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 are extremely grateful for the support of our partners and sponsors, and want to acknowledge the newest cohort in our MHIVC 2026 whānau (family) - our Competitor Sponsors. Competitor sponsors play a vital role in making participation possible, helping to cover essential costs and enabling artists to focus fully on their performance.
Beatrice Colombis (Sydney/Berlin)
Competitor sponsor: Jan Spary
Anais Feller (Vancouver, Washington)
Competitor sponsor: Mary Lonsdale Baker
Emmalena Huning (Perth)
Competitor sponsor: Jim Hannan
Yeonoo Jeong (Seoul)
Competitor sponsor: Bill and Debbie Lipner
Hyein Koo (Seoul)
Competitor sponsor: Justine Burke and Ben Terry, Sothebys
Hairui Lei (Philadelphia)
Competitor sponsor: RBJ Construction
Tianyou Ma (New York)
Competitor sponsor: John Boscawen
Leanne McGowan (Brisbane / Berlin)
Competitor sponsor: Russell and Janet Jones
Jakow Pavlenko (Berlin)
Competitor sponsor: Dick and Diana Hubbard
Alexey Stychkin (Berlin)
Competitor sponsor: Julian and Lizanne Knights
Julia-Xiaohuo Wang (Vienna)
Competitor sponsor: Anna-Marie Chin Architects
Ruiyi Wang (Shanghai)
Competitor sponsor: Becroft Foundation
Sophie Wang (Berlin)
Competitor sponsor: Sylvia Rosevear
Xunyue Zhang (Berlin)
Competitor sponsor: Gerald and Susie Fitzgerald
May 8
To the thousands of Mums across Aotearoa who ferry their kids to violin lessons every week, replace their rosin, find their missing music books, and passionately support and develop the next generation of New Zealand violinists: WE SEE YOU.
To those organising their Mother`s Day presents for this Sunday: Michael Hill (@michaelhillj) have GOT YOU.
Shop the range now:
www.tinyurl.com/violinmums
📸: Michael Hill International
May 7
Don`t miss the chance to hear 2026 Judge @jamesehnes James Ehnes perform Mozart`s sparkling Concerto No.4 with our orchestra partner Auckland Philharmonia @aklphil on Thursday 14 May at the Great Hall, Auckland Town Hall.
In the hands of James, every theatrical and intimate detail of the 1775 masterpiece will be elegant, expressive and unmistakably Mozart.
Tickets: www.aucklandphil.nz/concert/ehnes-plays-mozart
Apr 30
Sincere congratulations are in order for the composer of our 2026 new New Zealand work for violin, Salina Fisher (@salina.fisher), and her quartet, Moth Quartet, who have been nominated for Best Classical Artist in this year`s Aotearoa Music Awards (@aotearoamusicawards).
Wishing them all the very best on Thursday 28 May - the day before our Competition kicks off! 🎻
Salina`s commissioned work Chasm will be performed by all 16 competitors in the Quarter-finals in Queenstown from 29 May to 1 June.
For the full AMA nominee list, visit: aotearoamusicawards.co.nz/awards
Apr 27
In one month, Christopher`s Classics at The Piano (@thepiano.nz), in partnership with MHIVC, will present a very special concert "Czech Connections - Josef Špaček and Friends" in Ōtautahi Christchurch on Wednesday 27 May from 7-9pm.
2009 Competition winner and 2026 Judge Josef Špaček (@spacek_violin) will be joined by three of New Zealand’s outstanding chamber musicians, Michael Endres (piano), Serenity Thurlow (viola) and Andrew Joyce (cello), to present a dynamic programme showcasing the colour and character of Czech folk traditions.
Programme:
Franz Joseph Haydn Piano Trio No. 39 in G Major Gypsy, Hob.XV:25
Leoš Janáček Violin Sonata
Gareth Farr Wakatipu (2009 MHIVC commission)
Antonin Dvořák Piano Quartet No. 2 in E♭ major, Op. 87
Don’t miss this very special evening!
More info and tickets: www.thepiano.nz/whats-on/josef-spacek-friends
Apr 26
Wishing the Aotango Quintet (@aotango.nz) the very best as their national tour, in partnership with Chamber Music New Zealand (@chambermusicnz), kicks off on 24 April. More info: aotango.com
Across Aotearoa, they will perform Piazzolla’s original quintet formation, "A Century of Tango", which traverses the evolution of tango from beloved classics such as Ángel Villoldo’s El Choclo, Carlos Gardel’s Por una Cabeza, and Gerardo Matos Rodríguez’s La Cumparsita to the revolutionary nuevo tango compositions of Argentinian maestro Ástor Piazzolla.
We look forward to catching two of them - the AOTANGO Duo Auckland Philharmonia violinist and MHIVC 2026 Selection Panelist and Judge Andrew Beer and world champion accordionist Grayson Masefield - for a exclusive, one-night-only concert in Queenstown this Sunday 26 April. Set against the stunning backdrop of The Lodge at the Hills, this is a rare opportunity to experience AOTANGO Duo up close for an evening of passion and exceptional musicianship.
Apr 24
Introducing a very special package from our destination partner, Seasonz Travel...
With two competition passes, two tickets to our 25th Silver Anniversary Gala Dinner and accomodation at @hulberthouse_queenstown for two nights, it`s a spectacular getaway.
To book, email reception@hulberthouse.co.nz.
@seasonztravelnz
Apr 23
Following her studies at the Affiliated Middle School of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, Xunyue Zhang has continued her education at the Hanns Eisler School of Music in Berlin studying with Stephan Picard.
She took out Second Prize and the Special Prize for the Best Mozart Interpretation at the 8th International Violin Competition Henri Marteau in Germany in 2023, Third Prize and three special awards at the Lipizer International Violin Competition 2022 in Italy, and Second Prize in the Ibolyka Gyarfas Foundation Violin Competition 2021.
Xunyue performs on a violin by Andrea Guarneri, Cremona 1663, generously on loan from Deutsche Stiftung Musikleben.
Apr 20
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