The Melbourne-based Affinity Quartet has become the first ever Australian string quartet to take out the first prize in the 2023 Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition (MICMC), at its Grand Final performance at the Melbourne Recital Centre yesterday.

Stéphanie Kabanyana Kanyandekwe, Affinity Quartet, Terra String Quartet, Risus Quartet. Photo supplied

Receiving the $30,000 Monash University Grand Prize, the quartet has also received the first prize for string quartets, the $30,000 Robert Salzer Foundation Prize alongside the $8,000 Audience Prize for String Quartet. The victory also sees the ensemble for two performances on 11 and 12 July in the ACT.

The Terra String Quartet, based in New York, received second prize, and the Risus Quartet, based between South Korea and Texas, was awarded third prize.

Trio Orelon from Germany has been awarded first prize in the Piano Trio category, taking home the $22,500 Tony Berg Prize. The Paris-based Trio Pantoum won second place, while the Audience Prize and third place was given to Budapest’s Trio Bohémo.

Two prizes also acknowledged two groups for the best performance of the two...