Competitors announced for 2023 Michael Hill International Violin Competition

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16 quarter-finalists have been whittled down from 160 violin applicants between the ages of 18 and 28, for the opportunity to compete at the 11th edition of the Michael Hill International Violin Competition (MHIVC) in New Zealand. From 2 to 10 June 2023, the selected contestants will play for the chance to win the top prize of NZ$40,000, a recording contract with the Atoll label, and a multi-centre Winners Tour with Chamber Music New Zealand, as well as a special prize of a three-year loan of a fine violin by Rare Violins of New York.

The 16 contestants were selected by a panel comprising Andrew Beer, Bella Hristova, Wilma Smith, Robin Wilson and Vesa-Matti Leppänen, who carefully assessed each applicant’s video during a five-day process.

’This is my fourth time being a part of the selection panel for the MHIVC and we’ve never seen so many strong applicants,’ said Andrew Beer, concertmaster of the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra. ’The future of violin playing is bright and this June’s competition is going to be phenomenal.’

The international judging panel will include past competition winners violinists Bella Hristova, Ning Feng and Natalia Lomeiko; plus violinists Wilma Smith, James Ehnes, Anthony Marwood and pianist Piers Lane.

The 16 quarterfinalists are:

Jiayi Chen, 26 – China/Austria

Gabrielle Després, 22 – Canada/USA

Kingston Ho, 21 – USA

Seonglan Hong, 21 – South Korea

Yeyeong Jin, 19 – South Korea/USA

Lorenz Karls, 21 – Sweden/Austria

Tianyu Liu, 23 – China/USA

Julia Mirzoev, 26 – Canada

Audrey Park, 20 – USA

Eva Rabchevska, 26 – Ukraine/Germany

Aoi Saito, 25 – Japan/Germany

Hani Song, 25 – Switzerland/Germany

Karen Su, 24 – USA/Belgium

Yuri Tanaka, 17 – Japan/Germany

Ayaka Uchio, 25 – Japan/Germany

Claire Wells, 21 – USA/Germany

The competition will be held from 2 to 10 June 2023 with early rounds in Queenstown, followed by later rounds in Auckland. Usually held every two years, the competition has been postponed because of New Zealand’s strict closure of international borders due to Covid-19. Previous competition winners include Anna Im (2019), Ioana Cristina Goicea (2017) and Suyeon Kang (2015).

It is supported by Hill Family Foundation for Arts and Music, and major supporters Michael Hill International, Craigs Investment Partners and Chiron Group.