Auckland, New zealand
Revisit the 2023 competition
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We enthusiastically congratulate 2017 2nd prize and chamber music prize winner Luke Hsu for his recent appointment to Trio Michelangeli.
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Beautiful music in the most beautiful place on earth!
Audiences across Aotearoa, New Zealand welcomed the return of the Michael Hill International Violin Competition over the first 10 days of June 2023.
16 outstanding young violinists, selected by audition from an initial 160 applicants, travelled to Queenstown and Auckland and were wholeheartedly embraced by local audiences who journeyed with them through the highs and lows that come with a competition of this calibre.
The Michael Hill remains a favourite on the competition circuit, not just for its prestigious prize package, esteemed judging panel and career-launching opportunities, but also for the warmth and heart that greets every competitor from the moment they touch down in Aotearoa. For the rest of their careers, these artists will be connected to this place and can count on the support of the people they have met over the course of their stay. The term whānau means ‘extended family group’ in Te Reo (the Māori language) and all of the competitors and judges now join our treasured whānau.
So much more than a violin competition, the Michael Hill enables music-making opportunities to spill out across the community leaving a lasting impact on our local music scene. The introduction of the Fellowship programme in 2023 saw six exceptionally talented Kiwi violinists become part of the Michael Hill experience, observing every stage of the competition, learning from visiting jury members and workshopping and performing with many of the competitors. Firm friendships were formed that will help guide these young Kiwi musicians as they step onto the international stage in pursuit of their own performance careers.
In other community connections the opening Queenstown sessions saw engagements with local schools, retirement villages and even a performance at the popular LUMA light festival. The final leg of the competition in Auckland stepped things up several notches with the inaugural Auckland String Sessions. Music lovers young and old could connect with our judging panel of world-renowned soloists for workshops, masterclasses and to exchange ideas and learnings with our own industry leaders such as the New Zealand String Quartet. 60 violinists from pre-school to university age embraced the Auckland String Sessions programme, welcoming the chance to immerse themselves in music-making with our international guests.
Latest News - Keeping up with the play!
In the midst of the thrilling quarter-finals of the Michael Hill International Violin Competition 2026, the Queenstown Memorial Hall will be transformed for an evening of rarefied elegance and alluring artistry. This is no ordinary dinner. It’s a harmoniously curated affair in which virtuosity and indulgence intertwine. Guests will enjoy a locally-sourced and sumptuous meal prepared by…
The 2026 competitors have been announced. We offer them all our sincerest congratulations. The 16 quarter-finalists, who will be flown to New Zealand in May, are below, along with the city they reside in or originate from. Beatrice Colombis (Sydney/Berlin), Anais Feller (Vancouver/Washington), Emmalena Huning (Perth), Yeonoo Jeong (Seoul), Hyein Koo (Seoul), Hairui Lei (Philadelphia),…
New Zealand’s lauded global music competition celebrates 25 years in 2026 Sixteen of the world’s best 18 to 26-year-old violinists will compete in Queenstown and Auckland for a NZ$100,000 prize pool New Zealand’s globally-regarded Michael Hill International Violin Competition, generously supported by the Hill Family Foundation for Arts and Music, returns to Queenstown and Auckland…
Yeyeong Jenny Jin’s winner’s album released 19 September 2025 We are excited to partner with Atoll Records in welcoming an exciting new violin album to the music world. ‘A Winner’s Recital’ by 2023 winner Yeyeong Jenny Jin, will be released on 19 September. The album includes Jenny performing Camille Saint-Saëns’ Violin Sonata No.1 and Giuseppe…
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🎹 We invited a few words from our incredible Collaborative Pianists, Sarah Watkins and Paige Roberts Molloy, who join us in Queenstown and accompany the competitors for the quarter-final rounds 🎹
An award-winning recording artist, and once named New Zealand Classical Artist of the Year, 2026 marks highly regarded New Zealand pianist Sarah Watkins` 11th Competition. Her calm, supportive nature and technical brilliance have always provided a strong foundation on which our Competitors can build their performances.
Sarah said, "I love that the connections I first formed in Queenstown have continued over many years, and of course I watch on with much pride to see how the careers of these incredible musicians have blossomed since they participated in the MHIVC. It`s hard to believe that it has been 25 years since the first competition, and I`m proud to have been involved since the beginning."
"The thing I love the most is the instant musical connection which occurs between the violinists I play with and me. We both have a sense of how we like the music to go, but the magic really happens when new ideas emerge, and the sum becomes greater than the individual parts."
Paige Roberts Molloy has been described by the New York Times as “a lucid and passionate performer”. The Wall Street Journal applauded her WNYC “Around New York” radio performance as “marvellously sensitive playing…the essence of every interlocking and tiny gesture came through.” We are delighted she`ll be joining us in Queenstown and asked her what she was looking forward to most about her trip the New Zealand...
"I have never been to New Zealand, nor had I believed it was a country I would ever have the chance of visiting. My dear friend James Ehnes suggested for me to do this. He told me how fabulous all of it will be....So, when I found out I had this opportunity, I was beyond thrilled and did not hesitate to say YES! I am very much looking forward to playing with young, talented musicians who are just embarking on their career. I’m counting the days until I get to come to New Zealand. Very, very - extremely - excited" Paige said.
Apr 3
Australian-born violinist Leanne McGowan is currently in based in Berlin where she is studying with Prof. Stephan Picard at the Hanns Eisler Hochschule für Musik Berlin.
She previously studied at the Colburn Conservatory of Music with Robert Lipsett and the Australian National Academy of Music with Dr Robin Wilson, and has also trained with Spiros Rantos and Yuri Djachenko.
Leanne took out first prize at the Dorcas McClean Travelling Scholarship for Violinists and Queensland Symphony Orchestra’s Young Instrumentalists Prize, second prize at the Le Prix de la Fondation Maurice Ravel, and “Most Promising Player” at the Gisborne International Violin Competition, among others.
Apr 2
Tomorrow night! Don’t miss Amalia Hall @amaliaviolin perform with our orchestra partner @aklphil in Boléro, a powerful programme at the heart of which is Michael Norris’ violin concerto `Sama`, written especially for Amalia and inspired by the whirling energy of Sufi ritual and the connection between earth and sky.
Tickets: www.aucklandphil.nz/concert/bolero
Apr 1
We are delighted to see that @nztrio violinist and 2026 MHIVC selection panelist Amalia Hall - Violinist@amaliaviolin has joined the roster of @emblemartists, building even more opportunities for the beloved in-demand Kiwi musician.
Amalia will join her NZTrio colleagues @@jli196 (piano) and Mathias Balzat (cello), and @aklphil Violist @mr.robashworth, in performing alongside our six semi-finalists in the challenging chamber music round (Round III) at Auckland Town Hall on 3 and 4 June.
Tickets: https://tinyurl.com/RoundIIITickets
Read more: https://tinyurl.com/stradamalia
Mar 31
Competitor Tianyou Ma is a prize winner at the Sendai International Music Competition, Singapore International Violin Competition (also recipient of the Bach Prize), Menuhin International Violin Competition (also recipient of the Bach Prize), Barbash Bach Competition, and Postacchini Competition.
This year, Tianyou will continue pursuing the prestigious Artistic Diploma program at The Juilliard School under the tutelage of Catherine Cho, with whom he also serves as Teaching Assistant. He recently completed his Master of Music at Juilliard as a Kovner Fellowship recipient, where he was awarded the William Schuman Prize for outstanding achievement and leadership.
He previously studied at the Curtis Institute of Music with Pamela Frank and Shmuel Ashkenasi, where he was awarded the 2023 Milka Violin Artist Prize. His early training began at the Elder Conservatorium of Music in Adelaide, Australia, under Keith Crellin, before continuing at The Yehudi Menuhin School in the U.K. with Diana Galvydyte.
Read more: www.violincompetition.co.nz/competitors-2026
Mar 31
Sunday 29 March is the final day of Wānaka Festival of Colour @festivalofcolour Aspiring Conversations programme - an epic weekend of ideas and kōrero with some of the country`s greatest minds, all in one beautiful location.
A perfect Sunday!
www.festivalofcolour.co.nz
Mar 28
💖 🏔 GLORIOUS QUEENSTOWN 🏔 💖
There are few places in the world in which music and landscape come together as beautifully as in Queenstown during the Michael Hill International Violin Competition.
Our extraordinary event draws some of the world’s most promising young violinists to the shores of Lake Whakatipu, where breathtaking alpine scenery provides a dramatic backdrop to world-class performance.
Travelling to Queenstown for the competition is an experience in itself. Crisp air and snow-dusted peaks create an atmosphere of quiet anticipation. When not in the intimate Queenstown Memorial Centre watching rising violin stars perform works of breathtaking virtuosity and emotion, visitors can explore lakeside walks, vineyards and galleries.
We have a number of wonderful Destination Partners in Queenstown, including the stunning @HulbertHouseQueenstown / @hulberthouse_queenstown, pictured. If you’re planning on joining us (or organising an event yourself), please check them out:
Hotel St Moritz Queenstown - MGallery Collection /@hotelstmoritz_mgallery
@millbrooknz / @millbrookresort
Nockies Palette Wines
@pinewoodqueenstown
@sustainable_travel_co / @Sustainable-Travel-Co
@thehillsgolfclub
@ArtisanCateringNZ / @artisan_catering
@RealNZ.Aotearoa / @real.newzealand
@_seasonz.travel_
@TouchdownCarRentals
@qtweddinghire / @queenstownweddinghire
Mar 24
Hairui Lei (Philadelphia) started at the Affiliated Primary School of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music in 2016, aged 11, studying under the guidance of teacher Wei Yun. He has also worked with Gidon Kremer, Boris Kuschnir, Hu Kun, Pierre Amoyal, Li Weigang, and former MHIVC winner Ning Feng, among others.
He won first place in the Children’s Group of the National Youth Music Competition – Hummingbird Music Award in 2016. In 2017, he achieved first place in the Professional Elementary School Group at the Vienna International String Competition and third place in the Children’s Professional Group at the Hong Kong International Violin Competition.
In 2022 he joined Curtis Institute of Music, studying with Pamela Frank and Shmuel Ashkenasi. In addition to the violin, he also studies piano, harmony and composition.
Mar 8
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