Eighteen Becomes Six in the 2015 Michael Hill International Violin Competition
Judges announce six semi-finalists who will move on to Round III in Auckland
The judges for the 2015 Michael Hill International Violin Competition have selected, via secret ballot, the six
competitors who will move through to the next round, Round III – piano trios, in Auckland.
They are, in order of the original draw: Marie-Christine Klettner (Austria), Natsumi Tsuboi (Japan/USA), Timothy Chooi (Canada), Eunae Koh (South Korea), Elly
Suh (USA/South Korea) andSuyeon Kang (Australia).
Rounds I and II drew to a close tonight after three days of intense competition during which the judges saw 18
semi-finalists from around the world.
The initial rounds took place in Queenstown where the competitors each performed from the competition repertoire
comprising solo works, salon pieces, selected movements from a choice of concerti and sonatas (with pianists Diedre
Irons and Sarah Watkins), and a specially-commissioned work by New Zealand composer Kenneth Young, titled Gone.
Round III will take place in Auckland’s Town Hall this Wednesday 10 and Thursday 11 June. The six semi-finalists will
each perform a Beethoven piano trio with acclaimed New Zealand musicians cellist Ashley Brown and pianist Michael
Houstoun. Tickets for Round III are still available via Ticketmaster.
From there three finalists will be selected to perform concerti with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra on Saturday
night, at the end of which the 2015 winner will be announced.
Also announced tonight was the winner of the Best Performance of the New Zealand Work, South Korea’s Jung Min Choi. For winning this prize, Choi receives NZ$2,000 cash.
The 2015 Winner takes away NZ$40,000, a recording contract on the Atoll label, a personalised professional development
programme, a bespoke gown from Kiri Nathan (female) or suit from Working Style (male), and a Michael Hill gold and
diamond pendant from Christine Hill’s Spirits Bay Collection, based on iconic New Zealand shell the Totorere. The winner will also return to New Zealand in 2016 for an
intensive performance tour across the country, presented in partnership with Chamber Music NZ and the Auckland
Philharmonia Orchestra.
The other prizes are as follows. Second Prize: NZ$10,000 cash, Third Prize: NZ$5,000 cash, Fourth Place: NZ$3,000 cash,
Fifth Place: NZ$2,000 cash, Sixth Place: NZ $1,000 cash. There is also a Chamber Music Prize of NZ$2,000 cash for the
winner of Round III.
The 2015 international jury comprises Pierre Amoyal (France / Switzerland), Sergiu Schwartz (Romania), Young Uck Kim (South Korea), Joseph Lin (USA), Susie Park (Australia), Helene Pohl (New Zealand) and Benjamin Schmid (Austria).
The Michael Hill International Violin Competition is New Zealand’s most prestigious music competition and recognised as
one of the finest violin competitions in the world.
The entire 2015 event is being live streamed here.
The Michael Hill Audience Award is back for this Competition. Both live and online audience members are encouraged to
vote for their favourite competitor either via the web site here or via text (4368 - NZ mobile only). The winner of the Michael Hill Audience Prize will be announced during the prize
giving at Auckland’s Town Hall on 13 June.
ENDS