Thursday 23 June, 2016
Details Announced for the 2017 Michael Hill International Violin Competition
As the winner of the 2015 Michael Hill International Violin Competition, Australian Suyeon Kang, makes her mark across
New Zealand and Australia on her Winner’s Tour, the details for the 2017 Michael Hill International Violin Competition
have been announced.
Queenstown will again play host for the first two rounds of the globally recognised competition for violinists aged
18-28, on 2-5 June 2017. From the 16 competitors, six will advance to Round III in Auckland on 7-8 June, before three
finalists are then invited to perform in the highly anticipated grand final at Auckland’s Town Hall on Saturday 10 June.
The esteemed international jury for the 2017 event has also been confirmed. It comprises Pamela Frank (USA), Ilya
Gringolts (Russia, UK), Dong-Suk Kang (South Korea), Vesa-Matti Leppanen (Finland/NZ), Silvia Marcovici (Romania), Dene
Olding (Australia) and Krzysztof Wegzhen (Poland/Germany). The 2017 Chair of Jury is Dr Robin Congreve (NZ).
Working with and alongside the performers will be the 2017 collaborating artists, all representing leading New Zealand
ensembles. The Queenstown pianists will again be Diedre Irons and Sarah Watkins. Round III (now Mozart String Quintets)
will feature Justine Cormack on violin and Ashley Brown on cello, plus violists Gillian Ansell and Julia Joyce. The
Final Round will be concertos with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, conducted by their Music Director Giordano
Bellincampi. The original New Zealand work, a set piece in the quarter-finals, is this year composed by Karlo Margetic.
The 2017 Competition’s selection panel is again a team of leading New Zealand violinists who also represent a number of
significant ensembles. They include Justine Cormack (NZTrio),
Vesa-Matti Leppanen (NZSO concertmaster), Helene Pohl (NZ String Quartet) and Andrew Beer (APO Concertmaster). They are
joined by the Competition’s Artistic Adviser, Dene Olding (Sydney Symphony Orchestra Concertmaster and first violin of
the Goldner String Quartet).
The Michael Hill International Violin Competition is New Zealand’s most prestigious music competition and is recognised
as one of the finest violin competitions in the world.
The winner receives $40,000, a recording contract, an intensive performance tour across New Zealand, and a personalised
professional development programme. The winner is also invited to perform on Sir Michael Hill’s personal violin, a 1755
Guadagnini named “The Southern Star”, on their Winner’s Tour.
Of winning the 2015 Competition, Australian violinist Suyeon Kang says, “Winning the Michael Hill is a real honour. It
has been an amazing opportunity to explore this beautiful country, to work with incredible artists like the APO and
Stephen de Pledge, as well as other great people like dress designer Kiri Nathan and Competition Executive Director Anne
Rodda.
“As musicians we are constantly looking for performance opportunities and to get around 17 concerts in a one month tour
is a real luxury. All of this put together has been a real eye opener and certainly helped boost my confidence. Luckily
for me it meant also being able spend more time at home in Australia!”
According to Competition Executive Director, Anne Rodda, characterising what makes a Michael Hill winner has been
something the board has been working on extensively since last year, in order to ensure the Competition is doing the
very best job it can in creating opportunities for participants and helping to launch successful careers for its
winners.
“We believe, win or not, the value of taking part in a competition like the Michel Hill is unparalleled. The intensity
of a competition of course requires the violinists to put in a serious amount of work, but they also need to become a
‘whole performer’ to succeed in this competition. This means, as well as bringing their very best artistry and prowess
to New Zealand, they need to ensure they have what it takes to shine in a crowded market.
“Young artists these days have many career options and platforms available, as evidenced by the varied career paths of
our past winners which reads as a who’s-who of professional violinists across the world. We honour and support whichever
direction their career takes them in.”
Rodda says there are some changes to the 2017 Competition, all of which have been artistically-driven.
“In 2017 there will be 16 instead of 18 competitors. This is designed to make room for full length programmes and
complete works in Rounds I and II (as well as more expansive rehearsal time with their pianists). We intend for the
competitors to perform, not ‘audition’ once they get to New Zealand. The Queenstown Rounds have been extended to four
days to give some much needed ‘breathing space’ around the individual performances.”
“There will be a new repertoire category in Queenstown, Ad Libitum (‘at one’s pleasure’), which is basically the
competitor’s choice and we will require the performer ntroduces their chosen work, themselves, from stage. This ought to
give the judges some insight into what the competitors have besides extraordinary technique.
Another change for 2017 will be seen in the initial selection process – an additional heat has become necessary in order
to adequately review an increasing number of applications (the 2015 competition received a record 158 entries) and,
whereas until now the identity of the initial applicants has been kept secret from the selection panel, their identities
and accomplishments will be revealed for the final heat of the selection process.
Rodda says, “Recordings will always be the best tool our industry has for auditions, but we have come to the view that
the Michael Hill is more about the whole artist and not just the ability and resources to create an impeccable audition
tape.
“The Michael Hill International Violin Competition aims to recognise and celebrate excellence, distinctiveness and
musical artistry. We encourage talented young violinists from all over the world who are on the verge of launching
themselves on the world stage to audition. We hope the experience will empower them with the necessary skills to broaden
their career opportunities.
“We take pride in New Zealand Aotearoa’s cultural offerings and artistic talents. By hosting this major event and
inviting the world’s celebrated young violinists to our beautiful country, we are raising awareness of fine music and
global standards of musical performance in order to richly impact the next generation of talent in New Zealand.”
Applications for the 2017 Michael Hill International Violin Competition open on 1 September and close at 5pm NSZT on 16
November.
ends