National Recognition For Chamber Quartet

After earlier success in the Auckland and Northern Regional rounds earned them entry into the National Chamber Music Competition, this has been an amazing weekend for the College GoodFellas Chamber Quartet, as they scooped the awards in Christchurch!

After travelling south, the Quartet, comprising Alex Bian and Jason Wong on Percussion and Sunny Le and Charles Sang on Piano, progressed through the semi-final round on the first day, when the top twelve groups were narrowed down to six for the National final, that was live-streamed.

The piece, ‘Music for Four’ by New Zealand composer, Jenny McLeod, has three movements -two cheerful outer movements with a slow and soulful middle movement - all inspired by native birds. The group has been coached by APO Principal Percussion, Eric Renick.

After giving an exceptional performance, they were the proud recipients of four of the five major awards:

• People’s Choice Award- having received the largest number of votes by live audience poll on the night of the National Final

• National KBB Music Award- the best performance of a wind/brass/percussion instruments group at the Nationals

• National Award for the Best Performance of a New Zealand Work

• Helen Young Diamond Award- the runners-up prize.

The boys would like to thank the tutors who have patiently and rigorously worked with them this year to get them to the finale stage. They also give particular thanks to Burnside High School’s Music Department for lending the necessary percussion gear and space for rehearsal and performance over the weekend.

This is a superb achievement for the boys and the College Music Department who have been working diligently in recent years to build the Chamber Music Programme. Over the last three years, groups have been selected to play at the Nationals but this is the first group to receive awards at this level. Well done boys!