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!
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…
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…
On 29 July 2025, New Zealand lost one of her favourite sons and the international violin community lost one of its greatest champions. Competition founder Sir Michael died peacefully at home, surrounded by his family including his wife of 60 years, Christine, Lady Hill. Not only did Sir Michael lend his name to one of…
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📣 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
Dec 22
Entries close 5pm 20 November (NZDT)! violincompetition.co.nz
Nov 18
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!
Nov 12
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
Aug 31
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.
Jul 29
Such a treat to have Turn up the Music School perform alongside our next generation of young artists. Here are a collection of photos from NEXT GEN ONE!
Tomorrow we have Kinga Krupa Music students performing for Next Gen Two: in the afternoon, and in the evening a delightful feast of Musical Smorgasbord 🎨
Photos by @sadhbhphotography and @pab.herrero
Apr 19
Yesterday we had two heartwarming events - our open strings class with Ioana, Julian and Turn up the Music School, and a performance at Queenstown Country Club from Ivan and William. Getting to interact with the Tāhuna community is such a treat of this festival! 💜
📷 @sadhbhphotography
Apr 18
Last night two of our artists Esther Oh and Damon Herlihy O`Brien performed surrounded by the innovative art at @starkwhite gallery. It was a great evening with talks from Craigs Investment Partners, Kelly of Starkwhite and festival director Anne. Investing in a future that supports art and music 🎨
📷 @pab.herrero
Apr 17
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