About Us
WHAT IS MICMC?
Established in 1991 and held every four years, the Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition (MICMC) is one of the world’s most prestigious launching pads for groups ready to take their place on the world’s stages. With a prize pool of over $150,000 in cash plus career-building concerts and residencies, MICMC is open to string quartets and piano trios of all nationalities under the age of 35.
The Competition welcomes applicants who embody the engagement of heart and mind with some of the greatest, most profoundly communicative repertoire ever written. MICMC ensembles create a vibrant future for chamber music, redefining the relationship between players, audiences and composers for the 21st century.
THE MICMC TEAM
Wilma Smith
Artistic Director, Board Member MICMC Ltd
Elizabeth Sellars
Board Member MICMC Ltd
Rohan Murray
Board Member MICMC Ltd
John Ferguson
Board Member MICMC Ltd
Helen Vorrath
Project Manager,
IT Support
Matthew Min
Production Manager, Communications
Ziggy Johnston
Fundraising Manager
George Deutsch
Project Team Member
Stephanie Exton
Development and Donor Engagement Manager
Sophie Watt
Project Team Member
PAST WINNERS
9TH EDITION - 2023 WINNERS
GRAND PRIZE
$30,000 – Affinity Quartet (Australia)
Supported by Monash University
Awarded alongside the Robert Salzer Foundation String Quartet 1st Prize ($30,000) and the Audience Prize for String Quartet ($8,000).
STRING QUARTET PRIZES
1st Prize – Robert Salzer Foundation Prize ($30,000)
Affinity Quartet (Australia)
2nd Prize – Patricia H. Reid Endowment Fund Prize ($20,000)
Terra String Quartet (USA)
3rd Prize – Anonymous ($10,000)
Risus Quartet (South Korea / USA )
The Audience Prize for String Quartet ($8,000)
Affinity Quartet (Australia)
Quartet Commission Prize – Rowland-Jones & Immelman Commission Performance Prize ($4,000)
Risus Quartet (South Korea / USA)
PIANO TRIO PRIZES
1st Prize – Tony Berg Prize ($22,500)
Trio Orelon (Germany)
2nd Prize – In Memory of Paul Morawetz ($15,000)
Trio Pantoum (Canada / USA)
3rd Prize – Musica Viva Australia Victorian Committee Prize ($7,500)
Trio Bohémo (Czech Republic)
The Audience Prize for Piano Trio ($6,000)
Trio Bohémo (Czech Republic)
Trio Commission Prize – Barry Jones Commission Performance Prize ($3,000)
Trio Orelon (Germany)
8TH EDITION - 2018 WINNERS
GRAND PRIZE
$30,000 – Trio Marvin (Russia/Kazakhstan/Germany)
Supported by the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music at the University of Melbourne
An Australian performance tour arranged by Musica Viva in November 2019. Career-enhancing professional development support.
STRING QUARTET PRIZES
1st Prize – The Robert Salzer Foundation Prize ($30,000)
Goldmund Quartett (Germany)
2nd Prize – The Evans Dixon Prize ($20,000)
Eliot Quartett (Austria/Russia/Germany)
3rd Prize – The Laura Brown Prize ($10,000)
Callisto Quartet (USA)
The Audience Prize for String Quartet ($8,000) (supported by the Druce family in memory of Peter Druce)
Baum Quartett (South Korea)
Quartet Commission Prize – Best Performance of Holly Harrison’s New Work ($4,000) (supported by the Silo Collective)
Goldmund Quartett (Germany)
PIANO TRIO PRIZES
1st Prize – The Tony Berg Prize ($22,500)
Trio Marvin (Russia/Kazakhstan/Germany)
2nd Prize – The Paul Morawetz Prize for Piano Trio ($15,000)
Trio Gaon (Germany/South Korea)
3rd Prize – The Musica Viva Victorian Committee Prize ($7,500)
Amatis Piano Trio (Netherlands/Germany/UK)
The Audience Prize for Piano Trio ($6,000) (supported by the Druce family in memory of Peter Druce)
Trio Gaon (Germany/South Korea)
Trio Commission Prize – Best Performance of Paul Stanhope’s New Work ($3,000) (supported by the Tribe family)
Trio Gaon (Germany/South Korea)
7TH EDITION - 2015 WINNERS
Monash University Grand Prize Winner
Noga Quartet
Musica Viva Australia Prize Winner
Giocoso String Quartet
The Hamer-Tribe Trust Prize
Linos Piano Trio
Peter Druce Audience Award
Linos Piano Trio
Peter Druce Audience Award
Giocoso String Quartet
6TH EDITION - 2011 WINNERS
The Hamer-Tribe Trust Prize
Trio Rafale
The Beleura Prize
Rhodes Piano Trio
The Monique Phillips Prize and Audience Prize – Peter Druce Prize
Trio Paul Klee
Monash University Grand Prize
Amaryllis Quartett
The Robert Salzer Foundation Prize
Amaryllis Quartett
Musica Viva Australia Prize
Kelemen Kvartett
The Chamber Music Australia Patrons’ Circle Prize
Kelemen Kvartett
Audience Prize – Peter Druce Prize
Kelemen Kvartett
The Laura Brown Prize
Attacca Quartet
5TH EDITION - 2007 WINNERS
Primus Telecom Grand Prize
Atos Trio (Germany)
Musica Viva Australia Special Prize
Atos Trio (Germany)
STRING QUARTET
1st Prize: Robert Salzer Foundation Prize
Badke String Quartet (UK)
2nd Prize: WFIMC Prize
Navarra Quartet (UK)
3rd Prize: Chamber Music Australia Patrons’ Circle Prize
Ardeo String Quartet (France)
Peter Druce Audience Prize
Badke String Quartet (UK)
PIANO TRIO
1st Prize: Clifford Hocking Prize
Atos Trio (Germany)
2nd Prize: Beleura Prize
Morgenstern Piano Trio (Germany)
3rd Prize: Laura Brown Prize
Tecchler Trio (Switzerland/Germany)
Peter Druce Audience Prize
Atos Trio (Germany)
ABC Classic FM Listeners’ Choice Award
Manhattan Piano Trio (USA)
4TH EDITION - 2003 WINNERS
Primus Telecom Grand Prize
Paizo Quartet
STRING QUARTET
1st Prize – The Costel Vasilescu Prize of $AUS 24,000
Paizo Quartet
2nd Prize – Helen Macpherson Smith Trust Prize of $AUS 16,000
Cremona Quartet
3rd Prize – Precinct Prize of $AUS 8,000
Tankstream Quartet
Herald Sun Audience Price of $AUS 2,000
Tankstream Quartet
PIANO TRIO
1st Prize – John T Reid Charitable Trust Prize of $AUS 18,000
Eggner Trio
2nd Prize – The Julian Burnside Prize of $AUS 12,000
Trio Ondine
3rd Prize – The Laura Brown Prize of $AUS 6,000
Tel–Aviv Trio
City of Melbourne Audience Prize of $AUS 2,000
Trio Ondine
SPECIAL PRIZES
ABC Classic FM Listeners’ Choice Award
Tankstream Quartet
Musica Viva Australia Special Prize of a national tour in 2005
Eggner Trio
3RD EDITION - 1999 WINNERS
Daimler-Chrysler Grand Prize
Aviv String Quartet
STRING QUARTET
1st Prize – Mercedes-Benz Prize
Aviv String Quartet
2nd Prize – Pratt Foundation Prize
Karol Szymanowski Quartet
3rd Prize – Laura Brown
Avalon String Quartet
City of Melbourne Audience Prize
Karol Szymanowski Quartet
David Thomas Foundation Prize
Aviv String Quartet
PIANO TRIO
1st Prize – Chrysler Prize
Kungsbacka Trio
2nd Prize – Tattersall’s Prize
Mediterraneo Piano Trio
3rd Prize – Kenneth W. Tribe Prize
Trio Rachmaninov
Qantas Audience Prize
Kungsbacka Trio
David Thomas Foundation Prize
Trio Rachmaninov
SPECIAL PRIZES
The Age Critics’ Prize
Kungsbacka Trio
Naxos Recording Contracts Prize
Trio Rachmaninov
Aviv String Quartet
Mediterraneo Piano Trio
2ND EDITION - 1995 WINNERS
Mercedes–Benz Grand Prize
Trio Jean Paul
1st Prize – Dame Elisabeth Murdoch Prize
Vertavo String Quartet
2nd Prize – Tattersall’s Prize
Veronika String Quartet
3rd Prize
Yggdrasil String Quartet
AMP Investments Audience Prize
Vertavo String Quartet
1st Prize – Vic Health Prize
Trio Jean Paul
2nd Prize – Sidney Myer Fund Prize
Trio di Parma
3rd Prize
Jerusalem Piano Trio
City of Melbourne Audience Prize
Trio Jean Paul
Qantas Prize
Trio Jean Paul
The Age Critics’ Prize
Vertavo String Quartet
The Myer Prize
Naidine String Quartet
1ST EDITION - 1991 WINNERS
Musica Viva Grand Prize (joint prize winners)
Gould Piano Trio
Leningrad String Quartet
1st Prize – Dame Elisabeth Murdoch Prize
Leningrad String Quartet
2nd Prize – The Lord Mayor’s Prize
St Lawrence String Quartet
3rd Prize – Gas and Fuel Corporation
The Lark Quartet
1st Prize – Vic Health Prize
Gould Piano Trio
2nd Prize – The University of Melbourne Prize
Kandinsky Quartet
3rd Prize – Amcor Prize
Holland String Trio
MICMC ADVISORY GROUP
Lin Bender AM, MICMC Founder, former GM 3MBS | Board Member AFCM
Mark de Raad, MD I-Nex | President Recitals Australia | MVA Members Council | Board Member Chamber Music Adelaide, etc.
Peter Garnick
John Garran