News

In its first public held event at St John’s Smith Square, the winner of the second Carne Trust Chamber Competition, was announced on Wednesday 22 June. This high-profile chamber music prize is delivered by Trinity Laban with generous support from The Carne Trust.

The live final of the Carne Trust Chamber Competition took place on 22 June 2022, hosted for the first time after its launch was impacted by the pandemic, in front of an audience and adjudicating panel of Trinity Laban experts including Chief Executive of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Crispin Woodhead and prize-winning soprano, Ailish Tynan.

Following the preliminary rounds in March, the final saw four outstanding ensembles – The Bolling Quartet, Beyond the Bell, Meridian Guitar Quartet and Waldstein Quartet – compete for a share of the £4000 prize fund, generously supported by The Carne Trust fund.

The Meridian Guitar Quartet was named as the winner, and the Waldstein Quartet as runners-up.

The Meridian Guitar Quartet are currently Trinity Laban classical guitar students, Antoine Assaf, Kolja Gibbs, Bárbara Matos and Nick Tait. Since the group first formed in 2018, under the tutelage of Graham Devine, professor of guitar at Trinity Laban, they have performed around London in concerts, masterclasses and festivals, and in venues such as Southwark Cathedral, King’s Place, Wigmore Hall and King’s College. They were finalists in the inaugural Carne Trust Chamber Competition in 2020 and in the same year were awarded the John Thompson String Ensemble Prize.

Principal of Trinity Laban 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. Everyone who performed was outstanding and should feel immensely proud. The other judges and I enjoyed every minute.”

The competition is generously supported by The Carne Trust. Since its inception in 2006, the Trust has helped numerous talented young artists across the performing arts and supports The Carne Trust Fellowship for an Individual and The Carne Trust Ensembles in Residence at Trinity Laban.

Trustee of The Carne Trust, Philip Carne MBE commented –

“It was a pleasure to see four very different chamber ensembles perform last night showcasing the wealth and variety of talent at Trinity Laban. The Meridian Guitar Quartet are worthy winners against incredibly strong competition, and I am so pleased to support chamber music at Trinity Laban and enable these creative ensembles to come together.”

Chamber music is a central focus of training at Trinity Laban. Music students receive frequent coaching led by the internationally acclaimed staff, many of whom perform in the country’s leading ensembles. Each term instrumentalists also have the chance to work with The Carne Trust Ensembles in Residence: the Carducci Quartet, the Linos Trio and the Smith Quartet.

In addition to structured chamber music, students are also encouraged to create their own opportunities and can showcase their talents in venues such as St Martin-In-The-Fields, Wigmore Hall, St James’s Piccadilly and The Old Royal Naval College Chapel.

The full concert programme for The Carne Trust Chamber Competition is available here

Interested in finding out more about studying Music at Trinity Laban? Find out more about our programmes and departments here