Please join us for our last day of Round II in Queenstown, and for our semi-finalist announcement at approximately 7pm (NZST) Monday 1 June. Live stream: www.violincompetition.co.nz Monday 1 June Queenstown Memorial Centre 9.30am: Insiders Guide Paganini: a Devil or a God? (Presenter: Archie Lamont-Bowden) Who was Paganini and what does he represent in the world of violin performance? Archie explores his legendary caprices – how such devilish challenges demand godly technical execution. ROUND II – SESSION 3…

Reflections by Mary Lonsdale Baker Audience member, supporter, competitor host Lord Byron wrote “She walks in beauty”. I truly understand these words as I attend the first rounds of the 2026 Michael Hill International Violin Competition in Queenstown, New Zealand. I am entirely surrounded by beauty. First is the natural beauty of this mountain town. Situated at the foot of the South Island’s stunning Remarkable Mountains on the shore of Lake Wakatipu, this is surely everyone’s idea of a…

With Round II now well underway, we invited some of our 2026 Fellows - New Zealand-based musicians who are studying at a high level and who hold a number of different roles in the 2026 Competition including presenting, score reading and page turning - about their favourite moments from Round I, the quarter-finals in Queenstown... Mana Waiariki (violinist) "Hearing Salina Fisher’s piece ‘Chasm’ so many times in so many different interpretations has been so interesting! They are all…

Round II (Sessions 1 and 2) Queenstown Memorial Centre 9.30am: Insiders Guide Two Partners in One Story makes a Duo Sonata (Presenters: Madeleine Xiao & Lorna Zhang) Between the piano’s orchestral depth and the lyrical voice of the violin, Lorna Zhang explores the shifting roles and interplaying textures within the two throughout the eras. How much can strike from the intimacy in this simple duality? Who stands as the King and who will be Queen? ROUND II –…

Round I (sessions 3 and 4) Queenstown Memorial Centre 9.30am: Insiders Guide: Up close to the Chasm (Mana Waiariki) The 2026 MHIVC commissioned composer, Salina Fisher, sits down with Mana to discuss her commissioned work Chasm and why the history of the MHIVC commission is integral to the global music community. ROUND I – SESSION 3 10:00-10:35am: Alexey Stychkin (Berlin) Pianist: Sarah Watkins JS Bach – Adagio and Fuga Sonata 1 in G minor Paganini – Caprice No…

Round I: Schedule Friday 29th May Queenstown Memorial Centre View the livestream here 1.30pm: Insiders Guide Bach: Between the Lines Presenter: Indiana Williamson Bach’s solo violin works are never truly “solo.” Beneath a single line lies a web of voices, implied harmonies, and intricate counterpoint. In this insider’s guide, Indiana Williamson explores how Bach creates the illusion of multiple voices on one instrument. Through a closer look at phrasing, structure and technique, he reveals the challenge of bringing…

Competition Draw At a special event at the home of the Hill family in Queenstown, the official 2026 Competition Draw - and, thus, competition order - was undertaken by Christine, Lady Hill and Executive Director Anne Rodda: 1. Leanne McGowan, Brisbane/Berlin 2. Hyein Koo, Seoul 3. Anaïs Feller, Vancouver, WA 4. Tianyou Ma, New York 5. Yeonoo Jeong, Seoul 6. Dindin Jingyi Wang, Melbourne 7. Beatrice Colombis, Sydney/Berlin 8. Jakow Pavlenko, Berlin 9. Alexey Stychkin, Berlin 10. Maxim…

Three of our 2026 Competitors - Maxim Tzekov, Anais Feller and Xunyue Zhang - reported in from the Christchurch String Sessions...   "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…