2025 Foundation & Championship Sections
2025 Strike A Chord A National Final
Strike A Chord 2025 drew a record 170 groups from across Australia, performing music in a broadly classical repertoire. Each group submitted a video entry and was invited to include a short introduction video, which often captured the creativity and camaraderie behind their performances.
These videos were assessed by the jury, with Foundation Awards presented, First Round winners announced, and finalists selected to perform in the National Final.
The 2025 competition also featured our youngest ever participant, a Year 1 student, and included five students who have entered the competition every year since it began.
2025 Introduction Videos
Foundation Section - First Prize
First Prize – Wollongong Conservatorium Junior String Quartet (NSW)
Based in regional New South Wales, the Wollongong Conservatorium Junior String Quartet received First Prize in the Foundation Section for their recording of Cerulean by Kevin Ou.
ATC Trio (QLD)
Performed: Rebecca Clarke – Piano Trio (1921): I Moderato ma appassionato
Hale Bravura String Quartet (WA)
Craig Reynolds Encouragement Award
Hale Bravura, made up of scholarship holders Joshua Woods, Seth Cheah, Zachary Madan and Jordan Scott from Hale School, was recognised with the Encouragement Award. Mentored by Jack Charles and Zoë van Drunen, the quartet continues to perform widely in Perth.
Performed: Franz Schubert – String Quartet No. 14 in D minor, “Death and the Maiden”: I Allegro
Foundation Section - Second Prize
Second Prize – JPMS Jammers (QLD)
From Queensland, the JPMS Jammers were awarded Second Prize for their recording of Marica and Musette, arranged from works by J.S. Bach and J. Clarke.
Foundation Section - Third Prize
Third Prize – FanTAStic Four (QLD)
FanTAStic Four, a regional ensemble from Queensland, received Third Prize—supported by the Youth Music Foundation of Australia—for their recording of Bigger Than the Sky by Jon Bubbett. Member Luke Swindale also received a Strike A Chord Award for Courage and Commitment.
Quartet Alla Zingarese (QLD)
4MBS Prize
Quartet Alla Zingarese evolved from Canterbury College’s Trio Bellissimo, combining returning finalists with a new member for 2025. Coached by Tim Li, the quartet was awarded the 4MBS Prize for their lively interpretation of Brahms’s Rondo alla Zingarese.
Performed: Johannes Brahms – Piano Quartet in G minor, Op. 25 No. 1: IV Rondo alla Zingarese
Imber Trio (SA)
John and Rosemary MacLeod Finalist Award
Formed at Marryatville High School, Imber Trio — Akane Mears, Chloe Chane Yin and Ying Ying Shu — represented South Australia at the 2025 National Final. The trio are members of the Adelaide Youth Orchestra and alumni of AYO and ARCO programs.
Performed: Carl Maria von Weber – Trio in G minor for Piano, Flute and Cello, Op. 63: I Allegro moderato
LeBrahm Trio (NSW)
John and Rosemary MacLeod Finalist Award
LeBrahm Trio performed Brahms’s Clarinet Trio in their National Final debut. Based in Sydney, the ensemble continues to develop their performance practice with Australian chamber mentors.
Performed: Johannes Brahms – Clarinet Trio in A minor, Op. 114: I Allegro
Amaryllis Piano Trio (VIC)
John and Rosemary MacLeod Finalist Award
Formed at the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School, Jade Cheung, Raistlin Chan and Anny Wang performed Dvořák’s finale with clarity and poise. The trio continues to study under Julie Haskell, Sophie Rowell and Josephine Vains.
Performed: Antonín Dvořák – Piano Trio in F minor, Op. 65 No. 3: IV Finale
4 Bartolomey (NSW)
John and Rosemary MacLeod Finalist Award
A cello quartet comprising Jamie Wallace, Andy Lin, Vincent Zhu and Marcus Tyler, 4 Bartolomey performed Matthias Bartolomey’s work after consulting directly with the composer. The group first met at the 2023 Australian Youth Orchestra National Music Camp.
Performed: Matthias Bartolomey – Preikestolen (2018)
Ignite Trio (ACT)
John and Rosemary MacLeod Finalist Award
From Canberra Girls’ Grammar School, Charlotte Bryce, Ella Huang and Amelia Thompson performed for flute, clarinet and marimba. The trio’s first National Final appearance highlighted their distinctive instrumentation and collaborative approach.
Performed: Nathan Daughtrey – Burn3 (2018)
Due to licensing restrictions, contemporary compositions cannot be reproduced here in full. Please contact Musica Viva Australia directly if you wish to access the complete performance videos for educational purposes.