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
Quatuor Fabriqués (VIC)
Australian Music Prize – The Pam Cudlipp Prize, and National Finalist Award
Quatuor Fabriqués comprises Kane Shum, Kieran Lin, William Cheah and Jun Gardiner, formed at Scotch College in 2023 and mentored by Rollin Zhao. The quartet was recognised for the best performance of an Australian work.
Performed: Paul Stanhope – String Quartet No. 1, Elegies and Dances (2008)
ELIJA Quartet (QLD)
ELIJA Quartet brings together Ellie Kyoung, Elizabeth Lu, Amy Seo and Jewel Yang, who first met through the Queensland Youth Orchestra and formed in February 2026 under coach Tim Li. Making their National Final debut, the quartet was awarded the Flinders Quartet Mentorship Prize.
Performed: Felix Mendelssohn – String Quartet in E-flat major, Op. 44 No. 3 (1838): IV Molto allegro con fuoco
Nightingale Trio (VIC)
Firebird Trio Mentorship Prize, and National Finalist Award
A Melbourne-based piano trio, Nightingale Trio comprises pianist Charlie Wu, violinist Angela Deng and cellist Anny Wang, from Caulfield Grammar School, Strathcona Girls Grammar School and VCASS. The trio was awarded the Firebird Trio Mentorship Prize.
Performed: Arno Babajanian – Piano Trio in F-sharp minor (1952): III Allegro vivace
LED Trio (VIC)
3MBS Prize, and National Finalist Award
Brought together through the Melbourne String Ensemble, LED Trio comprises Emma Li (violin), Lieun Park (cello) and Diego Yu (piano), studying with Fintan Murphy, David Berlin and Glenn Riddle respectively. Returning finalists after receiving the same prize in 2025, the trio was awarded the 3MBS Prize as the top group from Victoria.
Performed: Maurice Ravel – Piano Trio in A minor, M. 67 (1914): I Modéré
The Celeste Quartet (SA)
5MBS Prize, and National Finalist Award
The Celeste Quartet comprises Aiyana Ishino, Alanna Kennedy, Annika Ganesh and Sherry Cheng, who met as nine-year-olds in the Adelaide Youth Orchestra and formed in 2024 under the mentorship of Dr Stephen King and Dr Helen Ayres at the Elder Conservatorium. The quartet was awarded the 5MBS Prize as the top group from South Australia.
Performed: Alexander Borodin – String Quartet No. 2 in D major (1881): III Notturno
Kingsland Piano Trio (ACT)
ArtSound FM Prize, and National Finalist Award
Kingsland Piano Trio brings together violinist Evie Kurzawa, cellist Sylvia Kurzawa and pianist Ryan Xing, who have built their partnership over three years in the Canberra Symphony Orchestra Future Pathways ensembles. The trio was awarded the ArtSound FM Prize as the top group from the Australian Capital Territory.
Performed: Ludwig van Beethoven – Piano Trio in E-flat major, Op. 1 No. 1 (1795): I Allegro
CHROMOS Trio (WA)
Radio Fremantle Prize, and National Finalist Award
CHROMOS Trio comprises violinist Lucas Allmark and cellist Zacharias Zethner, both members of the Western Australian Youth Orchestra, and pianist Michael Cui, an international prize winner. The trio was awarded the Radio Fremantle Prize as the top group from Western Australia.
Performed: Josef Suk – Piano Trio in C minor, Op. 2 (1889–91): I Allegro
JPMS Ensemble Sonore (QLD)
National Finalist Award
An eight-piece percussion group touring since 2022, JPMS Ensemble Sonore comprises Hue Tan, Charleigh Sing, Joyce Wong, Anita Lin, Lucas Zhou, Chaska Hung, Timothy Lee and Frederick Chen. The group received a National Finalist Award for their performance.
Performed: Adam Silverman – Sparklefrog (2014)