Wednesday 9th December

Sessions: 8.30am to 10.30am; 11.20am to 12.20pm; 12.50pm to 1.50pm

Welcome to the National Concerto Competition – New Zealand’s most distinguished classical competition for talented musicians who are under the age of 25 years on 31st December 2026. The Competition provides an opportunity to perform, a place to celebrate talent, and a platform to launch national and international careers.

Our adjudicators are Michael Houstoun, renowned New Zealand pianist, winner of the National Concerto Competition in 1971 and now patron of the competition, and Ian Munro, Australian pianist, composer and music educator.

We are very excited about the new format.
Following the preliminary rounds, four finalists will be selected to perform again and you may extend your performance up to 30 minutes at your own discretion with an accompanying pianist.

The winner will be announced and be invited to perform with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra as part of the CSO Lamb & Hayward Masterworks series to be held in the Christchurch Town Hall on Saturday 20th March 2027.