12th Michael Hill International Violin Competition

New Zealand is a remarkable country with remarkable people and remarkable achievements. In 1893, it became the first country in the world to grant women the right to vote; in 2017, the country elected Jacinda Ardern as the world’s youngest prime minister; and Auckland, the country’s largest city, consistently ranks among the top cities in the world for quality of life.

It is therefore hardly surprising that the Michael Hill International Violin Competition is a pioneer in many respects and a model of excellence for dedicated, sustainable cultural work. Particularly impressive is how the denationalisation programme launched by the WFIMC is implemented here: the young participants are welcomed and addressed as global citizens and artists with a disarming matter-of-factness; all national symbolism is dispensed with, demonstrating just how progressive and cosmopolitan the thinking and approach here is.

Founded 25 years ago by Michael Hill, a passionate music lover, violinist, philanthropist and, above all, a highly successful businessman in the jewellery sector, this competition is a comprehensive cultural project that has become a flagship for New Zealand in the fields of talent development, music education and hospitality. Some key points: the venues are located between Christchurch, Queenstown and Auckland; 16 finalists have been invited to New Zealand to perform demanding programmes ranging from solo and chamber music to orchestral repertoire; live streams on New Zealand Radio, Violin Channel and Amadeus TV, a dedicated Michael Hill Fellowship programme for highly talented, up-and-coming violinists from New Zealand, which runs alongside the competition, and a supporting programme for and with music students make the competition a truly comprehensive event.

The standard at the 12th Michael Hill International Violin Competition was high, and the finalists displayed a wide aesthetic range. This demonstrates how well the jury had been selected, as they managed to bring such a diverse group of artists through to the final. The 23-year-old Jakow Pavlenko, who lives in Berlin, impressed throughout the competition with his incisive interpretations, which even reminded some of the young Gidon Kremer. A few minor uncertainties in Sibelius’s Violin Concerto earned him third prize. The 26-year-old Tianyou Ma, who lives in New York, also chose the Sibelius Violin Concerto and impressed with a polished confidence that secured him second prize.  The performance of 23-year-old Beatrice Colombis, originally from Sydney and now based in Berlin, in Shostakovich’s Violin Concerto was absolutely outstanding. Rarely does one hear such a compelling interplay between technical brilliance and individual artistic expression at competitions, yet one that never fails to show respect for the score itself. Her first prize opens the doors to major concert organisers in the New Zealand-Pacific region; furthermore, she will receive a Domenico Montagnana violin from Rare Violins of New York in Consortium and will take part in a Personalised Professional Development Programme.

This anniversary edition of the Michael Hill International Violin Competition has demonstrated how a competition can today effectively position itself within both local and international cultural life, whilst offering participating artists a truly inspiring and formative experience. Ideally, a competition is always more than just a competition. This is particularly true of the Michael Hill International Violin Competition.

Long live the Michael Hill International Violin Competition!

Peter Paul Kainrath, President
World Federation of International Music Competitions
Auckland 07.06.2026