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Issue 54 – October 2015 – QUEEN MARGARET CALLING
The history making Wellington musicians were named the
national winners of the New Zealand Community Trust
(NZCT) Chamber Music Contest on Sunday 2 August at the
Michael Fowler Centre.
Queen Margaret College student Shweta, alongside Bethany
Angus (Wellington East Girls’ College) and Claudia Tarrant-
Matthews (The Correspondence School) were shocked and
honoured to have won.
“It is funny because making it to finals was already a win for us,”
Shweta explains.
“But to be named the National winners was a wonderful
surprise.”
The win was extra special for the trio as it was the first time a
Wellington ensemble has ever won the competition. Auckland and
Christchurch ensembles have previously dominated the competition.
Trio Glivenko performed alongside eleven other semi-finalist,
including six from Auckland, three from Christchurch, two from
Wellington and one from Whangarei.
The trio won the contest performing Shostakovich’s Piano Trio
No. 1 with Bethany on Cello, Claudia on Piano and Shweta on Violin.
“The standard was high. It was an honour to play alongside such
a talented group of musicians,” Shweta says.
“It’s been a lot of work, but so much fun. It’s awesome winning,
which has really defined the year for us.”
Adjudicator panel spokesperson Bridget Douglas says the
Budding musician Shweta Iyer has made
history after her ensemble Trio Glivenko
became the first Wellington group in memory
to win a National Chamber Music Contest.
History Made
By QMC
Student
adjudicators had looked for an ensemble which played the notes off
the page.
“We wanted to see and hear that emotional intensity and we
were looking for a group which showed that musical maturity and
depth that stood out.”
Year 12 student Shweta has already made a name for herself as a
musician after being selected for the 2015 New Zealand Secondary
Schools Symphony Orchestra. She also plays violin in theWellington
Youth Orchestra, where she initially met fellow members of Trio
Glivenko.
Shweta, who has been playing violin since the age of four, says
music has given her the chance to express how she feels.
“It has been 13 years filled with friends, happy memories and lots
of practice,” Shweta comments.
“Music has also linked me to a musical community, who I
consider my extended family.”
As part of the win, Trio Glivenko received the Arthur Hilton
Platinum Award and the Wallace Arts Trust Prize of $1000 each,
which Shweta is planning to put towards her future university
studies.