Adam Summer School for Chamber Music 2026 Finale Concerts

New Zealand String Quartet
34 minutes ago
15 min read

Sunday 15 February 2026, 3pm & 7pm

Nelson Centre of Muscial Arts

Learn more about the Adam Summer School

Welcome from

The Adam Foundation

A warm welcome to the 32nd Adam Summer School for Chamber Music. The Adam Foundation is proud to support the School, which provides talented young musicians with a stimulating environment in which to develop their musicality and technical skills. It has been immensely gratifying to see so many School alumni over the years establish themselves as professional musicians in New Zealand and around the world.

Whether as a participant, tutor, supporter, or member of the Nelson community, I hope you have derived great pleasure from a wonderful week of music-making. Best wishes to all involved in these highly anticipated final performances.

Verna Adam - The Adam Foundation

Welcome from

The New Zealand String Quartet Trust

We are delighted to return to the Nelson Centre of Musical Arts for the Adam Summer School for Chamber Music.

Now in its 32nd year, the School remains remarkable for many reasons. In 2026, for the first time, students have studied New Zealand music alongside works from the classical canon. This year also marks our first School with Martin Smith, our new cellist, and we have been thrilled to welcome School alumna and NZTrio violinist Amalia Hall as guest violin tutor, alongside our esteemed colleague Jian Liu (NZSM–Te Kōki) as guest piano tutor.

In addition to intensive coaching sessions and masterclasses, students have taken part in a range of professional development opportunities designed to strengthen their chamber music skills. The 29 students have shown outstanding dedication, curiosity, and musical passion throughout the week, and we are excited to present the Class of 2026 at these Finale Concerts.

None of this would be possible without the generosity of our funding partners and individual donors—thank you for your invaluable support.

STUDENTS & REPERTOIRE

Beethoven String Quartet No. 6 in B-flat major, Op. 18

+ “Of Sorrows” - Estella Wallace

Ambrose Tarrant Violin

Catherine Harrison Violin

Milliann Lim Viola

Reilly Blennerhassett Cello

Borodin String Quartet No. 2 in D major

+ “I danced, unseen” - Tabea Squire

Priscilla Teh Violin

Indiana Bell Violin

Abigail Zhao Viola

Elise Tian Cello

Schubert String Quartet No. 15 in G major D. 887 (movements)

+ “4 Klezmer Tunes” - Ross Harris

Rose Stevenson Violin

Archie Lamont-Bowden Violin

Francesca Fong Viola

Damon Herlihy-O’Brien Cello

Schubert String Quintet in C major, D. 956

+ “Spirals” - Anthony Ritchie & “Duet for two cellos” – Arnold Trowell

Leila Dunlop Violin

Cara Bryant Violin

Solace Ward Viola

Howard Lu Cello

Tomos Christie Cello

Brahms Piano Trio No. 2 in C major, Op. 87

+ “Subtle Dances” - Claire Cowan

Esther Oh Violin

Esther Lee Cello

Polly Lee Piano

Fauré Piano Quartet No. 1 in C minor, Op. 15

+ “The Sacred Mountain” - Alfred Hill

Etella Ritchie Violin

Haydn Li Viola

George Li Cello

Ozan Biner-McGrath Piano

Elgar Piano Quintet in A minor, Op. 84

+ “Frozen Blossoms” - Mika Cornelius

Ella Chen Violin

Tristan Dunlop Violin

Abby Wheeler Viola

DJ Hopkinson Cello

Ethan Rawhiti Hotter Piano

STUDENT BIOS

Beethoven String Quartet No. 6 in B-flat major, Op. 18

+ “Of Sorrows” - Estella Wallace

AMBROSE TARRANT | VIOLIN

Ambrose began learning the violin at age four in Wellington and aspires to a career as a professional concert violinist. Now 18, he plans to continue his musical education overseas next year. He has a strong interest in chamber music and is delighted to be attending his second Adam Summer School. Ambrose has performed with the National Youth Orchestra in 2024 and 2025, serving as co-concertmaster in one programme, and appeared as soloist with the Nelson Symphony Orchestra in 2025 performing Saint-Saëns’ Violin Concerto No. 3. He also placed third in the National Young Performer Awards in 2025. Ambrose performs in the quartet SCRAM!, which reached the regional finals of the New Zealand Chamber Music Contest.

CATHERINE HARRISON | VIOLIN

Catherine, a 15‑year‑old violinist from Lower Hutt, studies Suzuki violin with Lynley Culliford and also plays piano, guitar, and drums. She performs with WYO, has played in NYO and NZSSSO, and is excited to be the 2026 NZSSSO concertmaster. She has reached the NZCT Chamber Music Competition National Finals three years in a row and won the 2023 Hutt Valley Concerto category, leading to a solo performance with the Hutt Valley Orchestra. Catherine loves performing, whether it is in an orchestra, chamber music, or as a soloist. She has three chickens, two cats, and a dog who likes to sing along whenever she plays the violin.

MILLIANN LIM | VIOLA

This is Milliann's second Adam Summer School. Milliann is an 18-year-old violist from Wellington. She started off as a violinist at the age of five and switched to viola in 2022. In addition to chamber music, Milliann also enjoys orchestral music, having held the position of principal violist in NZSSSO in 2024 and 2025, as well as playing viola in NZSO NYO.

REILLY BLENNERHASSETT | CELLO

My name is Reilly, and I’m an 18-year-old cellist from Wellington. In 2026 I’m starting a BSc at the University of Auckland. I’ve enjoyed playing in a number of orchestras and chamber groups over the years, with one of my musical highlights being playing in the National Youth Orchestra for the last two years. In my free time I play in jazz bands as a bassist and also play cricket.

Borodin String Quartet No. 2 in D major

+ “I danced, unseen” - Tabea Squire

PRISCILLA TEH | VIOLIN

Priscilla Teh is a 15-year-old violinist from Auckland, currently studying with Dr. John Thomson. Last year, she performed as a soloist with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and the Nelson Symphony Orchestra. She was an Instrumental Nominee for the 2025 National Young Performer Awards and has won prizes in both national and international competitions, including the Singapore International Music Competition. Priscilla recently achieved her LTCL in violin performance with Distinction. She is very grateful for the opportunity to attend the Adam Summer School and looks forward to connecting with other musicians and learning from incredible industry professionals.

INDIANA BELL | VIOLIN

Indiana Bell is a violinist from Christchurch. She was Principal Second Violin of the 2025 New Zealand National Youth Orchestra and Concertmaster of the Christchurch Youth Orchestra and has appeared as a soloist with the Christchurch Youth Orchestra. A 2023 NZCT South Island Chamber Music Finalist and recipient of a University of Canterbury Blues Award, Indiana performs regularly as a soloist and chamber musician. Recent highlights include touring the South Island with composer Rakuto Kurano and appearing in Coca-Cola Christmas in the Park 2024.

ABIGAIL ZHAO | VIOLA

Abigail Zhao is a 14-year-old violist from Wellington, currently in Year 11 at Scots College. She has been studying with Donald Maurice since 2023 and has had the opportunity to perform with the National Youth Orchestra, New Zealand Secondary Schools Symphony Orchestra, and Wellington Youth Orchestra. Abigail is very grateful for these experiences and remains committed to growing as a musician.

ELISE TIAN | CELLO

Elise Tian is a Year 11 music scholar at Rangi Ruru Girls’ School who began learning cello and piano at age five. She studies cello with Galyna Zelinska and Rolf Gjelsten, with additional guidance from Zoe Knighton, and piano with Michael Endres. Elise debuted as a soloist with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra at age nine and again at 13. An avid chamber musician, she was a four-time national finalist in the NZCT Chamber Music Contest before winning in 2024. Her piano trio, Senza Espressione, won the American Virtuoso International Music Competition and performed at Carnegie Hall. Elise is an alumna of the Adam Summer School and has participated in masterclasses and summer courses in Austria and Italy.

Schubert String Quartet No. 15 in G major D. 887 (movements)

+ “4 Klezmer Tunes” - Ross Harris

ROSE STEVENSON | VIOLIN

My name is Rose Stevenson, and I play the violin. I have just completed my Master’s of Music at UoA. I grew up in Dunedin and completed my Bachelor of Music there with Tessa Petersen. I then lived in Melbourne for a year, learning from Wilma Smith while working at a music shop and a coffee shop before moving to Auckland to do my Master’s with Mark Bennett. I am very interested in other genres alongside classical music, and I wrote my Master’s dissertation on playing jazz violin from a classical perspective.

ARCHIE LAMONT-BOWDEN | VIOLIN

Kia ora! I’m Archie, I am twenty years old and have been playing the violin since the age of eight. I was drawn to classical music from a young age, often sitting beside the CD player listening to my favourite album - a collection of Mozart’s string quartets. I remember the profound effect these quartets had on me. This is what has always driven my playing - that music can create experiences that words, even poetry, simply cannot capture. My unwavering love of the violin has led me to study it at the university of Auckland where I am in my third year under the guidance of violin professor, Mark Bennett.

FRANCESCA FONG | VIOLA

Francesca is a third year University of Auckland Student, currently studying under Julie Park and previously under Mark Bennett. Francesca aspires to be a versatile violist that is able to perform in almost any setting. She believes that the viola is a great and flexible instrument and she would like to share its warm and colourful sound to the world.

DAMON HERLIHY-O’BRIEN | CELLO

Damon began playing the cello before his fourth birthday, initially studying through the Suzuki Method with Sally-Anne and Anna-Marie Alloway, and later with James Bush and James Tennant. He has just completed a conjoint Bachelor of Music (Cello Performance) and Bachelor of Science in Psychology at the University of Auckland. A sought-after soloist and ensemble musician, Damon is Principal Cellist of the Auckland Youth Orchestra and freelances across Auckland. He performs on a Carboni cello loaned by the Sir Michael Hill Foundation Instrument Bank, has participated in festivals in New Zealand and Europe, is an Auckland Philharmonia Aspiring Musician, and is preparing for postgraduate study in Europe in 2026, with a long-term focus on musician wellbeing.

Schubert String Quintet in C major, D. 956

+ “Spirals” - Anthony Ritchie & “Duet for two cellos” – Arnold Trowell

LEILA DUNLOP | VIOLIN

Leila completed a Bachelor of Music with First Class Honours at Victoria University of Wellington in 2025, studying with Helene Pohl and Gillian Ansell. Her experience includes the National Youth Orchestra and the Adam Summer School, where she won the Donald Armstrong Award in 2024. In 2025, she was runner-up in the New Zealand School of Music Concerto Competition, performing the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto. Leila founded a string quartet with friends, performing at events for Google, Science New Zealand, and Victoria University of Wellington. She also participated in a masterclass with Augustin Hadelich and performs on a violin generously loaned by Erika Schors and the NZSO National Youth Orchestra.

CARA BRYANT | VIOLIN

Cara Bryant began her violin journey at age six, studying with Juliet Ayre in Nelson. She was inspired to start playing the violin after seeing Bob Bickerton pretend to eat one at an Adam Festival children’s concert! She is about to begin her second year of a Bachelor of Music at NZSM, studying with Martin Riseley. Since moving to Wellington, she has performed at a variety of events, including Classical on Cuba and Palestine relief fundraisers. Cara also enjoys other styles of music, such as jazz. In 2025 she participated in the NZSM Jazz Combo Competition, where her group won Best First-Year Combo and Best Arrangement.

SOLACE WARD | VIOLA

Solace is a 20-year-old viola student from Palmerston North. They achieved an LTCL in their final year of high school and now study classical performance and composition at the NZSM, Victoria University of Wellington. Solace learns with Gillian Ansell from the New Zealand String Quartet and will go into the second year of their bachelors in 2026. Last year Solace played Anthony Ritchie’s viola concerto with the Wellington Youth Orchestra after placing first in the concerto competition and joined Orchestra Wellington’s Shostakovich series as a sub-player.

HOWARD LU | CELLO

Howard, a third-year student at the University of Auckland, is juggling a Bachelor of Music and Mechatronics engineering degree while interning at a semiconductor company this summer. He’s making great progress in his 5-year degree, thanks to his cellist mentor, James Yoo. As a three-time PenCello scholarship winner, he’s also received other scholarships to assist him in his studies. Howard’s also won the 2025 Auckland Youth Orchestra concerto competition, so he’ll be playing Tchaikovsky’s rococo variation with the orchestra under the baton of Antun Poljanić. He’s also part of the aspiring musician programme under the Auckland Philharmonic.

TOMOS CHRISTIE | CELLO

Tomos Christie is a cellist approaching his fourth year of study with Inbal Megiddo at the New Zealand School of Music in Wellington. In coming years, he is hoping to pursue further performance studies overseas and is motivated to find meaningful ways of sharing the things he is learning along the way. In his free time, Tomos enjoys reading, composing, cycling and playing table tennis.

Brahms Piano Trio No. 2 in C major, Op. 87

+ “Subtle Dances” - Claire Cowan

ESTHER OH | VIOLIN

Esther was born and raised in Auckland to South Korean parents and enters their final year studying music at UoA. They were concertmaster the last two National Youth Orchestra programmes, and the inaugural NZ exchange student at the Australian Youth Orchestra National Camp. Esther has performed with Dunedin Symphony, NZSO, and the Thailand Philharmonic. They were a Young Artist at the 2025 Michael Hill Whakatipu Festival. 2026 is Esther's second year of conducting workshops with Benjamin Northey and CSO, and their first year in the NZSO Conducting Fellowship. Esther plays on a 1951 Sderci on loan from Sistema Aotearoa.

ESTHER LEE | CELLO

Esther Lee is an accomplished New Zealand cellist based in Auckland. She began cello at five and received her early training at the Pettman National Junior Academy of Music under Edith Salzmann. She commenced her tertiary studies at the New Zealand School of Music at 17, graduating with distinction and earning a place on the Dean’s List, where she studied under Inbal Megiddo. Her achievements include the Barbara Finlayson Scholarship, Clare Galambos Winter Scholarship, and Therle Drake Postgraduate Scholarship, alongside multiple NZSM performance awards. Esther served as principal cellist of the NZSM Orchestra for three consecutive years and was a member of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra National Youth Orchestra.

POLLY LEE | PIANO

Polly Lee graduated from Rangi Ruru Girls’ School in 2025 and holds a Fellowship of Trinity College London in piano and her Licentiate of Trinity College London with distinction in violin. She began learning both instruments at age five and now studies piano with Michael Endres. Polly debuted as a soloist with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra at age nine, returning in 2018, 2019, and 2022. Her chamber group reached the NZCT Chamber Music Contest national finals for five consecutive years, winning in 2024. In 2023, her piano trio won the American Virtuoso International Music Competition and performed at Carnegie Hall. She also played first violin in the NZSO National Youth Orchestra in 2022.

Fauré Piano Quartet No. 1 in C minor, Op. 15

+ “The Sacred Mountain” - Alfred Hill

ESTELLA RITCHIE | VIOLIN

Estella Ritchie is a 17-year-old violinist from Wellington studying under Malavika Gopal. Estella began violin at the age of 8, when she first experienced the joy of ensemble music through a community strings orchestra. Since then, she has developed a passion for it, playing in the 2024 and 2025 National Youth Orchestra, the New Zealand Secondary Schools’ Symphony Orchestra, and NZCT Chamber Contest regional finals. Having studied violin performance at NZSM through the Stars programme in 2025, Estella plans on continuing her violin journey part-time approaching her first year of tertiary education.

HAYDN LI | VIOLA

Haydn, 18, recently graduated from Canterbury College as a full scholarship student and Captain of Performing Arts. He studies violin and viola with Yoon Joo Jee and holds LMusA on both instruments, as well as an FTCL in viola (2025). A two-time recitalist in the John Curro National Youth Concerto Competition and three-time finalist in the QSO Young Instrumentalist Prize, Haydn has appeared as concerto soloist with several orchestras and led QYO2 and Redland Sinfonia as Concertmaster. An accomplished chamber musician, he has won national prizes with his string quartet and sextet and performed internationally in Europe. He is also a champion athlete in athletics and cross-country.

GEORGE LI | CELLO

Fourteen-year-old cellist George Li is a full-scholarship Year 10 student at Canterbury College, studying with Yoon Bee Jee. He made his concerto debut at age six in Brisbane City Hall and became the youngest-ever member of the Queensland Youth Orchestra that year. George has since performed internationally, achieved his LMusA with Distinction in 2025, and is a five-time national finalist in Musica Viva’s Strike A Chord, winning first prize in 2025. He has toured with the Queensland Youth Symphony, attended the ACO Academy, received second prize in the AUSTAQ Concerto Competition in 2024 and 2025, and regularly performs as a chamber musician nationally and internationally.

OZAN BINER-MCGRATH | PIANO

Ozan Biner-McGrath is a 17-year-old pianist from Dunedin. He currently studies with his father Tom McGrath but has also learnt with John Colwill. In 2025, he won the Dunedin Concerto Competition, played in the NSO Solo Spotlight concert, and the NSZO emerging artists concert as a concerto soloist. In previous years, he has also participated and won prizes in various competitions throughout the country. He is greatly looking forward to being able to play in the 2026 Adam Summer School and hopes that you enjoy the performance. Outside of music he enjoys cricket, camping, and cooking.

Elgar Piano Quintet in A minor, Op. 84

+ “Frozen Blossoms” - Mika Cornelius

ELLA CHEN | VIOLIN

Ella is going into her third year of Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Auckland and has been spending the last summer fiddling away in her professor Dan Furkert’s lab. Originally from Christchurch, studying violin under Stephen Larsen, she competed annually in the NZCT Chamber Music Contest as a three-time finalist, where her love for chamber music grew. She also performs with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra as a casual player and is a part of the APO Aspiring Musicians programme. Ella was also awarded the 2024 Conservatorium of Music Entrance Grant funded by the Corinna D'Hage Mayer String Bequest at the University of Melbourne.

TRISTAN DUNLOP | VIOLIN

Tristan has studied violin since age five and piano since age eight. He was selected as Deputy Concertmaster of the NZSSSO in 2024 and 2025 and is a first violinist in the NZSO National Youth Orchestra. A prize winner at Cashmere High School, he has regularly won the October Music Competitions and received the school’s Arts Person and Musician of the Year awards. In 2024 and 2025, Tristan won awards at Southern Jam and Ara Jazz Quest for composition and piano. A versatile musician and keen composer, he has a particular love for film music and jazz, and studies violin with Stephen Larsen and piano with Raya Marinova.

ABBY WHEELER | VIOLA

Abby Wheeler is a 20-year-old violist from Christchurch going into her 3rd year studying at the New Zealand School of Music with a Bachelor of Music majoring in Classical Performance and minoring in Asian Studies, under the tutelage of Gillian Ansell. She has been a member of the NZSO National Youth Orchestra since 2022, Associate Principal Viola of the NZSSSO and Principal Viola of the Christchurch Youth Orchestra in 2023 and Principal Viola of the NZSM Orchestra in 2025. This will be Abby's 2nd Adam Summer School and she is looking forward to performing with her friends again.

DJ HOPKINSON | CELLO

Hi, I’m DJ, I’m 21 and I’m mostly known for playing the cello. I come from Whangārei where the music community is small and being versatile is highly valued, so I have been known to play the flute, bassoon, viola, piano, and to conduct and compose on the odd occasion, and I’m always happy to sing. I am currently studying cello at the New Zealand School of Music however I have previously done study as a flutist. As this is my first time in the South Island, I’m very pleased to spend it making music and learning with some wonderful people.

ETHAN RAWHITI HOTTER | PIANO

Wellington-born pianist Ethan Rawhiti Hotter graduated in 2025 with a Bachelor of Music (Honours) from Victoria University of Wellington, where he studied with Dr Jian Liu and Emma Sayers. He began learning piano at age seven and has extensive experience as a collaborative musician. In 2025, Ethan was répétiteur for Wellington Opera’s Mate Ururoa by Dame Gillian Whitehead and performed in Brigid Bisley’s In Return concert in Whanganui. In 2024, he was sponsored by Professor Jack C. Richards to attend the Semaine Internationale de Piano in Switzerland. Ethan is committed to collaboration and plans to pursue further study overseas.

SUPPORT YOUNG MUSICIANS

Play your part in launching the careers of the next generation of New Zealand musicians by making a donation to the Adam Summer School for Chamber Music.

The New Zealand String Quartet - Te Rōpū Tūrū o Aotearoa is dedicated to nurturing and developing young artists in Aotearoa. As a registered charity we rely on donations from generous individuals to support our work.

Each year the Adam Summer School is made possible with the support of a generous group of individuals who donate student scholarships to support young musicians who would not otherwise be able to attend. If you're passionate about the future of New Zealand chamber music and want to help these young musicians set up their careers, then you too can donate to the Adam Summer School.

To sponsor a student or make a one-off donation to the NZSQ to support our wider education work, head to our website or get in touch via email:

“There is no other young emerging chamber music coaching festival in NZ where [...] so many musicians are able to participate and deliver. You become more socially aware of your standing in the music world in NZ and the tutors are so incredibly encouraging and I definitely feel so seen and safe being at the summer school every year.”

2025 Adam Summer School Student

WE GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGE OUR SPONSORS