The competition, first known as the KPO Concerto Competition, was conceived in 1984, when two Ku-ring-gai Philharmonic Orchestra (KPO) players, Barbara Cran and Barbara Robinson proposed the idea of rewarding local music students, who were in secondary school and taking their music seriously, by providing them with the opportunity to play a concerto with an orchestra (the KPO).
"I would like to first of all thank you all for being such dedicated musicians. It is great to see such a strong musical community supporting the youngsters of the musical world through The Concerto Competition."