The annual Chamber Music Mega Weekend was founded by Helene Pohl in 2014 (then known as the Queen’s Birthday Chamber Music Weekend). Its aim is to help young groups entering the national Chamber Music Contest reach beyond what they thought they could achieve in chamber music performance. Along the way many life skills are learnt and much fun is had. It is a three-day intensive with each group receiving multiple coachings from Wellington’s best chamber music teachers, performing in a master class and in a public concert. It is open to pre-formed groups only, and has had groups from Wellington, Christchurch, Whanganui and the Hawkes Bay participate. It is held annually at the beginning of June. In 2025 it was run in conjunction with the Pettman Academy; this year it’s fully under the auspices of the newly incorporated Wellington String Academy.
The 2026 Chamber Music Mega Weekend will take place at Kings Birthday Weekend, from May 30 – June 1.
VENUE: Wellington High School
TUTORS will include:
- Helene Pohl, Lynley Culliford and Konstanze Artmann (Aroha Quartet), violinists
- Rolf Gjelsten, cellist
- Bridget Douglas, flutist (NZSO)
- Richard Mapp, pianist
- Duo Enharmonics: pianists Beth Chen and Nicole Chao
Immerse yourself in a whole weekend of music with experienced and enthusiastic tutors.
Develop new chamber music skills through intensive coachings, lots of rehearsal time, and master classes.
Ideal final preparation for the NZCT Chamber Music Contest.
Warmup sessions Saturday and Sunday morning.
Coachings and master classes Saturday and Sunday, dress rehearsal and concert Monday.
We would like to accommodate all interested groups but with space and time restrictions it is possible that we will have to select participating groups from the applications received.
We have been successful in fundraising for this Weekend and are able to offer this exceptional experience for the nominal fee of $150 per group/3 days or $120 per group/2 days. All players must also be members of the WSA.
For more information and to see past CMMW photos and feedback