News & Media
10 fun facts for our tenth event

10 fun facts for our tenth event

This year is our tenth competition. So, for fun, we've hunted down some interesting facts you might not already know about our 2019 competitors. Our youngest competitor is Emmalena Huning at 18 years old. She hasn’t started university yet, but has a spot waiting for her at the Royal Academy of Music in London Competitor Matthias Ward will be performing his Ad Libitum (work of choice) with Queenstown local Mark Wilson accompanying him. Mark Wilson is an accordionist…

Find out More10 fun facts for our tenth event
Round 2 – Sunday 2 June

Round 2 – Sunday 2 June

IN THE CONCERT HALL AND ON THE LIVE STREAM ON SUNDAY 2 JUNE (Note: these are all NZ Standard Time) 9.30 – 10.00am        INSIDERS' GUIDE Lyell Cresswell: Commissioning Chatoyance – Our 2019 commissioned composer talks about his compositional process with our Artistic Adviser, Dene Olding, who has been an integral part of the Competitions’ new works throughout the years. 10:00 – 10.45am         Rimma Benyumova (Russia) 10:45 - 11:30am      Emmalena Huning (Australia) BREAK 11.45am – 12.30pm         Do…

Find out MoreRound 2 – Sunday 2 June
Bayleys Quarter-final Round 1 – Sat 1 June

Bayleys Quarter-final Round 1 – Sat 1 June

TODAY, IN THE CONCERT HALL AND ON THE LIVE STREAM: (Note: these are all NZ Standard Time) 9.30 – 10.00am: INSIDER’S GUIDE Q&A Martin Riseley Paganini: What was he thinking! – Martin uncovers the organized mayhem of the Caprices with a sampling of some of the devilish difficulties 10:00 – 10:40am       Victoria Wong (Australia) 10:40 - 11:20am       Choi Tung (Cherry) Yeung (Hong Kong) BREAK 11.35am – 12.15pm           Angela Sin Ying Chan (Hong Kong) 12.15 – 12.55pm        Sophie…

Find out MoreBayleys Quarter-final Round 1 – Sat 1 June
Message from the Prime Minister

Message from the Prime Minister

This year, in our programme book, the Rt Hon Jacinda Adern, Prime Minister of New Zealand and Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage (pictured), offered these words: "The Michael Hill International Violin Competition has raised the bar for violinists and string players in this country - inspiring our upcoming young players to reach for the stars. It has also been a positive step on the career paths of previous winners, with many now holding prestigious roles in world-class…

Find out MoreMessage from the Prime Minister
Today’s Insider’s Guide

Today’s Insider’s Guide

This beautiful video of our 2011 winner Sergey Malov playing the Paganini’s Caprice 24 perfectly highlights the violinist’s stunning feats of dexterity. Martin Riseley is the Head of Strings at the New Zealand School of Music. He began violin studies at the age of six, and gave his first solo concert when he was ten. Since 2015, he has been Concertmaster of the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and has conducted the Edmonton Symphony, Manawatu Chamber Orchestra, Academy Strings of Alberta, and…

Find out MoreToday’s Insider’s Guide
Official opening

Official opening

Our Competitors enjoyed a brilliant opening event and draw announcement, at the home of Competition Founder Sir Michael Hill and his wife Christine, Lady Hill. Guests enjoyed a pōwhiri - a traditional Māori welcome - by Queenstown tangata whenua (people of this place) and children from Arrowtown Primary (pictured), as well as welcome speeches by Queenstown Mayor Jim Boult, Sir Michael Hill and Competition Director Anne Rodda. The following day, we welcomed a group of guests for lunch at…

Find out MoreOfficial opening
Press frenzy

Press frenzy

We've enjoyed some good press coverage lately, especially as we've moved closer to the start of the Competition today. Below is a quick overview for those too busy or too far away to have seen it. NZ Herald Quarter-finalists Mairead Hickey, Matthias Well and Ashley Park had an interesting discussion with the New Zealand Herald about the impact social media is having on their lives as performers. NZ Herald Viva Quarter-finalist Rimma Benyumova (pictured) shared some of her top…

Find out MorePress frenzy
Bayleys Quarter-final Round I – Friday 31 May

Bayleys Quarter-final Round I – Friday 31 May

TODAY, IN THE CONCERT HALL AND ON THE LIVE STREAM: (Note: these are all NZ Standard Time) 2.30 – 3.00pm INSIDERS' GUIDE Q&A (Martin Riseley, "Fiendish Fugues") 3:00 – 3.40pm  Rimma Benyumova (Russia) 3:40 - 4:20pm Emmalena Huning (Australia) BREAK 4.35 – 5.15pm  Do Gyung (Anna) Im (South Korea) 5.15 – 5.55pm Harry Ward (Australia) DINNER BREAK 7.00 – 7.40pm Tianyu Liu (China) 7.40 – 8.20pm  MairéadHickey - Violinist (Ireland) BREAK 8:40 - 9:20pm Jacqueline Audas (USA) 9.20 – 10.00pm…

Find out MoreBayleys Quarter-final Round I – Friday 31 May