Wellington History Made

4/Aug/2015

Wellington History Made

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.

The record breaking 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.

“Hopefully this will be the start for many more Wellington groups,” Shweta comments.

Trio Glivenko performed alongside eleven other semi-finalist ensembles, 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 very 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, but this has really defined the year for us.”

Adjudicator panel spokesperson Bridget Douglas says the 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 been making a name for herself as a musician after being selected for the 2015 New Zealand Secondary Schools Symphony Orchestra.

She also plays violin in the Wellington Youth Orchestra, where she 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.

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