The Dora Piano Trio won CHF5,000 (£4,500), several concert and masterclass opportunities and the commissioning of a new work
The finals of the Orpheus Swiss Chamber Music Competition took place at the Bern Conservatory of Music in Bern, Switzerland on 16 and 17 November. 16 chamber ensembles performed, with five taking home prizes.
First prize was awarded to the Dora Piano Trio. It receives CHF5,000 (£4,500), concert engagements at the 2025 Swiss Chamber Music Festival, Festival Musikdorf Ernen, Zunftkonzerte Zürich, and Piano Trio Fest in Bern. The group will also have the opportunity to participate in the Rheinau Masterclasses.
Saxophone-percussion duo Sax&Perc won the CHF3,000 (£2,700) second prize as well as a performance at the 2025 Swiss Chamber Music Festival, while the MOMO Quartet won third prize and CHF2,000 (£1,800), and a concert at the same festival.
All three top prizewinners will also have the opportunity to commission a new work by a young Swiss composer.
Two other ensembles were given concert engagements at the 2025 Swiss Chamber Music Festival: the Wendel Quartet and the Arda Quartet.
All ensembles are students in music schools across Switzerland including the Basel, Geneva and Lucerne music schools.
The Dora Piano Trio is a Swiss-Italian ensemble based in Basel. The trio studies at the Basel University of Music and comprises violinist Sofia De Falco, cellist Axelle Richez and pianist Rocco Michela.
The competition, which was launched in Zurich in 1974, is celebrating its 50th year. It aims to promote young musicians from Swiss music academies, and is one of the country’s major national chamber music competitions. The 2024 jury comprised Reito Bieri, Chiara Samatanga, Sarah Dayan, Raphael Camenisch and Benjamin Engeli.
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