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.
Revisit all the 2023 performances on our Youtube channel.
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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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
Sophie Wang received her first violin lesson at the age of five. She has studied under Rainer Kussmaul, Igor Ozim, Boris Kuschnir, Nora Chastain and Pierre Amoyal and is currently trained at Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler Berlin by former MHIVC winner, Ning Feng.
She won the First Prize at International Louis Spohr Violin Competition in Weimar (2013), First Prize at International Violin Competition Andrea Postacchini (2014), First Prize at International Paul Hindemith Violin Competition in Berlin (2011) and First Prize at International Wolfgang Marschner Competition in Freiburg (2010).
She is supported by CHIMEI Museum & Culture Foundation from whom she has been generously loaned a 1745 Camillo Camilli violin.
Apr 18
The world’s finest ascending violinists. One unforgettable stage.
Sixteen of the world’s best 18–26-year-old violinists are heading to Queenstown to compete in New Zealand’s globally renowned Michael Hill International Violin Competition Quarter-finals.
From 29 May – 1 June, witness breathtaking performances, nail-biting competition and the future of classical music, set against one of the most stunning backdrops on earth.
✨ Don’t miss your chance to experience it live.
🎟️ Secure your tickets now: https://tinyurl.com/humanitixmhivcqueenstown
Apr 17
Ruiyi Wang studied under Professor Huang Chenxing and, in 2021, was admitted to the Shanghai Conservatory of Music with the first place in the violin major.
He achieved first place in the China Division of the 2023 Hachaturian International Violin Competition, First Prize of Qingdao National Violin Competition, and First Prize in the Professional Youth Group of the 14th Hong Kong International Violin Competition 2024. Also in 2024, he won the second prize in the Russian “Yamal Symphony” International Competition for Young Musicians, and Third Prize in the 31st Andrea Postacchini International Violin Competition, Category D.
Apr 16
Our youngest 2026 competitor, 19-year-old Julia Wang began her musical journey at the age of three and moved to Vienna at 12 to continue her study. She’s currently studying with Ingolf Turban at the University for Music and Theater Munich and is a scholarship recipient of the Music Academy Liechtenstein.
Julia is the youngest major prize winner at the second Stuttgart International Violin Competition. She was awarded second prize at the Cooper International Violin Competition, first prize at the Grumiaux International Violin Competition, the top award at the Zhuhai Mozart International Competition and third prize at the Wieniawski-Lipinski Violin Competition, as well as other awards as the youngest participant in several other prestigious international competitions, including the International Classical Strings Competition and the Karol Szymanowski&Heinrich Ernst International Violin Competition.
Apr 14
Twenty-five events in four centres across 17 days, from concert halls to classrooms: the Michael Hill International Violin Competition is expanding its reach across Aotearoa in 2026, taking world-leading violinists beyond the competition rounds to become a truly nationwide celebration of musical talent and community.
To celebrate our 25th anniversary, the popular String Sessions, Auckland’s mini violin festival which takes place in venues across Tāmaki Makaurau in the build up to the thrilling Grand Final, will now take place in Auckland, Ōtautahi Christchurch and Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington!
Masterclasses, workshops and intimate performances by leading international violinists, including the 2026 judges, competitors and New Zealand’s finest musicians and orchestras, are open to audiences across the country.
A defining feature of MHIVC 2026 is accessibility. Our String Sessions are free to attend (with registration), ensuring students, emerging musicians and the wider public can engage directly with the Competition. This nationwide approach transforms MHIVC from a prestigious event into a cultural moment that invites participation, learning and inspiration at every level.
Full programme and more info: www.violincompetition.co.nz/community
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Apr 14
Dindin Jingyi Wang began playing the violin at the age of three. At the age of 12, she became the youngest ever winner of the Australian Kendall National Violin Competition.
She was accepted to the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia at age 15, where she currently studies with Shmuel Ashkenasi and Pamela Frank. Previously, she held the Kohl Scholarship at the Colburn Music Academy in Los Angeles and also studied in Melbourne, Australia. Previous teachers include Margaret Batjer, Ida Kavafian, Fintan Murphy, and Xiaofang Shen.
Dindin was awarded Second Prize at the 2022 Chicago International Violin Competition, and Third Prize at the 2024 New York Classic Violin Competition. In 2025, she was the First Prize winner of the Australian Dorcas McClean Traveling Scholarship, the Australian Youth Classical Music Competition, and the Zhuhai Hengqin Mozart International Violin Competition.
Apr 12
Since 2023, Maxim Tzekov has been part of Ulf Wallin’s violin class at the Hochschule für Musik “Hanns Eisler” Berlin. Previously, he studied with Lieke te Winkel in Vienna (mdw) and further studies have led him to Gerhard Schulz, Annette Bik, Sebastian Gürtler and Tanja Becker-Bender.
He won the International Violin Competition ‘Kloster Schöntal’ 2019, where he also received the Bach Special Prize, as well as the Alberto Lysy Competition 2020 in Gstaad and the Stephanie Hohl Competition 2021 in Vienna.
As prizewinner of the competition of the German Musical Instrument Fund 2025 and scholarship holder of the Deutsche Stiftung Musikleben, he plays the violin ‘ex-Kingman’, made by G. B. Guadagnini in Parma in 1769.
Apr 10
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