The IncrediBows have won the 2025 Strike A Chord national chamber music competition.

The ensemble received the Robert Salzer First Prize, worth $5,000.

Strike A Chord is Australia’s national competition for school-aged chamber groups. Established in 2020 by Musica Viva Australia, it provides a platform for young musicians to develop performance skills and experience chamber music.

The IncrediBows at Strike a Chord Final. Photo © James Grant

The IncrediBows is a string quartet formed in 2022 by childhood friends Ein Na, Eric Kim, George Li and Haydn Li.

The group was coached by Tim Li and reached the Strike A Chord finals the same year. In 2024, they became the core of Take Six, which placed second in the competition.

Members of the quartet have performed as soloists, held youth orchestra leadership roles and received scholarships and prizes. As a group, they aim to develop their ensemble playing and broaden their repertoire.

Second Prize (the $4000 Paul Morawetz Prize) was awarded to Victoria’s Kingussie Trio, third was ATC Trio, from Queensland.

The 2025 Strike a Chord Final. Photo © James Grant

The 2025 national final featured ensembles from across the country. Performances were assessed by a jury chaired by Musica Viva Australia’s Artistic Director of Competitions, Wilma Smith.

Other jury members were Ensemble Q co-artistic director Trish Dean, Monash University’s head of strings Anna McMichael, clarinettist and educator Lloyd Van’t Hoff, and pianist Timothy Young of the Australian National Academy of Music.

“The Strike A Chord final never fails to bowl me over,” said Wilma Smith, Jury Chair and Musica Viva Australia Artistic Director of Competitions. “Of course, we know now to expect performances of extremely high quality but each finalist group this year shared with us such compelling musicianship that I am once again moved and flabbergasted by their diligence, passion and conviction.”

Musica Viva Australia chief executive Anne Frankenberg said the competition highlighted the achievements of young musicians nationwide.

“At Musica Viva Australia, it’s a joy and a privilege to support the next generation of musicians as they explore, create, and grow. Programs like Strike A Chord give young artists the chance to be inspired, challenged, and celebrated for their passion, talent, and dedication.”

Strike A Chord is one of Musica Viva Australia’s national education programs, which reach more than 200,000 students each year.