The Burnside chamber music programme is an invite-only programme largely consisting of members from the specialist music programme.

The students are led by music teacher Dr. Helen Renaud and head of music Chris Petch, as well as many guest tutors who frequently workshop the junior and senior chamber groups.

This year showcasing 17 individual chamber groups, the ensembles had significant variation, from brass and string quintets, to trumpet-cello-piano trios. Each group featured a performance in the NZCT chamber music contest held at the piano, with several receiving awards and progressing through to the next rounds. ‘Khortet’ received the Woolston brass cup, while ‘Kaleidoscope quintet’ progressed through the district finals and southern island finals, which are amazing feats, given around 150 groups are estimated to have entered the contest in the southern island alone this year.

Year 13 students Sho Woodhouse and Dylan Blundell also entered the contest in student organised ensemble ‘WATPIC’, lead by Sho Woodhouse and receiving the tutelage of UC associate professor Dr. Justin Dehart. This ensemble consisted of capable youth percussionists, with a student from Cashmere High school, and another from Rangi Ruru Girls school. With contrasting exotic and modern percussion repertoire, the ensemble progressed through to the National finals and achieved the overall winner award for both live and digital contests.