The origins of the present Intercollegiate Chamber Music Competition go back to the Heller Quartet Prize, founded and endowed in 1961 by Rosemary Rapaport in memory of her husband, Gerard Heller. Gerard was an amateur pianist with a passion for chamber music, particularly string quartets, hosting many concerts in his home, including the Griller Quartet’s first performance in Manchester. Rosemary was a violinist who studied and subsequently taught at the Royal Academy of Music. In 1962, along with her friend Irene Foster, she established the Purcell School.

In 2012 the Competition was given a fresh endowment by CAVATINA Chamber Music Trust, a charity which aims to develop and foster younger audiences for chamber music. CAVATINA was founded by Simon and Pamela Majaro in 1998, with the aim of developing the next generation of chamber music lovers and players. CAVATINA was a big part of Simon and Pamela’s lives - a passion - which was recognised in 2011 when they were both made MBEs for services to music. Pamela sadly died in 2016 and Simon in 2025, having handed CAVATINA over to Wigmore Hall's care in 2020.

The Competition is dedicated to both Pamela and Simon, and is supported by a legacy from Simon’s estate.

String quartets now alternate annually with piano trios to compete for the prizes. The 2026 Competition is open to piano trios, and we are delighted to have 7 ensembles in the Competition from conservatoires across the country.

The ensembles competing in 2026 are:

Trio Automne
Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama

Chiarina Trio
Royal Northern College of Music

Estuary Trio
Royal Academy of Music

Maestoso Trio
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland

Trio Myrthen
Guildhall School of Music and Drama

Trio Rossetti
Royal College of Music

Trio Verve
Trinity Laban

Eligibility of Student Ensembles:

• Conservatoires are invited to nominate one student ensemble to participate.
• Ensembles holding any collective fellowship are not allowed to compete.
• Ensembles should be made up of current students (undergraduate or postgraduate) from the same conservatoire. (An exception will be made if one member of the ensemble is a graduate of the same conservatoire and completed their studies in the previous academic year).
• The winning ensemble is not allowed to re-enter an intercollegiate competition in subsequent years. Individual winners are permitted to enter as a member of a different group, provided that they do not make up the majority of the new ensemble.

This year, participating piano trios will compete for the following:

• First prize: £500 per player and an offer of a paid performance as part of the Sunday Concerts series at Conway Hall.
• Second prize: £250 per player
• Audience Prize: £150 per player. This will be awarded by an online vote which can be accessed here CAVATINA Competition Audience Prize Vote. Voting for this prize will close at 5.00pm on Friday 22 May 2026.

This year’s Competition will be adjudicated by Richard Bratby.

Grateful thanks to the Laurie & Gillian Marsh Charitable Trust for its continuing support for the Competition, particularly the prizes.

We’re delighted to announce this year’s winners:
First Prize ⋅ Trio Rossetti from the Royal College of Music

Second Prize ⋅ Chiarina Trio from the Royal Northern College of Music

Audience Prize ⋅ Chiarina Trio from the Royal Northern College of Music

In case you missed it, you can catch up here: CAVATINA Intercollegiate Chamber Music Competition - Live from Wigmore Hall
To vote for the audience prize, please visit CAVATINA Competition Audience Prize vote

Details of our 2027 Competition – which will be for string quartets - will be announced soon.