Fritzi Trio Wins Major Musica Viva Competition

The Fritzi Trio are the winners of Musica Viva Australia’s 2024 Strike A Chord competition.

Hailing from Sydney NSW and Melbourne VIC, the ensemble has been awarded the Robert Salzer First Prize, worth $5,000.

The Fritzi Trio consists of violinist Hannah Tyrrell, cellist Jamie Wallace and pianist Vincent Zhu. The group first met and became friends at the Australian Youth Orchestra’s National Music Camp in 2023. Despite the geographical challenge of living in different states, they have enjoyed getting together to rehearse and perform as a piano trio as often as they can. All three intend to pursue their musical studies at a tertiary level and would like to continue to play chamber music together throughout their professional lives.

Strike A Chord is Australia’s national chamber music competition for school ensembles. Established in 2020, it aims to foster a love of chamber music amongst young people and provide an opportunity for students to develop their performance skills and discover the joy of making music with friends.

The members of the Fritzi Trio have participated in previous Strike A Chord competition. Jamie Wallace was a member of Cousin Quartet, the inaugural winner in 2020, and returned in 2022 with a piano quintet from Sydney Grammar School. Violinist Hannah Tyrrell also competed in 2022 with a trio, although her group did not make the final. Pianist Vincent Zhu has been a finalist twice—first on cello with the Bartholdy Trio in 2021 and now as a pianist in 2024. Each of them has participated in every year of the competition’s history, demonstrating how Strike A Chord provides a valuable platform for young musicians to refine their skills, persevere, and grow throughout their musical journeys.

The 2024 Grand Final jury comprised  Wilma Smith, Artistic Director of Competitions, Musica Viva Australia,  Howard Penny: Cellist, Head of Strings at ANAM, Vatche Jambazian, Pianist, Artistic Director of Bowral Autumn Music Festival, Tim White OAM Head of Classical Music at WAAPA and Caroline Henbest, Violist, Resident Faculty at ANAM.

Full list of prizewinners: Strike A Chord Grand Final are: FIRST PRIZE ($5,000) The Robert Salzer Prize – The Fritzi Trio, NSW/VIC
SECOND PRIZE ($4,000) The Paul Morawetz Prize – Take Six, QLD
THIRD PRIZE ($2,500) – JPMS Ensemble Animato, QLD
Other prizes awarded at the Grand Final:
Encouragement Award – Marryatville High School Baroque Ensemble, SA/ Monash Chamber Music Prize – Comet Quartet (NSW)/ Flinders Quartet Mentorship Prize – Lumina Quartet (NSW)/ Firebird Trio Mentorship Prize – Timli Trio (QLD)/ 3MBS Prize – Aneres Trio and Kingussie Trio (VIC)