Next Festival April 2025

Please join us

Whakatipu Music Festival showcases extraordinary music from Aotearoa’s leading musicians, emerging artists, and local talent embracing outstanding classical, jazz, singer-songwriting, Broadway hits and more. Brought to life by a local workforce, it supports and stimulates the arts, cultural and events scene in the Queenstown region. It is an exceptional event that is an absolute treasure for the community and the whole of Aotearoa.

Photo Credit : Dvorak friends 2, James Robertson

The Festival is unlike any other and comprises three interconnecting components

High-Performance Artists

Performances and teaching from world-class New Zealand musicians and a week-long Showcase and Career Development Young Artist Programme for 12 exceptional NZ musicians (age 16-26, selected through national audition)

Community Engagement

Workshops, professional development and performance showcase for Central Otago-based professionals, music teachers, students, and ensembles

Local Workforce Capability Building

Paid roles in Festival production for Central Otago-based early career practitioners

Sponsors

Subscribe

Subscribe to our newsletter to be kept up to date

    VIOLINCOMPETITION ON INSTAGRAM

    Instagram Gallery

    Looking back on the 2023 Michael Hill International Violin Competition

    View

    Aug 14

    Open
    Looking back on the 2023 Michael Hill International Violin Competition

    So the Review from the @NZHerald is out... BUT

    - it`s behind their paywall, which is probably a sign it`s a spectacular review!! (Mr Dart knows his stuff!)

    But for those who haven`t paid for an online subscription to this newspaper - please share your own `review` in the comments below!

    And if you`d like to revisit or see the Grand Finale for yourself - it`s up on our youtube.com/@MHIVC channel and our website homepage...

    Tell us what you thought of the Grand Final in the comments below!

    Major Partners - @MichaelHillInternational @CraigsInvestmentPartners @ChironMusicAcademy

    #MHIVC2023

    View

    Jun 12

    Open
    So the Review from the @NZHerald is out... BUT - it's behind their paywall, which is probably a sign it's a spectacular review!! (Mr Dart knows his stuff!) But for those who haven't paid for an online subscription to this newspaper - please share your own 'review' in the comments below! And if you'd like to revisit or see the Grand Finale for yourself - it's up on our youtube.com/@MHIVC channel and our website homepage... Tell us what you thought of the Grand Final in the comments below! Major Partners - @MichaelHillInternational @CraigsInvestmentPartners @ChironMusicAcademy #MHIVC2023

    Congratulations Yeyeong Jenny Jin (SOUTH KOREA/ USA) winner of the 2023 Michael Hill International Violin Competition.

    To read all the news and see the full list of winners visit our link in bio

    View

    Jun 10

    Open
    Congratulations Yeyeong Jenny Jin (SOUTH KOREA/ USA) winner of the 2023 Michael Hill International Violin Competition. To read all the news and see the full list of winners visit our link in bio

    BREAKING: Yeyeong Jenny Jin (@yjennyjin) has been named the winner of the 2023 Michael Hill International Violin Competition, after a dramatic finale performance of the Brahms Violin Concerto. #MHIVC2023

    Link in bio..

    View

    Jun 10

    Open
    BREAKING: Yeyeong Jenny Jin (@yjennyjin) has been named the winner of the 2023 Michael Hill International Violin Competition, after a dramatic finale performance of the Brahms Violin Concerto. #MHIVC2023 Link in bio..

    Get your vote in for the Michael Hill International Violin Competition`s famous Audience Prize. ALL 16 competitors are eligible to win.

    Rank the players in order of your most ‘preferred’, with 1 being your favourite.

    Follow the link in bio

    Major event partners -
    @MichaelHillJ @chironmusicacademy #craigsinvestmentpartners

    #mhivc2023

    View

    Jun 10

    Open
    Get your vote in for the Michael Hill International Violin Competition's famous Audience Prize. ALL 16 competitors are eligible to win. Rank the players in order of your most ‘preferred’, with 1 being your favourite. Follow the link in bio Major event partners - @MichaelHillJ @chironmusicacademy #craigsinvestmentpartners #mhivc2023

    ATTN: The finalists for the 2023 Michael Hill International Violin Competition are...

    Lorenz Karls (Sweden/ Austria)
    Claire Wells (USA/Germany)
    Yeyeong Jenny Jin (South Korea/USA)

    The Grand Finale performance will call on each competitor to perform their chosen concerto with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Andrew Litton.

    The Grand Finale will take place on Saturday 10 June, 7.30pm - Auckland Town Hall.
    Please see LINK IN BIO for booking information.

    @yjennyjin @claire.wells #LorenzKarls

    View

    Jun 8

    Open
    ATTN: The finalists for the 2023 Michael Hill International Violin Competition are... Lorenz Karls (Sweden/ Austria) Claire Wells (USA/Germany) Yeyeong Jenny Jin (South Korea/USA) The Grand Finale performance will call on each competitor to perform their chosen concerto with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Andrew Litton. The Grand Finale will take place on Saturday 10 June, 7.30pm - Auckland Town Hall. Please see LINK IN BIO for booking information. @yjennyjin @claire.wells #LorenzKarls

    Special congratulations to Julia Mirzoev (Canada) who won the top prize for `best performance of the New Zealand Composition` - `Waipounamu` by composer Michael Norris.

    #MHIVC2023 @juliamirzoev

    View

    Jun 5

    Open
    Special congratulations to Julia Mirzoev (Canada) who won the top prize for 'best performance of the New Zealand Composition' - 'Waipounamu' by composer Michael Norris. #MHIVC2023 @juliamirzoev

    Semi-Finalists announced as the Michael Hill International Violin Competition travels from Queenstown to Auckland

    See our website for details - link in bio

    Special thanks to all our Queenstown Destination Partners - @thecarlinhotel @QueenstownPark @HotelStMoritz @Pureblacknz @QueenstownWeddingHire @TouchdownCarRentals @TheHeadwatersEcoLodge @PinewoodLodge

    View

    Jun 5

    Open
    Semi-Finalists announced as the Michael Hill International Violin Competition travels from Queenstown to Auckland See our website for details - link in bio Special thanks to all our Queenstown Destination Partners - @thecarlinhotel @QueenstownPark @HotelStMoritz @Pureblacknz @QueenstownWeddingHire @TouchdownCarRentals @TheHeadwatersEcoLodge @PinewoodLodge