Carne Trust Chamber Competition winner announced
Florence Lockheart
Thursday, June 30, 2022
The Meridian Guitar Quartet won the competitions first in-person final with the Waldstein Quartet named as runner-up
The Carne Trust Chamber Competition final took place as a public event for the first time since its launch during the pandemic. Competitors performed in front of a live audience and an expert judging panel at St John’s Smith Square.
The Meridian Guitar Quartet was named as competition winner, beating finalists The Bolling Quartet, Beyond the Bell and Waldstein Quartet which was announced as runner-up. The competition is open to student ensembles across the faculty of music at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance.
Conservatoire principal and competition judge, Professor Anthony Bowne said: ‘The winning ensemble was exceptional and a testament to our students’ creativity and dedication to their art forms. Chamber music is central to a musician’s development, enabling our students to discover and realise their shared artistic ambitions. This competition is a fantastic opportunity for us to recognise the collaborations that take place at Trinity Laban.’
The jury, which also included Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment chief executive, Crispin Woodhead and soprano, Ailish Tynan, assessed the ensembles competing for a share of the £4000 prize fund, supported by scholarships and funding organisation the Carne Trust.
Philip Carne MBE, trustee, said: ‘It was a pleasure to see four very different chamber ensembles perform last night showcasing the wealth and variety of talent at Trinity Laban… I am so pleased to support chamber music at Trinity Laban and enable these creative ensembles to come together.’
Meridian Guitar Quartet is composeed of Trinity Laban classical guitar students, Antoine Assaf, Kolja Gibbs, Bárbara Matos and Nick Tait. They were finalists in the inaugural Carne Trust Chamber Competition in 2020 and have also been awarded the John Thompson String Ensemble Prize.
You can find out more about Trinity Laban here.