Situated on the banks of Lake Whakatipu and running across the 4 days of the 2025 Easter weekend, 18 – 21 April, the Whakatipu Music Festival weaves together New Zealand’s most outstanding emerging musical talents with world-class luminaries, local grassroots music initiatives and dedicated local and national educators.
The festival delivers an exhilarating event for every musical taste and ability.
One of the reasons for the festival’s growing reputation and success is its commitment to delivering three interconnecting objectives:
1/ High performance artists including a Young Artists Career Development Programme.
2/ Community enrichment opportunities, with rehearsals and workshops running from 14 April
3/ Local workforce capability-building programmes, to help train the next generation of arts and event sector workers.
With the 2025 festival also bringing a new fresh twist to its musical content, thanks to its partnership with Choirs Aotearoa, audiences can expect to see an injection of choral and vocal performance to supplement the existing instrumental offerings.
Career development opportunities will also expand to focus on the development of vocal and conducting excellence, two music career pathways in which New Zealand is famous for hitting well above its weight on the global stage.
International guest artists on board for the 2025 festival include:
- Ioana Cristina Goicea (Berlin/Romania), Violin.
- Julian Smiles (Australia), Cello.
- Stephen De Pledge (New Zealand), Piano.
- Bernadette Harvey (Australia), Piano.
- Dr Karen Grylls (New Zealand) Conductor.
Across the 4-day festival, these artists can be seen in their own public recitals as well as sharing their expertise as mentors and coaches thanks to the Festival’s Young Artists Programme.
Read about each of these outstanding musicians HERE.
The Young Artist Programme retains, offering a live-in week-long intensive Career Development Programme for 12 exceptional NZ musicians between the ages of 18-26.
All costs associated with attending the programme, including accommodation, living expenses and event & workshop attendances across the festival are covered by generous scholarships from the Adam Foundation.
Each of the participants will be selected following a national audition programme. Applications open on 15 September, with full details and instructions to be published on our website and via social media (Facebook & Instagram).
Successful candidates will receive meaningful and candid mentoring and workshops from the visiting international artists, as well as invaluable performance and rehearsal opportunities to help refine their musicianship and presentation skills.
This includes a short 30min solo recital from each of the 12 ‘Young Artist’ participants, a highlight on the festival programme for audiences and performers alike. These recitals will be recorded thanks to Radio New Zealand Concert, and shared to a global audience through the Michael Hill International Violin Competition’s own digital channels.
The Whakatipu Music Festival plays a very special part in the Hill Family Foundation for Arts and Music’s commitment to the New Zealand performing arts scene, Easter weekend 2025 promises to be another weekend rich in musical celebrations in a very special location, on the banks of Queenstown’s Lake Whakatipu.
