New Zealander in Violin Competition Finals

Media Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

3 June 2003

New Zealander in Competition Finals

New Zealander Natalia Lomeiko was last night named a Finalist in the 2003 Michael Hill International Violin Competition. The other Finalists are Korbinian Altenberger (Germany) and Kristian Winther (Australia).

In addition to the naming of the Finalists, three Honourable Awards winners were announced: 4th – Yvonne Lam (USA); 5th – Alexandra Osborne (Australia); 6th – Shanshan Yao (China/Canada).

Born in Russia, Natalia Lomeiko, now 24, moved with her family to Christchurch in 1996. Since that time she has made her mark on the New Zealand music scene, winning the Gisborne Music Competition and the New Zealand Concerto Competition, and in 2000 being awarded Young Musician of the Year.

Natalia has also established herself on the international stage. She has been a top prize winner in many prestigious international violin competitions including the Menuhin (England), Stradivari (Italy), Tchaikovsky (Russia), and Paganini (Italy) for which she won both first prize and the gold medal.

Since débuting with the Novosibirsk Symphony at the age of seven, Natalia has performed as soloist with such orchestras as the Royal Philharmonic under Yehudi Menuhin, the Philharmonia, the Singapore Symphony, New Zealand Symphony, Tokyo Royal Philharmonic and Nice Philharmonic. She has toured extensively as a soloist and chamber musician in Great Britain, Europe, Finland, Russia, Poland, the US, South America, Singapore and Japan.

An international field of eighteen semi-finalists, representing over a dozen different countries, competed in the semi-final rounds of the Michael Hill International Violin Competition in Queenstown over Queen’s Birthday weekend.

Each of the Finalists performs a concerto accompanied by the Auckland Philharmonia under the direction of Miguel Harth-Bedoya at 7.30pm on Friday 6 June in the Auckland Town Hall:

- Korbinian Altenberger: Sibelius Violin Concerto in D minor, Op.47

- Natalia Lomeiko: Brahms Violin Concerto in D, Op.77

- Kristian Winther: Shostakovich Violin Concerto No.1 in A minor, Op.99 (aka Op.77)

The Honourable Awards winners perform in recital in the Auckland Town Hall (Concert Chamber) at 7.30pm on Thursday 5 June. Both concerts are open to the public. For bookings phone the Ticketek Orchestra Hotline on 307 5139. ENDS

For images, interviews and further information contact Caroline Nelson, Publicist, Auckland Philharmonia, phone (09) 638 7073, 025 244 1299, email crn@aucklandphil.co.nz

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