Archie Lamont-Bowden, 20, is a kiwi violinist from Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland.

Since 2024, he has been studying violin performance with Mark Bennett, alongside a Bachelor of Science, at the University of Auckland. As a soloist, he has had masterclasses with Augustin Hadelich, James Ehnes, and Amalia Hall, as well as twice reaching the finals of the Auckland University Concerto Competition. Archie has diverse ensemble experience beginning with the NZCT chamber music competition in which his piano trio, Babadjanian Trio, came first in 2023.

He has been the concertmaster of the Auckland Youth Orchestra since January 2025 and is a member of the Auckland-based string quartet, the Passione Quartet, who enjoy performing at various public and private concerts and events. They have had extensive chamber music coaching from the NZSQ at the Adam Summer School and from the ASQ in Adelaide. Operating with a uniquely holistic and philosophical approach to music-making and ensemble development, the quartet has the view to develop and contribute to a distinctly kiwi chamber music tradition.

Esther Oh was born and raised in Auckland, New Zealand to South Korean parents, and is studying at the University of Auckland School of Music. Esther was concertmaster for the National Youth Orchestra for two years, and was the inaugural NZSO-NYO exchange student for the 2025 Australian Youth Orchestra National Music Camp in Adelaide. Esther represented New Zealand at the 2024 Pacific Alliance of Music Schools Summit in Thailand.

They have performed with the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra (as a soloist), New Zealand Symphony Orchestra (NZSO), and the Thailand Philharmonic. Esther was a Young Artist at the 2025 Michael Hill Whakatipu Music Festival for both violin and conducting, working with Dr Karen Grylls and international artists such as past Michael Hill winner Ioana Cristina Goicea. 2026 is Esther’s second year of conducting workshops with Benjamin Northey and Christchurch Symphony, and their first year in the NZSO Conducting Fellowship.

Esther feels privileged to have performed with Ioana Cristina Goicea, and to have played in masterclasses for fellow Michael Hill winners Sergey Malov and Natalia Lomeiko.

Esther plays on a 1951 Sderci on loan from Sistema Aotearoa.

Māori/ Japanese Violinist, Mana Waiariki (Te Whanau-a-Apanui), completed her Bachelor of Music with First Class Honours at Te Kōkī New Zealand School of Music with violinist of the New Zealand String Quartet, Peter Clark at the end of 2025. Mana has been supported by the Deane Endowment Trust throughout her entire tertiary education.

Her chamber music highlights include performing as guest artist with the New Zealand String Quartet, touring nationally as the Fellowship Ensemble 2025 (Antipodes Quartet) with Chamber Music New Zealand, and performing alongside the Jupiter String Quartet at the Adam International Chamber Music Festival 2026.

Mana was on trial for tutti first violin and sat as guest concertmaster for Orchestra Wellington. She has also played in the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and the Western Sydney Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra.

Mana has performed masterclasses with internationally renowned musicians such as Hilary Hahn, Yura Lee, Natalia Lomeiko, Amalia Hall, Sergey Malov, and Benjamin Baker.

For the 2023 MHIVC, Mana was invited to record the electronic backing track for ‘Waipounamu’, the commissioned New Zealand work by Michael Norris.

Mana plays a 1936 Ernst Heinrich Roth violin on loan to her through the Hill Family Foundation’s Instrument Bank by donor, Karla Mitchell.

Indiana Williamson is a 20-year-old, New Zealand violinist currently studying towards a Bachelor of Music at the University of Waikato under the tutelage of Lara Hall. He began playing the violin at the age of four and, at eleven, received a performance scholarship from the Royal Overseas League in London. He later attended the Specialist Music Programme at Burnside High School.

In 2025, Indiana served as Associate Concertmaster of the New Zealand National Youth Orchestra and appeared as Guest Concertmaster of St Matthew’s Chamber Orchestra. He performs regularly with Opus Orchestra and is active as both a soloist and chamber musician, with a particular interest in collaborative performance.

A Sir Edmund Hillary Scholar, Indiana, has been recognised for both his artistic and academic work, including receiving the University of Waikato Composition Prize and the Emerging Talent in the Creative Arts Award. He performs on a violin generously loaned through the Michael Hill Instrument Bank.

Described for her “impassioned virtuosity” and “glowing, soulful melodies” (NZ Herald), Madeleine is one of New Zealand’s most exciting and sought-after young pianists rapidly gaining recognition internationally. A top-prize winner in every major national competition across solo, concerto, and chamber music, her recent achievements include winning the National Young Performer of the Year Award and Audience Prize, as well as the Pettman Royal Over-Seas League Scholarship, supporting an extensive European tour.

Madeleine graduated with First Class Honours in a Bachelor of Music (Hons) at the University of Auckland, where she studied under Rae de Lisle, Katherine Austin, Bryan Sayer, and Sarah Watkins, as a Haydn Staples Auckland Philharmonia Piano Scholar for three years. In 2026, she will begin her Master’s at the Royal Academy of Music, London, on scholarship.

She has appeared as soloist with leading orchestras including Auckland Philharmonia, Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, TIMM Orchestra (Italy), and Bach Musica, and is the youngest-ever winner of the University of Auckland Concerto Competition.

A passionate chamber musician, Madeleine has collaborated with numerous internationally acclaimed artists and was twice invited to the At the World’s Edge Festival as both Emerging Artist and Fellow. She performs regularly nationwide and is widely regarded as one of New Zealand’s leading young chamber musicians.

Lorna Zhang is a violinist based in Auckland, New Zealand. Her recent winning performance of Shostakovich’s first violin concerto with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra at New Zealand’s National Concerto Competition was described as ‘unforgettable’ and ‘world-class’ by the adjudicators.

A versatile chamber musician, her experience led her to be an Emerging Artist at the At the World’s Edge Festival in Queenstown, where she performed alongside festival artists and toured across the Central Lake regions. She was also a Royal Over-Sea League Pettman scholar which funded a six-week career development tour around the UK and Europe.

Lorna has had the privilege of performing in concert alongside renowned artists such as violinist Benjamin Baker, French horn soloist Ben Goldscheider, clarinettist Julian Bliss and violinist Ning Feng.

In the University of Auckland, Lorna is a two time winner of the chamber music competition, and has won its concerto competition after a performance with the Auckland Philharmonia. Lorna has been studying with Stephen Larsen for the past seven years and recently completed her Bachelor of Music degree.

She is planning to continue her postgraduate studies in Germany.