This was once again a very successful event held in Auckland from the 29 - 30th August 2009. We had an excellent turnout of students, ranging from Primary to Tertiary level, playing on the full range of woodwind instruments - the talent of our NZ woodwind players was very much in evidence during the weekend. My congratulations to all those who competed as the standard was extremely high and we were spoilt with the large number of beautifully prepared performances.

My thanks to our esteemed judges, Ingrid Culliford, Jim Langabeer, Andrew Uren, Alisa Willis, Gretchen Dunsmore and Christopher Swann for their valuable constructive feedback for our young musicians as well as their fun and supportive attitude to these youngsters.

Finally a huge thank you to all those who helped make  the Woodwind Competitions so successful once again!.

Major sponsors:

KBB Music, Music Works, Lewis Eady Charitable Trust, SOUNZ, NZ Music Examination Board, Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, Auckland Symphony Orchestra, North Shore Junior Orchestra, Flute Focus, Aotea Youth Symphony, Edgewater College, Epsom Girls Grammar School, Birkenhead College, Botany Downs Secondary College, Manurewa High School, Sacred Heart College, Takapuna Grammar School

NZ Woodwind Competitions 2009 Results:

Primary Class

KBB Music 1st Place: Christo Karadjov Clarinet (Auckland)

KBB Music 2nd Place: Noah Rudd Oboe (Auckland)

KBB Music 3rd Place: Rebekah Bradley Flute (Auckland)

Music Works Most Promising Performer: Louisa Williamson Saxophone (Taupo)

SOUNZ - Best Performance of a NZ Work: Jessie Brightwell Flute (Auckland)

Lewis Eady Charitable Trust Concerto Prize: Christo Karadjov Clarinet (Auckland)

Secondary Class

KBB Music 1st Place: Hye-Won Suh Flute (Auckland)

KBB Music 2nd Place: Athene Laws Clarinet (Auckland)

KBB Music 3rd Place: David McGregor Clarinet (Auckland)

Music Works Most Performer: Joshua White Clarinet (Taupo)

SOUNZ - Best Performance of a NZ Work: Kenny Keppel Clarinet (Auckland)

Lewis Eady Charitable Trust Concerto Prize: Hye-Won Suh Flute (Auckland)

Tertiary Class

KBB Music 1st Place: Tianyi Lu Flute (Auckland)

KBB Music 2nd Place: Kylie Nesbit Bassoon (Wellington)

KBB Music 3rd Place: Julia Deverall Flute (Wellington)

Music Works Most Promising Performer: Eshian Teo Flute (Wellington)

SOUNZ - Best Performance of a NZ Work: Eshian Teo Flute (Wellington)

Lewis Eady Charitable Trust Concerto Prize: Tianyi Lu Flute (Auckland)

Details for the 2010 NZ Woodwind Competitions will be posted here soon - we look forward to another great weekend of woodwind excellence!

Mary O’Brien is a flute teacher based on the North Shore in Auckland, New Zealand. She plays 2nd flute and piccolo with the Auckland Symphony Orchestra and is a past president of the Auckland Flute Society and the New Zealand Flute Society. She is the Editor in chief and the driving force behind Flute Focus.(Photo credit - Ron Weiss)