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 from 29 May to 6 June 2026. 2026 marks 25 years since the late Sir Michael Hill had a vision to create a…

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 Tartini's Devil's Trill Sonata, alongside Gillian Whitehead's Bright Silence, Ysaye Sonata 5, and more. Yeyeong Jenny Jin won first prize at the 2023…

"The audition tape must be as perfect as a commercial one but as spontaneous and inspired as a concert performance." This sage piece of advice has been offered by Boris Garlitsky, Professor of Violin at the Paris Conservatoire, in a piece by our friends and long-time partner, The Violin Channel who asked a line-up of esteemed international pedagogues about the common mistakes students make with competition audition videos. Need some advice on recording your video audition? Have a…

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