Chamber Music Australia
About Chamber Music Australia
The Honourable Alex Chernov, AC, QC, Governor of Victoria and Mrs Elizabeth Chernov
with the Amaryllis Quartet, winners of the Monash University Grand Prize, 6th Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition 2011.
Photo: Colin Snape
Helping young people to develop their full potential is the supreme objective of all of CMA's activities. For the past 20 years CMA has played a pivotal role in establishing Melbourne as one of the world-centres for chamber music and at the same time involving the community to engage with young artists. CMA's acclaimed Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition and Asia-Pacific Chamber Music Competition have hugely contributed to this reputation. Both competitions are held every four years alternating biennially, similar in structure to the Olympic and Commonwealth Games.
The Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition - a member of the World Federation of International Music Competitions - is widely regarded as one of the most important contests for young professional musicians. Commanding great respect from the global music community, it now attracts international agents, music presenters, critics, television, radio and media interest as well as ardent supporters to Melbourne for a feast of chamber music. The events themselves have a considerable influence on the cultural landscape in Australia and broaden career choices open to young people.
Competitions are all about excellence. CMA's competitions set a very high international benchmark and the high performance standard required, which makes young musicians strive and compete for the best accolades and career-building prizes.
Winners are richly rewarded with substantial cash prizes and concert engagements. The difference these awards have made in the professional careers of competitors is absolutely amazing.
Success as a career musician on the international concert stage depends to a great extent on artistic talent and professional experience. Gaining and honing this vital expertise is a crucial step in the development of any young artist. Chamber Music Australia, a charitable organisation founded with the great vision of Dame Elisabeth Murdoch AC DBE and the former Premier of Victoria Sir Rupert Hamer AC KCMG, provides this opportunity for young musicians.
What is Chamber Music?
Chamber music has its origin in the Baroque period of the seventeenth century where chamber music was performed in princely chambers in contrast to sacred music, which was performed in churches. The German writer and polymath Goethe described chamber music - specifically string quartets - as 'four rational people having an intelligent conversation'. Written for a small group of instruments which traditionally could be accommodated in a palace chamber, the intimate genre of chamber music has been described as 'the music of friends' or as the 'most royal of musical disciplines'.
Performing chamber music requires exceptional skills in musicality, interpretation and interaction among the musicians as well as with the audience. To listen to an outstanding chamber music performance can be a very intimate and yet highly inspirational and highly moving experience.
Find out more about Chamber Music