Presented by the National Concerto Competition Trust, the National Concerto Competition is held in Christchurch and caters to orchestral instruments and the piano in alternate years. The 2023/2024 competition is open to all instrumentalists aged 25 years and under. Entries to the 2023/2024 competition have now closed.

The National Concerto Competition provides finalists the opportunity to perform their chosen work in a public performance, accompanied by a symphony orchestra. It is a format that has been retained since the Competition’s beginning in 1967 and has provided the launch pad for numerous young Kiwis to establish national and international careers in performance music.