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!
In the midst of the thrilling quarter-finals of the Michael Hill International Violin Competition 2026, the Queenstown Memorial Hall will be transformed for an evening of rarefied elegance and alluring artistry. This is no ordinary dinner. It’s a harmoniously curated affair in which virtuosity and indulgence intertwine. Guests will enjoy a locally-sourced and sumptuous meal prepared by…
The 2026 competitors have been announced. 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 (Philadelphia),…
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…
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💖 🏔 GLORIOUS QUEENSTOWN 🏔 💖
There are few places in the world in which music and landscape come together as beautifully as in Queenstown during the Michael Hill International Violin Competition.
Our extraordinary event draws some of the world’s most promising young violinists to the shores of Lake Whakatipu, where breathtaking alpine scenery provides a dramatic backdrop to world-class performance.
Travelling to Queenstown for the competition is an experience in itself. Crisp air and snow-dusted peaks create an atmosphere of quiet anticipation. When not in the intimate Queenstown Memorial Centre watching rising violin stars perform works of breathtaking virtuosity and emotion, visitors can explore lakeside walks, vineyards and galleries.
We have a number of wonderful Destination Partners in Queenstown, including the stunning @HulbertHouseQueenstown / @hulberthouse_queenstown, pictured. If you’re planning on joining us (or organising an event yourself), please check them out:
Hotel St Moritz Queenstown - MGallery Collection /@hotelstmoritz_mgallery
@millbrooknz / @millbrookresort
Nockies Palette Wines
@pinewoodqueenstown
@sustainable_travel_co / @Sustainable-Travel-Co
@thehillsgolfclub
@ArtisanCateringNZ / @artisan_catering
@RealNZ.Aotearoa / @real.newzealand
@_seasonz.travel_
@TouchdownCarRentals
@qtweddinghire / @queenstownweddinghire
Mar 24
Hairui Lei (Philadelphia) started at the Affiliated Primary School of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music in 2016, aged 11, studying under the guidance of teacher Wei Yun. He has also worked with Gidon Kremer, Boris Kuschnir, Hu Kun, Pierre Amoyal, Li Weigang, and former MHIVC winner Ning Feng, among others.
He won first place in the Children’s Group of the National Youth Music Competition – Hummingbird Music Award in 2016. In 2017, he achieved first place in the Professional Elementary School Group at the Vienna International String Competition and third place in the Children’s Professional Group at the Hong Kong International Violin Competition.
In 2022 he joined Curtis Institute of Music, studying with Pamela Frank and Shmuel Ashkenasi. In addition to the violin, he also studies piano, harmony and composition.
Mar 8
Hyein Koo (Seoul) began playing the violin at the age of eight and gained early recognition when she won first prize at the Hankook Children’s Daily Music Competition. Since then, she has received top prizes at major competitions, including the CBS, TBC, Eumyoun, Strad Korea, and Gimpo Philharmonic Orchestra Competitions, as well as The Mayor’s Award at the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra Competition.
Koo is currently pursuing a Master of Musical Arts at the Yale School of Music under Soovin Kim. She previously completed her Master of Music at The Juilliard School under Ronald Copes and her Bachelor of Music at Seoul National University, where she studied with Ju-young Baek and Ji-won Moon.
Mar 3
Yeonoo Jeong (Seoul) is currently a violin major at Seoul National University where she studies under Jaeyoung Kim and Solan Lee.
She has performed as a soloist with Seocho Philharmonic Orchestra and the Seoul National University College of Music Orchestra, among others, received the 16th Shinhan Music Award, and earned first prize at the Rising Stars Grand Prix International Music Competition in Berlin.
Mar 1
Emmalena Huning, from Perth, Australia, is currently studying at the Curtis Institute of Music with Benjamin Beilman and Erin Keefe, and is a graduate of the Royal Academy of Music (London) where she studied with Gyorgy Pauk and Jack Liebeck.
A prize winner at the National Youth Concerto Competition, Kendall National Violin Competition and Osaka International Music Competition, Emmalena was awarded the Australian Musician of Promise prize at the Royal Over-Seas League Annual Music Competition in 2022.
Feb 25
We send our most sincere congratulations to 2026 Judge, 2026 Selection Panelist and long-time friend and collaborative artist of the Competition, Andrew Beer, who has been appointed the new Concertmaster of Singapore Symphony Orchestra @singaporesymphony, beginning in July.
While we, our orchestra partner the Auckland Philharmonia @aklphil, and violinists and audiences across Aotearoa New Zealand will miss you, your gentle greatness and inspiring virtuosity Andrew, we wish you the very best in your new role and look forward to hosting you in Queenstown and Auckland this May/June before you make the move to Marina Bay!
Feb 25
Currently taught by Midori Goto and Erin Keefe, Anaïs Feller, who cites performing as her greatest joy, has appeared in Edinburgh International Festival`s Rising Stars programme three times, and, among other awards, was Second Prize Winner and Artistic Prize recipient of the inaugural OneSong International Music Competition in 2025.
Feb 9
Music runs in the family for Competitor @beatricecolombis (Sydney/Berlin). The daughter of two pianists started playing violin aged three, studies and lives in Berlin, and has also performed (and won awards) with her family ensemble, the @cousinquartet Cousin Quartet!
Beatrice is taught by a former MHIVC winner, Prof. Suyeon Kang 🎻
#competitorinfocus
Feb 3
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