Musica Viva Australia (MVA) has today announced that it is “transferring custodianship” of the Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition.

The organisation will “support a smooth transition to the new team of professionals and volunteers” for the competition’s 2027 iteration, though it is currently unclear who that team will be.

Affinity Quartet at the Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition, 2023. Photo © James Grant Photography

The move arrives after MVA announced the conclusion of its funding agreement with Creative Victoria in 2025, which has not been picked up for renewal.

The future of MVA’s Strike A Chord youth program had been similarly in doubt as a result of Creative Victoria’s decision, but a $300,000 donation from the Hansen Little Foundation in January ensured its continuation into 2026.

The Melbourne International Chamber Music Festival was founded in 1991 by Marco van Pagee and Lin Bender; MVA took custody of it in 2015. With a stream for string quartets and piano trios, the event offers a prize pool of over $150,000 to its competitors. The Competition is hosted every four years, with the next festival set for on-time delivery on 4–11 July, 2027. Wilma Smith, MVA’s Artistic Director of Competitions, will remain to oversee it.

“We are grateful to the many volunteers, supporters, audience members, musicians, jurors and MVA staff who contributed to the success of the MICMC competitions under MVA’s stewardship,” said MVA in a statement.

More about the Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition can be found here.