1963 Arthur Hilton, Chairman of Chamber Music New Zealand puts in place plans for a chamber music contest for secondary school students
1965 The first contest is held with 63 groups, comprising 220 students entered nationwide. A single instrumental section for groups of three to six players was held. A poster design contest was also part of the competition. The partnership with the then Bank of New South Wales, later WestpacTrust, was formed soon after the first Contest resulting in one of the longest-running annual arts sponsorships in the country.
1971 Instrumental - larger groups allowed to enter (maximum number of players increased from 6 to 15)
1971 Composition - original composition section added. Compositions of any kind were formally accepted.
1977 Instrumental - section divided into two:
(a) three to six players
(b) seven to 15 players, with or without a conductor
1978 Poster design competition ceased.
1978 Vocal - new section introduced, for groups of three to 15 singers with or without accompaniment or conductor.
Composition - section more specifically defined, and divided into two:
(a) Advanced (for instrumental combination)
(b) Elementary (for melody and accompaniment)
1982 Arthur Hilton died, and Chamber Music New Zealand established a prize in his memory.
1985 The Vocal Section and the Large Group Instrumental Section to be alternated each year - primarily to reduce the organisational load at District Contests.
1985 The Advanced and Elementary Composition Sections reverted to a single section with the entry conditions of the former Advanced Section.
1986 With the Vocal Section in recess, the newly-formed Choral Federation arranged regional choral events which fed a limited number of choral groups into each District Contest.
1987 Choral Section was included for the last time.
1988 A single performance section organised, for groups of three to eight performers, which could include a single voice. Composition Section retained as in previous years.
1990 Marked the 25th Anniversary of the Westpac School Music Contest. The Contest founded in 1965 and had been continuously sponsored by Westpac since 1966. It was also a recognised project of the 1990 Commission.
1991 Due to severe cutbacks in the bank's public relations budget, Westpac was unable to provide an increase over the previous year's sponsorship. This meant that the Composition Section of the Contest was not offered. Sponsorship was sought to enable the Composition Section to be reinstated in 1992. The Instrumental Performance Section was for groups of three to eight players.
1992 A special projects grant from the Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council (now Creative New Zealand) meant that the Composition Section of the Contest could again take place this year. The Instrumental Performance Section remained for groups of three to eight players.
1996 Thanks to a grant from the Stout Trust, a new Stout Trust Prize for Original Composition was introduced. Chamber Music New Zealand also introduced a prize for the best group over-all at each District Contest, adding to the existing WestpacTrust Prize for the best school-based group.
1997 Continued support from Creative New Zealand (formerly the Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council), and a necessary increase in sponsorship from newly named principal sponsor WestpacTrust, ensures the immediate future of the Contest.
1998 WestpacTrust decides to end sponsorship in October
1999 Denis and Verna Adam, through the Adam Foundation agree to sponsor the contest for one year as an interim measure until a new sponsor is secured.
2000 Adrien de Croy, through the de Croy Arts Trust, takes up sponsorship of the contest.
2000 The Centre for New Zealand Music (SOUNZ) takes up sponsorship of the composition prize.
2001 The contest to be known as the Chamber Music New Zealand School Music Contest. National Final held in Auckland for the first time.
2003 Entry limited to two groups per student, including the Original Composition Section.
2004 New Zealand Community Trust takes up sponsorship. National Final held in Christchurch for the first time.
2005 CMNZ celebrates 40 years of the contest with an evening concert hosted by Dame Silvia Cartwright at Government House in Wellington. John Chen and Julia McCarthy perform to a very appreciative audience.
2005 The Stout Trust commences funding the Regional Coaching Workshops.
2006 James Wallace Arts Trust presents National Final winners with $1000 per group member. Arthur Hilton Memorial Prize becomes a musical text.
2007 Marie Vandewart Memorial Award introduced to recognise outstanding service and commitment to fostering the love of chamber music.
2009 The Stout Trust ends funding after 14 years of support.
2010 CMNZ celebrates its 60th anniversary and 45 years of the contest.
2010 The ABRSM takes up the sponsorship of the Regional Coaching Workshops
2010 National semi-finals introduced for the first time.
