A: Apply here: https://app.getacceptd.com/mhivc

A: We allow violinists to compete a maximum of two times in the Michael Hill.

A: No. Out of fairness to all the applicants, the Michael Hill will not make any exceptions and reminds applicants that New Zealand is in an earlier time zone (a day ahead of North America). We strongly recommend applicants do not wait until the day of the deadline to submit their materials in case they encounter any disruptions with wifi or similar.

A: No. Out of fairness to all the applicants, the Michael Hill will only accept the repertoire selections as outlined here.

A.: The application round is meant to represent an audition, therefore works are to be played as per a performance. The Michael Hill will immediately disqualify any edited or enhanced application recordings.

A: Yes, provided it is verifiably performed and recorded after 20 May 2025, which is six months before the application deadline. Any additional exceptions will be made only by prior written approval provided by the Competition’s management. Please plan ahead and make any request early so that it can be verified.

A: Yes, provided it is not more than six months (see above Question about previously-recorded works.)

A: We strongly recommend you perform them as you would in a performance.

A: In the event you encounter technical difficulties uploading any of your materials, please contact getacceptd.com in the first instance. The Competition cannot help you with technical problems pertaining to your uploading of materials.

A: The Competition management will advise every applicant the outcome of their audition by email on or before 23 December 2025 NZDT.

A: Ad libitum means “according to pleasure”. Our aim is to provide each quarter-finalist with opportunities to demonstrate why they should be a Michael Hill winner.  Therefore, they are asked to construct and perform a recital programme in two halves (first half Round I and second half Round II) that include required works but also selection that personally resonate with them; that demonstrate to the judges a particular talent or enthusiasm, something in which they truly excel…. that gives pleasure – to the performer and the audience.

Perhaps they will be works that demonstrate their affinity and flair for a certain compositional style or era, from the Competitor’s heritage, or a piece they commissioned, premiered, or composed.

Because some works selected may be unfamiliar to the judges and audience, and to provide the performers the ability to express themselves beyond their violin playing, each Competitor is required to introduce at least one ad libitum selection from the stage and our preference is for Competitors to introduce at least one work in each Round I and II. There will be no printed programme notes so audiences and judges will want to know something about the works themselves, but more specifically WHY the Competitor chose it, and what is it that makes it so compelling? Please note New Zealand audience are English-speaking, so please confer with the Competition if you cannot present in English.

Queenstown is a small and remote alpine village and lacks certain amenities. Competitors are required to observe the following conditions and parameters:

• The Competition provides official pianists but should a Competitor wish to present a work with other collaborating instrumentalist or involving audio visual technologies, any associated costs will be borne by the Competitor.
• The Competition provides pianos and will assist in the procurement of other collaborating instruments, but any costs associated with hiring, delivery and preparation of any instruments will be borne by the Competitor,
• Each Competitor receives a maximum of 120 minutes’ rehearsal with their assigned official pianist to prepare their full Queenstown program.
• Competitors selected as quarter-finalists are required to provide piano scores of their full programme to the Competition by 1 February.

A: Certainly. Firstly, competitors selected to perform in the live rounds can repeat any of their application repertoire from the selection round if they wish. When it comes to the live rounds in New Zealand, it is because the Michael Hill encourages Competitors to present a programme with repertoire that exhibits a broad stylistic range that we discourage over-representation of a particular genre or composer or an unbalanced programme.

Final approval of Quarter-finalists’ programmes will be given by the Competition’s management by 20 February 2026.

A: If you have been selected as a Quarter-finalist, your programme will be reviewed, checked for accuracy and approved by the Competition management shortly after you are invited to compete in the live rounds. Should you wish to submit any changes to your programme, these must be done by 1 April 2026. No changes can be made without permission of the Competition and absolutely no changes will be considered after 1 May 2026.

A: If you have been selected as a Quarter-finalist, the Competition management will book and pay for an economy class return flight to Queenstown and Auckland to compete in the live rounds. These flights will originate from major airports and often the hubs with the airline carriers that travel to New Zealand, so if you do not live in one of those, it will be your responsibility and at your cost to get to the originating major centre.

It is possible for Quarter-finalists to request additional stops or a variation of their airfare to accommodate different point of departure or return, but any additional cost beyond the direct flight is the responsibility of the Quarter-finalist.

A: Each Quarter-finalist is assigned one of two of the Competition’s official pianists and it is not possible to request a specific pianist. Competitors are allocated two 60 minute sessions with them, with one of the sessions taking place in the concert hall in order to test acoustics.

A: By all means, but all costs associated with this are borne by the Quarter-finalist. Please be advised that it is strictly not allowable for your guest(s) to stay with you in your billeted accommodation but Competitors are permitted to decline a host family accommodation arrangement in either or both Queenstown and Auckland and stay privately with their guests at their full expense.