At the end of each District Contest the winning group from each district, and up to four highly commended groups, will be named and an award will be given for the overall Best Performance of a New Zealand work.
The top ensembles from the District Contests compete in the National Finals on Friday and Saturday, August 1 and 2 in Christchurch.
Each member of the winning group at the National Final receives the James Wallace Arts Trust Prize of $1000.
The contest also includes an Original Composition section which, this year, has attracted 37 entries. New Zealand composer Philip Norman will select the winning score and the winning composer will be announced on Monday 16 June. The winner will be awarded the SOUNZ prize of $500.
The New Zealand Community Trust Chamber Music Contest is well-known for nurturing young musicians who go on to successful musical careers. Iconic New Zealand pianist Michael Houstoun competed in the event when he was a school student in Timaru and acclaimed pianist John Chen is also a past winner. He went on to win the 2004 Sydney International Piano Competition and the 2003 Lev Vlassenko Piano Competition and in 2009, his ensemble, Saguaro Trio won the International Chamber Music Competition in Hamburg, Germany.
The New Zealand Community Trust Chamber Music Contest - Bay of Plenty District Contest takes place on Tuesday 10 June at Bethlehem College at 9.30am and 1pm. Entry is $5 on the door.
In presenting the New Zealand Community Trust Chamber Music Contest, Chamber Music New Zealand acknowledges the generous support of The New Zealand Community Trust, ABRSM, SOUNZ (Centre for NZ Music), The Wallace Arts Trust, KBB Music and various regional funders who support events at District Contests.