Beautiful music in the most beautiful place on earth…

Audiences across Aotearoa, New Zealand, welcome the return of the triennial Michael Hill International Violin Competition.

Sixteen outstanding young violinists, selected by audition, travel to Queenstown and Auckland where they are wholeheartedly embraced by local audiences who journey 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, they are connected to this beautiful country at the heart of the South Pacific.

The prize package worth NZD$100,000 is motivating but, as all our past laureates will confirm, it’s the unique “Michael Hill” competition and New Zealand experience that have been career- and life-transformative.

The Michael Hill International Violin Competition is proud to work with the Auckland Philharmonia as its exclusive partner orchestra.

The World’s Most Exciting Violin Talent in the World’s Most Unique Location.

Latest News

Photo credit:
December 22, 2025

Introducing our 2026 Competitors

The 2026 competitors have been announced today. 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…

Find out More

Subscribe

Subscribe to our newsletter to be kept up to date

    Sponsors

    VIOLINCOMPETITION ON INSTAGRAM

    Instagram Gallery

    📣 Introducing our 2026 Competitors!

    The 16 quarter-finalists who will be flown to New Zealand to compete in May are:

    Beatrice Colombis
    Anais Feller
    Emmalena Huning
    Yeonoo Jeong
    Hyein Koo
    Hairui Lei
    Tianyou Ma
    Leanne McGowan
    Jakow Pavlenko
    Alexey Stychkin
    Maxim Tzekov
    Dindin Jingyi Wang
    Ruiyi Wang
    Sophie Wang
    Rino Yoshimoto
    Xunyue Zhang

    There are also six ordered alternates who will be invited to step in if any of the selected competitors are unable to compete: Julia Wang, Yebin Yoo, Zixuan Shen, Leyang Tang, Nicholas Hammel and Sara Schlumberger-Ruiz.

    2026 selection panelist Vesa-Matti Leppänen, also Concertmaster of the @NZSymphonyOrchestra, says, “The overall quality of the applicants proved to be extremely high, which made the job for us in the selection panel both enjoyable and challenging. Having been part of the panel for more than two decades, I was especially thrilled to see the consistent technical brilliance allowing these virtuosos to fully express their emotional depth and musicality. After deliberating, we are convinced that the audiences in Queenstown, Auckland and abroad will be able to experience performances by some of the finest young violinists of their generation.”

    We`d like to sincerely thank all our selection panelists Nikki Chooi (2013 winner and Concertmaster, @BuffaloPhilharmonicOrchestra and @SantaFeOpera), Vesa-Matti Leppänen (Concertmaster, NZSO), Andrew Beer (Concertmaster, @AKLPhil), Amalia Hall - Violinist (@NZTrio) and Mark Menzies (Professor of Music at @ucnz).

    We wish all our competitors the very best in their preparations and look forward to welcoming you to Aotearoa New Zealand in May. 🇳🇿

    @beatrice.colombis
    @anais.feller.56
    @leannemcgowanviolin
    @Maxim_Tzekov
    @sophiewangviolinist
    @yoshimoto.Rino
    @xunyue.zhang.3
    @anaisfellerviolin
    @____emmalena
    @khi_1209
    @hairuileiviolin
    @tianyouviolin
    @jakow_pavlenko_violin
    @alex_stychkin
    @maxim_tzekov
    @sophiewangviolin
    @rinoyuki_violinist
    @xunyue.violin

    Open post by violincompetition with ID 18147955378437261
    📣 Introducing our 2026 Competitors! The 16 quarter-finalists who will be flown to New Zealand to compete in May are: Beatrice Colombis Anais Feller Emmalena Huning Yeonoo Jeong Hyein Koo Hairui Lei Tianyou Ma Leanne McGowan Jakow Pavlenko Alexey Stychkin Maxim Tzekov Dindin Jingyi Wang Ruiyi Wang Sophie Wang Rino Yoshimoto Xunyue Zhang There are also six ordered alternates who will be invited to step in if any of the selected competitors are unable to compete: Julia Wang, Yebin Yoo, Zixuan Shen, Leyang Tang, Nicholas Hammel and Sara Schlumberger-Ruiz. 2026 selection panelist Vesa-Matti Leppänen, also Concertmaster of the @NZSymphonyOrchestra, says, “The overall quality of the applicants proved to be extremely high, which made the job for us in the selection panel both enjoyable and challenging. Having been part of the panel for more than two decades, I was especially thrilled to see the consistent technical brilliance allowing these virtuosos to fully express their emotional depth and musicality. After deliberating, we are convinced that the audiences in Queenstown, Auckland and abroad will be able to experience performances by some of the finest young violinists of their generation.” We'd like to sincerely thank all our selection panelists Nikki Chooi (2013 winner and Concertmaster, @BuffaloPhilharmonicOrchestra and @SantaFeOpera), Vesa-Matti Leppänen (Concertmaster, NZSO), Andrew Beer (Concertmaster, @AKLPhil), Amalia Hall - Violinist (@NZTrio) and Mark Menzies (Professor of Music at @ucnz). We wish all our competitors the very best in their preparations and look forward to welcoming you to Aotearoa New Zealand in May. 🇳🇿 @beatrice.colombis @anais.feller.56 @leannemcgowanviolin @Maxim_Tzekov @sophiewangviolinist @yoshimoto.Rino @xunyue.zhang.3 @anaisfellerviolin @____emmalena @khi_1209 @hairuileiviolin @tianyouviolin @jakow_pavlenko_violin @alex_stychkin @maxim_tzekov @sophiewangviolin @rinoyuki_violinist @xunyue.violin

    Entries close 5pm 20 November (NZDT)! violincompetition.co.nz

    Open post by violincompetition with ID 17859298026544020
    Entries close 5pm 20 November (NZDT)! violincompetition.co.nz

    Back in 2017, 2026 International Judge (and 2009 MHIVC winner), Josef Špaček, did an interview with our partner @theviolinchannel, talking about how winning the Michael Hill `opened his career path`: https://tinyurl.com/tvcjosef

    Could it do the same for you? APPLICATIONS CLOSE IN ONE WEEK!

    Open post by violincompetition with ID 18074828680965663
    Back in 2017, 2026 International Judge (and 2009 MHIVC winner), Josef Špaček, did an interview with our partner @theviolinchannel, talking about how winning the Michael Hill 'opened his career path': https://tinyurl.com/tvcjosef Could it do the same for you? APPLICATIONS CLOSE IN ONE WEEK!

    Applications are now open for our 2026 Competition!

    From 30 May to 6 June, sixteen of the world’s best 18 to 26-year-old violinists will be selected to come to New Zealand to compete for a NZ$100,000 prize pool. And while the prize package, which in 2026 includes the Sheila Smith Prize - a three-year loan of a Domenico Montagnana violin facilitated by @rareviolinsofnewyork Rare Violins of New York, is motivating, our past laureates will confirm that it’s the unique “Michael Hill” competition and Aotearoa New Zealand experience - in Queenstown and Auckland - that have been career and life-transformative. 🇳🇿

    Applications are open until 5pm Thursday 20 November NZDT (https://app.getacceptd.com/mhivc)

    More info and application information: www.violincompetition.co.nz 🎻

    The Michael Hill International Violin Competition is proud to work with the Auckland Philharmonia @aklphil as our exclusive partner orchestra.

    We gratefully receive generous support from the Hill Family Foundation for Arts and Music, Michael Hill International and Craigs Investment Partners.

    📸 2023 Winner Yeyeong Jenny Jin. Credit: Andi Crown

    Open post by violincompetition with ID 18290672305249579
    Applications are now open for our 2026 Competition! From 30 May to 6 June, sixteen of the world’s best 18 to 26-year-old violinists will be selected to come to New Zealand to compete for a NZ$100,000 prize pool. And while the prize package, which in 2026 includes the Sheila Smith Prize - a three-year loan of a Domenico Montagnana violin facilitated by @rareviolinsofnewyork Rare Violins of New York, is motivating, our past laureates will confirm that it’s the unique “Michael Hill” competition and Aotearoa New Zealand experience - in Queenstown and Auckland - that have been career and life-transformative. 🇳🇿 Applications are open until 5pm Thursday 20 November NZDT (https://app.getacceptd.com/mhivc) More info and application information: www.violincompetition.co.nz 🎻 The Michael Hill International Violin Competition is proud to work with the Auckland Philharmonia @aklphil as our exclusive partner orchestra. We gratefully receive generous support from the Hill Family Foundation for Arts and Music, Michael Hill International and Craigs Investment Partners. 📸 2023 Winner Yeyeong Jenny Jin. Credit: Andi Crown

    The international violin community has lost one of its greatest champions. Today, our founder, Sir Michael Hill, died peacefully at his home in Arrowtown, New Zealand. He was surrounded by his family including his wife of 60 years, Christine, Lady Hill.

    Not only did Sir Michael lend his name to our iconic event, he inspired generations of international violinists who all know they are now members of the Michael Hill International Violin Competition whānau (family).

    Michael dreamed of being a concert violinist in his youth, but his family steered him into the jewellery trade and he instead became a household name with Michael Hill stores across New Zealand, Australia and Canada. He was a true artist with a keen eye for aesthetics and beauty, and an uncompromising standard of excellence. A committed amateur violinist, he practiced solo Bach every day his schedule allowed – constantly striving for improvement from which he derived enormous satisfaction.

    Michael’s enthusiasm for music was infectious, yet his loss will be felt as much for the strong and practical advice he infused in hundreds of musicians by candidly sharing his own life lessons regarding the importance of goal setting, resilience, and the balance of being laser-focused yet not sweating the small stuff. He taught us to dream big, set a long-term goal, and work very hard with imagination and open heartedness towards that goal every day.

    In this video - "To Sir Michael, in loving memory" - Bach`s Chaconne is played by all 11 winners of the Michael Hill International Violin Competition - Joseph Lin, Natalia Lomeiko, Ning Feng, Bella Hristova, Josef Špaček, Sergey Malov, Nikki Chooi, Suyeon Kang, Ioana Cristina Goicea, Anna Do Gyung Im and Yeyeong Jin.

    Bach`s Chaconne in D minor, the final movement of Johann Sebastian Bach`s Partita No. 2 for solo violin, is a monumental and emotionally profound piece, often interpreted as a meditation on grief and loss.

    The winners created this video as a tribute to Sir Michael who played a significant role in their lives and careers. It is a remarkable coming-together of some of the now most respected violinists in the world.

    Open post by violincompetition with ID 18072993161064390
    The international violin community has lost one of its greatest champions. Today, our founder, Sir Michael Hill, died peacefully at his home in Arrowtown, New Zealand. He was surrounded by his family including his wife of 60 years, Christine, Lady Hill. Not only did Sir Michael lend his name to our iconic event, he inspired generations of international violinists who all know they are now members of the Michael Hill International Violin Competition whānau (family). Michael dreamed of being a concert violinist in his youth, but his family steered him into the jewellery trade and he instead became a household name with Michael Hill stores across New Zealand, Australia and Canada. He was a true artist with a keen eye for aesthetics and beauty, and an uncompromising standard of excellence. A committed amateur violinist, he practiced solo Bach every day his schedule allowed – constantly striving for improvement from which he derived enormous satisfaction. Michael’s enthusiasm for music was infectious, yet his loss will be felt as much for the strong and practical advice he infused in hundreds of musicians by candidly sharing his own life lessons regarding the importance of goal setting, resilience, and the balance of being laser-focused yet not sweating the small stuff. He taught us to dream big, set a long-term goal, and work very hard with imagination and open heartedness towards that goal every day. In this video - "To Sir Michael, in loving memory" - Bach's Chaconne is played by all 11 winners of the Michael Hill International Violin Competition - Joseph Lin, Natalia Lomeiko, Ning Feng, Bella Hristova, Josef Špaček, Sergey Malov, Nikki Chooi, Suyeon Kang, Ioana Cristina Goicea, Anna Do Gyung Im and Yeyeong Jin. Bach's Chaconne in D minor, the final movement of Johann Sebastian Bach's Partita No. 2 for solo violin, is a monumental and emotionally profound piece, often interpreted as a meditation on grief and loss. The winners created this video as a tribute to Sir Michael who played a significant role in their lives and careers. It is a remarkable coming-together of some of the now most respected violinists in the world.