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 Artisan Catering with matched Nockies Palette Wines. The night shimmers with intimate and unforgettable performances from internationally celebrated violinists Josef Špaček (2009 Competition…

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), Tianyou Ma (New York), Leanne McGowan (Brisbane), Jakow Pavlenko (Berlin), Alexey Stychkin (Berlin), Maxim Tzekov (Berlin), Dindin Jingyi Wang (Melbourne), Julia Wang (Vienna),…

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 the world’s most respected major violin contests and an iconic event on the New Zealand landscape, he inspired generations of international violinists that all…