Student Feedback from 2025 CMMW
My highlight was being able to be tutored by such amazing musicians. The feeling was so great at the weekend, and it made everyone feel welcome.
I learned a lot about what the composers were doing, it has changed how I play the piece.
How energizing it was to be surrounded by other passionate musicians all working toward a shared goal!
The highlight was getting to connect with people from other groups and interacting with different musicians - Then hearing everyone’s progress during the concert was really special, you could really tell how much effort everyone put in over the weekend.
I learned about melodic vs harmonic intonation
The master classes were my highlight
Much easier to get around than at NZSM
I loved listening to other groups during the master classes and being inspired + using their feedback from tutors to improve my own playing and teamwork
we were taught to REALLY EXAGGERATE our individual dynamics to create effective group dynamics, because what we hear is different from what the audience hears.
It was a perfect weekend!
I learned lots of things, like bringing out more emotion into the music and playing more unified as a group
My highlight was meeting new people, and I learned about shaping and dynamics
I learned about the importance of clarity, balance, and shaping, even in the most energetic sections of a piece.
We learned how important it is to know what story you want to tell through your music and when you play with that feeling it makes such a difference.
Parent/Teacher Feedback from 2025 CMMW
The highlight was having the input of amazing tutors working so intimately with the group and seeing the transformation that happens
My most favourite weekend of the year!
It could be even longer - the event was super fun!
The shared meals were a great idea!
Loved seeing the music community coming together to support the students and seeing them all having fun together
My highlight was sitting in the foyer, listening to kids practicing, laughing and playing, attending masterclasses, smiling and excited through all.
Rolf and Helene are so insightful
It was the most wonderful weekend - 20 out of 10 for me
Final Public Concert 2 pm, Monday June 2, Queen Margaret College Hall: Entry by koha
Groups Participating:
Blühend - voice, flute, piano
Triple Shot - piano trio
The PACT - 2 violins and piano
Virtuoso Strings Septet - 3 violins, 2 violas, bass, piano
Smooth Sailing - 2 violins, piano
QMC Strings - 2 violins, 2 cellos
Bonis ed Edclairvia - flute, violin, piano
Trio Cadenza - clarinet, cello, piano
Sonnen Trio - 2 violins, piano
SyncopaFour - 3 violins and piano
SCRAM - string quartet
6Feet - 2 violins and viola
ANNOUNCING: The 12th Annual Chamber Music weekend! in 2014 I founded the Queen’s Birthday Chamber Music Weekend, which later became the Chamber Music Intensive. Now called the Chamber Music Mega Weekend, presented in cooperation with the Pettman National Junior Academy, it will be held at Queen Margaret College from May 31 to June 2. 12 groups that are entering the NZCT Chamber Music Contest (in its 60th Anniversary year!) have been selected to participate. They will receive intensive coaching and master classes, and all of them will perform in a public concert Monday June 2. Stay tuned for information on the master classes, which are open to the public as well.
2025 CMMW Tutors:
Violinists Helene Pohl, Monique Lapins, Alan Molina, Lynley Culliford
Pianists Richard Mapp, Beth Chen, Nicole Chao (Duo Enharmonics)
Cellist Rolf Gjelsten
Flutist Bridget Douglas
Presented in cooperation with the Pettman National Junior Academy of Music
Student feedback from the Chamber Music Intensive May/June 2024
“The weekend gave me different ways to make my music really sound like music and brought enjoyment into the playing factor!”
“I found that I was much more comfortable with the piece that I was playing, and could understand the music more, after and during the weekend.”
“Getting to play for amazing teachers and getting the feedback is so useful! You get to work on details with them and they're all chamber music experts so they teach you so much helpful things!”
“My favourite memory is of the final concert where you get to hear how much everyone has improved since the masterclass and also just getting to share all the music you make!”
“Having lots of coaching sessions, and then having time in between to choose what we liked and didn't like was really useful. Also just having all day to practice the pieces was really helpful and after the weekend, I could hear a vast improvement in our playing.”
“I learnt so much! The tutors could explain everything so well and they talked about details that made such a difference.”
“My favourite memory is of having so much fun making beautiful music and friends.”
“The coaches were so joyful when coaching us, we loved the pieces even more after that!”