Young Whanganui musicians preparing for New Zealand Community Trust Chamber Music Contest

Whanganui High School's 2017 competitors Trio Lane, comprising Brenna Hadley (flute), Oscar Zhang (piano) and Cypress Kani-Hurinui (voice). Photo / Stuart Munro

More than 90 young musicians from the Whanganui region are tuning up to compete in the annual New Zealand Community Trust Chamber Music Contest.

The Whanganui district contest takes place on Friday, June 8 at the Prince Edward Auditorium, Wanganui Collegiate School and is one of 15 district contests being held nationwide.

It will be adjudicated by flautist and conductor Anthony Ferner, who performed in Whanganui last year as a member of Les Bons Vivants.

He is principal flute of the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, lecturer in flute at the School of Music University of Canterbury and conductor.

After winning the National Concerto competition in 1972, he studied flute, piano and conducting in London at the Guildhall School of Music.

He later taught and performed in Milan, and in 1992 studied conducting at the St Petersburg Conservatory.

In Sydney for 17 years, Anthony played in the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra and has conducted professional and amateur orchestras in Russia, Australia and New Zealand.

He has adjudicated competitions throughout Australasia and enjoys sharing his experience and knowledge to help musicians achieve their best.

Once again, this year the Whanganui Contest has attracted 29 ensembles, involving 94 musicians. Five groups will travel from Marton.

The groups range from standard chamber music ensembles with violin or flute, cello and piano, to groups with singers, six hands on one piano, guitar trio and percussion groups, all playing a variety of styles of music.

The New Zealand Community Trust Chamber Music Contest is the longest-running youth music competition in New Zealand and celebrated its 50th Jubilee in 2015.

This contest is well-known for nurturing young musicians who go on to successful musical careers in New Zealand and abroad.

After the Whanganui District round, the top ensembles from the Hawke's Bay, East Coast, Whanganui, Manawatu and Wellington contests will travel to Napier to compete in the central regional finals on June 23.

The top 12 ensembles from the three regional finals held in Christchurch, Napier and Auckland will compete in the national finals in Christchurch in August.

• The Whanganui district competition will be held at Prince Edward Auditorium, Wanganui Collegiate School on Friday, June 8. Entry $5 per session, $8 all sessions, students free. For further information about the Whanganui district rounds, contact Ingrid Culliford at ing.cull@gmail.com