 2025, comprising four accomplished young musicians: Rolan Xu, Haruki Muramatsu, Roy Zhang and Kevin Chu. Earlier this year, Vanta Quartet won the Sydney Eisteddfod Chamber Music Any Age category and was invited to record with 2MBS Fine Music, returning for a second recording following the success of their first. They share a mutual love and devotion for chamber music and look forward to sharing their performance with you all.

Rolan Xu - Violin, Conservatorium High School, Year 12 
Haruki Muramatsu - Viola, Conservatorium High School, Year 11 
Roy Zhang - Cello, Conservatorium High School, Year 12 
Kevin Chu - Piano, Cranbrook School, Year 12