Kiwi musicians to take on the region's best

Miranda Wilson (left), Anna van der Zee, Jennifer Banks and Christiaan van der Zee.

Four young New Zealanders arrive in Melbourne this week to take on the region's best in a classical music competition that could push them to international stardom.

The Tasman String Quartet, at present based in Boulder, Colorado, will compete in the Asia Pacific Chamber Music Competition against artists from Australia, China, Japan and South Korea.

The competition, held every four years, will showcase emerging talent in a 14-concert, five-day series at the Melbourne Recital from tomorrow until Sunday.

The Tasman String Quartet - violinists Anna van der Zee and Jennifer Banks, cellist Miranda Wilson and Christiaan van der Zee on viola - won out against about 50 ensembles to take part in the competition.

The quartet is based in Boulder under the mentorship of the Takacs Quartet, formed in Budapest, Hungary, in 1975 but resident in Colorado since 1983.

The quartet has already gained recognition in the United States, winning prizes at chamber music competitions at Plowman, Missouri, and Tampa, Florida.

Following a fellowship to the Aspen Music Festival and School in Colorado last year, it has worked as quartet-in-residence at Alabama's Auburn University. Quartet members have also had individual successes.

Anna van der Zee has performed with orchestras in New Zealand and Germany, and Banks, who has won awards in New Zealand and Canada, has performed with orchestras in the United States and Canada.

Christiaan van der Zee holds post-graduate diplomas in performance viola and string quartet performance from Colorado University and Detmold College of Music in Germany, and last year won a Chamber music New Zealand scholarship.

Wilson holds a doctorate of musical arts from Texas University and a master's degree from London University, and has performed with the Wellington and New Zealand Symphony orchestras.

The Tasman String Quartet will perform in Melbourne tomorrow and on Friday.

The finals will be held on Sunday.