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The 16 quarter-finalists selected to compete in the tenth biennial Michael Hill International Violin Competition will be determined by the Selection Panel through a rigorous audition process in December. They will be flown to New Zealand to compete in front of an esteemed International Jury and live audiences. Nikki Chooi, 2013 winner, (Simon Darby photographer) Rounds I and II of the prestigious competition take place in Queenstown from 31 May to 4 June amidst the breath-taking surroundings…
2013 Competition > Keeping Up With The Play > Sat 15 June 2013 THE COMPETITION HITS INTERNATIONAL AIRWAVES It’s hard to believe it’s now a week since our three finalists took the stage with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra to perform three concerti in the Competition’s Grand Final. What a stunning night of music that was with Boson Mo playing Prokofiev, followed by Nikki Chooi performing Sibelius and Sarah Christian playing Brahms. Canadian Nikki Chooi was announced the winner…
2013 Competition > Keeping Up With The Play > Sat 8 June 2013 THE GRAND FINALE... Excitement is in the air as we head towards the Grand Final tonight and find out who will be the winner of the 2013 Michael Hill International Violin Competition. It’s hard to believe that just one week ago we were listening to our 18 semi-finalists for the very first time in Queenstown – for us, and the violinists, it seems a lifetime ago.…
2013 Competition > Keeping Up With The Play > Thu 6 June 2013 AND THEN THERE WERE THREE Our three finalists have been named as the Competition enters its final stages. Following Round III performances by Wonyoung Jung, Sarah Christian and Boson Mo, the judges decided (again by secret ballot) on the final three – Canadians Nikki Chooi and Boson Mo, and German Sarah Christian. Sir Michael Hill with the three finalists and judges: Helene Pohl, Dmitry Sitkovetsky, James…
2013 Competition > Keeping Up With The Play > Wed 5 Jun 2013 A Thrilling Start to Round III What a thrilling start to Round III at Auckland Town Hall! This is the chamber music round where each of the top six semi-finalists performs a full piano trio with pianist Michael Houstoun and cellist Ashley Brown. In Rounds I and II the judges saw and heard how the competitors performed solo and with piano accompaniment – in Round III…
2013 Competition > Keeping Up With The Play > Tue 4 June 2013 Heading to Auckland All our semi-finalists headed to Auckland today as we enter the next phase of the Competition. We grabbed our top six semi-finalists for a quick snap before they dashed to board their flight. Tomorrow three of our six top semi-finalists rehearse with Ashley Brown (cello) and Michael Houstoun (piano) before the first of the Round III performances at the Concert Chamber, Auckland Town…
2013 Competition > Keeping Up With The Play > Mon 3 June 2013 Announcing the Top Six Finalists We’ve announced the top six semi-finalists to progress to Round III. Eighteen violinists from around the world have performed in the gruelling initial rounds of competition in Queenstown over the past three days. The six semi-finalists who go through to the next round in Auckland are (in no particular order): Nikki Chooi (Canada), Sarah Christian (Germany), Ioana Cristina Goicea (Romania), Wonyoung…
