Queenstown’s Violin Olympics Return
New Zealand’s prestigious Michael Hill International Violin Competition supported by the Hill Family Foundation for Arts and Music returns to Queenstown from June 2 until June 5 2023 and organisers are upbeat about the high calibre of violinists selected to compete.
Competition executive director Anne Rodda says 16 of the best violinists from around the world aged from 18 to 28 years have been selected to play in the resort.
“The competition is considered an Olympics of the violin world with the young violinists battling it out in the Queenstown quarterfinals before moving to Auckland for the semi-finals and the grand final concert with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra.”
Anne says The Michael Hill International Violin Competition has been a platform for some of the world’s most successful contemporary soloists, teachers, concertmasters and ensemble players and this year the impressive international judging panel is again a who’s who line-up of violin superstars.
“Audiences will hear exquisite Bach solo works, fiendishly difficult Paganini caprices, romantic-era sonatas, charming salon pieces and a new composition by Michael Norris where the violinists will play to a New Zealand audio sound scape along with the popular Ad Libitum selection of their own choosing.”
The 2023 winner receives NZ$40,000, a recording contract with the Atoll label and a multi-centre winner’s tour with Chamber Music New Zealand.
“The Michael Hill International Violin Competition is recognised as one of the most sought-after international prizes for these fine young violinists and the careers of future musical legends are launched right here in New Zealand,” says Anne. “It is a feast of spellbinding virtuosity, heartstring tugging treasures and heroic masterpieces performed by the next generation of world-leading talent.”