CAVATINA Intercollegiate Chamber Music Competition

Next edition

Edition

2027

Dates

to be announced

Location

Wigmore Hall, London

Source: wigmore-hall.org.uk

Overview

Annual competition for student chamber ensembles nominated by UK conservatoires (one per conservatoire), alternating between piano trios and string quartets. It has roots in the Heller Quartet Prize founded in 1961.

Organiser

CAVATINA Chamber Music Trust (held at Wigmore Hall)

Instruments

Piano trio, String quartet

Category

Piano chamber music, String quartet, Piano trio & quartet

Rotating

Alternates piano trio / string quartet; 2027: string quartet
Next edition: Chamber music (String quartet)

Age limits

No age limit stated; current students (or previous-year graduates) of the same UK conservatoire

Jury & prizes

Jury

• Richard Bratby (adjudicator, 2026)

Prizes

• 1st prize: GBP 500 per player and a paid concert in the Conway Hall Sunday Concerts series
• 2nd prize: GBP 250 per player
• Audience prize: GBP 150 per player (online vote)

Past editions

• 2026 — Wigmore Hall, London (piano trios) source
  1st: Trio Rossetti (Royal College of Music); 2nd: Chiarina Trio (Royal Northern College of Music); Audience prize: Chiarina Trio
• 2025 — Wigmore Hall, London source
  1st: Tamesis Quartet (Guildhall)