Twelve performers filled The Capital theatre with the sweet sounds of the piano, guitar, vocals and more.

They played in front of parents, the school community and guest judge Monte Mumford. 

Kaitlin White was awarded the top prize for her performance of La Plus Que Lente by Claude Debussy on the piano.

She said she had been playing the playing the piano for about 12 years and loved its versatility.

"There are so many songs you can play on it and you don't need the help of any other instruments," she said.

Music co-ordinator Matt Pankhurst said the award had been running for 15 years and offered students a chance to practice for their end of year recitals.

He said students relished the chance to perform for Mr Mumford, a professional trombonist, conductor and music professor.

He said they also enjoyed a master class he taught on Friday.

"Despite the fact it's a competition it's as much about the feedback they got from their guest judge as it is about competing," he said.

Mr Pankhurst said many former music students had gone on to pursue music professionally.

"We have many graduates who are notable in their fields, including students who make contemporary and popular music and many orchestral musicians who study at the University of Melbourne," he said.

But he said students who didn't pursue music professionally continued to keep it as a lifelong passion.

"Obviously, we do have students who go into other careers," he said. "It's one of the great passions they have - they still live to play their instrument. 

"They have a career to pay their bills but play their instruments on the weekends.”

Kaitlin said she planned to study optometry at university but teach piano lessons in her spare time.