“We just had four very meaningful days at the Christchurch String Sessions: community outreach, workshops, playing quintets with fabulous musicians who we are now lucky to call friends, side-by-side orchestra playing & some solo Bach and Paganini.

“Thank you for hosting us, dear CSO (Christchurch Symphony Orchestra)! And thank you dear Michael Hill International Violin Competition for this enriching experience. Our hearts are full as we leave Christchurch to head to the Competition rounds in Queenstown.

“Shout-out to Lorna, our star of the NZ Fellows, who not only played beautifully in all of the sessions (as well as second violin in all three quintets), but is just the warmest and nicest colleague to be around.”