News & Media
Finalists announced

Finalists announced

Following two electric evenings of Semi-finals at Auckland’s Town Hall, and four days of Quarter-finals in Queenstown before that, the three Finalists moving on to the ultimate round of the 2019 Competition were announced tonight. From 16 Quarter-finalists, to six Semi-finalists, the three violinists moving on to the Grand Finale are (in their performance order and with their selected concerto): Jevgēnijs Čepoveckis (Latvia) - Shostakovich: Concerto in A minor Op 99 Do Gyung (Anna) Im (South Korea) - Sibelius: Concerto in D…

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Semi-finalists announced

Semi-finalists announced

L-R: Victoria Wong, Eric Tsai, Angela Sin Ying Chan, Sir Michael Hill, Christine, Lady Hill, Anna Im, Jevgēnijs Čepoveckis, Hannah Cho After an intensive four days of competition in Rounds 1 and 2, our International Jury have agreed and announced the six Semi-finalists who will progress to the next round of the Competition. They are, in their performance order: Wednesday: Do Gyung (Anna) Im (South Korea) - Quintet in G minor K516 Victoria Wong (Australia) - Quintet in C major K515 Hannah Cho…

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Career Development & Community Outreach

Career Development & Community Outreach

Something else which makes our Competition different from others is that we don’t just create an opportunity for young international violinists to compete on the world stage, but we offer a number career development opportunities, right here in Aotearoa. In order for us best foster the next generation of violin talent, we have developed a thriving programme of development, education and community outreach activities, including masterclasses, workshops and our popular Classroom Conversations series. Masterclasses are intimate with limited…

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Round 2 – Monday 3 June

9.30 – 10.00am: INSIDERS' GUIDE Andrew Beer Two is Better than One – Andrew delves into the rich sonata repertoire for violin and piano. What makes a good pairing and how will you know? 10:00 – 10.45am                      Victoria Wong (Australia) 10:45 - 11:30am                     Choi Tung (Cherry) Yeung (Hong Kong) BREAK 11.45am – 12.30pm         Angela Sin Ying Chan (Hong Kong) 12.30 – 1.15pm    Sophie Wang (Taiwan) LUNCH BREAK   2.30 – 3.15pm       Jevgēnijs Čepoveckis (Latvia) 3.15 – 4.00pm   …

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Ad Libitum – Round 1 | Day 2

Ad Libitum – Round 1 | Day 2

Our Ad Libitum section continued on Sat 1 June, for the remaining eight Quarter-finalists. Ad Libitum means “according to pleasure” and, as such, the competitor chooses a work which resonates with them. Each is required to introduce their chosen piece and its (or their) significance to the judging panel and audience. It’s not just a test of skill and artistry, but of presentation skills and creativity. Australian Victoria Wong (at left) chose Ernst’s Der Erlkönig, expressing its importance…

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Ad Libitum – Day 1

Ad Libitum – Day 1

There was a snow warning across the region, but the Queenstown Memorial Centre was sizzling as the Competition kicked off on Friday 31 May. Round 1 | Day 1 saw the first eight competitors perform solo Bach works, Paganini Caprices, charming salon pieces and the hotly awaited and always enlightening Ad Libitum section in which they choose - and curate - their own work. Ad Libitum Ad Libitum means “according to pleasure” and as such the competitor chooses…

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Insider’s Guide – Sunday 2 June

Insider’s Guide – Sunday 2 June

Every Competition, the Quarter-finalists are all required to perform a commissioned piece by a New Zealand composer as part of Round 2. This year, we have the privilege of hearing - 16 times! - a new work by Wellington-born, Edinburgh-based Composer Lyell Cresswell. Lyell is a prolific composer who has written work for orchestra, opera, choral music and beyond. He has an APRA Silver Scroll for his contribution to New Zealand music and a New Zealand Arts Laureate…

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Audience Prize codes

Audience Prize codes

Live and online audience members are encouraged to vote for their favourite competitor, online or NZ mobile (standard charges apply), in the Michael Hill International Violin Competition Audience Prize. Please find the online voting button on our Home Page or text the unique code of your favourite competitor to 3323 (NZ only. Standard call charges apply). Competitor codes are below. Contestant Text code Rimma Benyumova (Russia) RIM Emmalena Huning (Australia) EMMA Do Gyung (Anna) Im (South Korea) ANNA Harry…

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