2024 Upcoming Events
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Keep up to date with the latest from the Hill Family Foundation for Arts and Music
Situated on the banks of Lake Whakatipu and running across the 4 days of the 2025 Easter weekend, 18 â 21 April, the Whakatipu Music Festival weaves together New Zealandâs most outstanding emerging musical talents with world-class luminaries, local grassroots music initiatives and dedicated local and national educators. The festival delivers an exhilarating event for…
“Resonant, loud, heartfelt, and a bit of a drama queen!” This is how Wellington violinist Mana Waiariki describes her much-loved instrument, currently on loan to her thanks to the Hill Family Foundation of Arts and Music Instrument Bank initiative. But it wasnât actually love at first sight/sound for this gifted young creative. Mana was halfway…
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Fine wine and fine art go hand in hand, especially when the art is some of the finest music that New Zealand audiences can experience.
Weâre grateful for the ongoing support of Nockieâs Palette whose Central Otago wines are thoroughly enjoyed by guests and audiences at Hill Family Foundation concerts, competitions and events.
Make sure you sample their finely crafted vintages at the National String Competition in Auckland this December.
To secure your Grand Final tickets visit the link in our bio.
Oct 26
Introducing Julian Smiles: Whakatipu Music Festival Feature Artist.
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Weâre privileged to welcome Julian Smiles to Queenstown as a guest artist at next yearâs Whakatipu Music Festival.
Julian has been a standout performer on the Australian classical music scene for decades, holding many prestigious positions including a number of years as principal cellist with the Australian Chamber Orchestra.
He has performed frequently as guest principal cello with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra and the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra and is regularly heard as a soloist with the Melbourne and Canberra Symphony Orchestras.
Julian founded the internationally renowned Goldner String Quartet in 1995 with colleagues Dene Olding, Irina Morozova and Dimity Hall, garnering rave reviews of their recordings and performances in the UK.
Julian has premiered solo works by Australian composers including Mark Isaacs, Carl Vine and Ross Edwards, and is a passionate and highly respected teacher, passing his depth of knowlede and experience to the next generation of music lovers.
Festival Audiences will be able to hear Julian with other Festival Artists over the Easter weekend 18-21 April in Queenstown.
Oct 25
We are thrilled to partner with Chamber Music New Zealand for the Winners Tour: The Young Virtuosi which begins this Sunday in Palmerston North and runs until November 10.
This 11 centre recital tour of New Zealand features the extraordinary Jenny Jin, and electrifying Jeongwhan Kim, winners of the 2023 Micheal Hill International Violin Competition and Sydney International Piano Competition respectively.
This power duo represent some of the finest emerging talent in the world today and we are proud to offer the opportunity for New Zealand audiences to see the live, at a venue near you.
Link in bio for tickets
SUNDAY 27 OCTOBER, 7.30pmâšSt Peterâs Anglican Church, Palmerston NorthâšâšTUESDAY 29 OCTOBER, 7.30pmâšMTG Century Theatre, Napier âšâšWEDNESDAY 30 OCTOBER, 7.30pmâšGallagher Academy of Performing Arts, Hamilton
THURSDAY 31 OCTOBER, 7.30pmâšCivic Theatre, Invercargill
FRIDAY 1 NOVEMBER, 7.30pmâšNelson Centre of Musical Arts, Nelson
SUNDAY 3 NOVEMBER, 7.30pmâšThe Piano, Christchurch
MONDAY 4 NOVEMBER, 7.30pmâšThe Lodge at the Hills, Queenstown
TUESDAY 5 NOVEMBER, 7.30pmâšGlenroy Auditorium, Dunedin
FRIDAY 8 NOVEMBER, 7.30pmâš4th Wall Theatre, New Plymouth
SATURDAY 9 NOVEMBER, 7.30pmâšSt Andrewâs on The Terrace, Wellington
SUNDAY 10 NOVEMBER, 7.30pmâšConcert Chamber, Auckland Town Hall, Auckland
Jeongwhan Kim image credit Jay Patel
Oct 25
Michael Hill International is synonymous with quality and craftmanship of the highest standard and we are incredibly fortunate for their ongoing support of events including the National String Competition, Whakatipu Music Festival and of course the Michael Hill International Violin Competition.
This support has boosted the careers of many emerging musicians over the years and has made possible the 11 centre âWinners Tourâ by Jenny Jin, last yearâs MHIVC winner, and her performance of Mozartâs Violin Concerto No. 3 with the Auckland Philharmonia this evening.
Jenny is joined for her recital tour by pianist Jeongwhan Kim, the winner of last yearâs Sydney International Piano Competition.
The pair will tour New Zealand in partnership with Chamber Music New Zealand, record a full length CD on Atoll Records, then head to Australia for recitals in Melbourne and Sydney with Piano+.
Visit our link in bio for details on Jennyâs Winners Tour.
Oct 23
đŁ FINAL CALL for Whakatipu Music Festival Young Artist Programme applications!
TUESDAY 15 OCTOBER is the deadline to apply for our intensive career-building boot camp in beautiful Queenstown.
12 coveted Young Artist spots are open to orchestral instrumentalists, pianists, singers and aspiring conductors - ages 18 â 26 (or 18-30 for vocalists and conductors).
The Young Artist programmes runs from 14-21 April 2025. No fee to attend, accommodation and travel scholarships are provided.
Young Artists experience a weekâs intensive coaching and in-depth career development culminating in public performances that will be broadcast on the Michael Hill International Violin Competitionâs digital channels.
APPLY NOW via link in bio.
Images:
- Bartok Trio_Diane Huh, Tony Chen and Ben van Leuven_image Sheena Haywood
- Will King_image Sheena Haywood
- Whakatipu Music Festival Young Artists_ Peter Gjelsten, Begonia Chan, Otis Prescott-Mason, Kihei Lee, Zephyr Wills_image James Robertson
Oct 11
Congratulations to 2013 MHIVC Sixth Prize winner & Michael Hill Audience Prize winner, Natalie Lin Douglas whose debut album with the Houston-based Kinetic Ensemble is up for consideration for a Grammy Award nomination.
Natalie is the founder and Artistic Director of the 16-piece ensemble and their self-titled debut album is being considered for three award categories.
The recording debuted #1 on the Billboard Traditional Classical charts when it was released last year and is described as âan entertaining, rewarding and interesting program of new music, played with enthusiasm and finesse by this terrific ensembleâ by David Rowe for Classical CD Reviews.
The Awards will be announced on February 2, 2025.
Find out more via @kineticensemble
Oct 9
đŁ Calling all Central Otago early career event and arts professionals!
The Whakatipu Music Festival has created paid apprenticeship opportunities for you to âownâ and deliver many aspects of our event while being be mentored and supervised by experienced music and event industry professionals. All apprenticeships are paid at a rate of $30/hour.
The 2025 festival takes place in Queenstown next Easter and has numerous apprenticeship contract roles on offer in areas including artist management, marketing, stage and technical management, ticketing and hospitality.
If youâre a resident of Central Otago, meet the legal requirements to work in New Zealand, are at least 18 years of age with an authentic appreciation for NZ arts, weâd love to hear from you.
Full role descriptions and expression of interest forms are available at the Training Ground web page:
https://michaelhillviolincompetition.co.nz/training-ground/
Image: Wren Glover, credit James Robertson
Oct 4
Introducing Bernadette Harvey: Whakatipu Music Festival Feature Artist.
Weâre thrilled to welcome acclaimed pianist Bernadette Harvey to next yearâs festival as both a performer and mentor to our Young Artists and Whakatipu community musicians.
Bernadette is one of Australiaâs treasured musicians â she was awarded the Centenary Medal in 2000 by then Australian Prime Minister, John Howard, for her contribution to Australian Music. Bernadette has won many accolades since her first medal in a Sydney Eisteddfod at the age of two and a half, including the ABC âYoung Performer of the Yearâ in 1987. She is a Senior Lecturer in piano at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and co-Artistic Director of the Tucson Winter Chamber Music Festival.
Her playing has been described as: âGifted with a rare physical control of the instrument and intellectual and interpretative qualities to matchâŠdispatched with a Horowitz-like virtuosityâŠblisteringly virtuosicâŠIt drew me to the edge of my seat.â (Neville Cohn, West Australian).
Festival Audiences will be able to hear Bernadette with other Festival Artists (insert link) over the Easter weekend 18-21 April in Queenstown.
Applications are open now for the Young Artist Programme (including mentorship from Bernadette and her fellow Festival Artists!)
Apply via link in bio
Photo credit: Keith Saunders
Sep 21
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