The New Zealand jeweller, entrepreneur and philanthropist, who founded the Michael Hill International Violin Competition, died on 29 July 2025 aged 86
Sir Michael Hill, founder of the Michael Hill International Violin Competition, died peacefully at his home in Arrowtown, New Zealand on 29 July, surrounded by his family including his wife of 60 years, Christine, Lady Hill. He was 86 years old.
Hill was born in Whangarei, on 23 December 1938. He attended Whangarei Boys’ High School from 1949 to 1954, leaving school at 16 with the ambition to become a concert violinist. His plans to pursue a career in music were discouraged by his family, and he was steered into working for his uncle’s jewellery store.
Hill worked his way through the jewellery business, setting up his own jewellery store called Michael Hill Jeweller in 1979. He eventually became a household name with his Michael Hill jewellery stores in New Zealand, Australia and Canada. By the end of 2009, the company had 242 stores worldwide. Hill’s daughter, Emma Hill, succeeded him as chairman of the business in 2015.
Hill maintained a strong love for the violin and continued to play throughout his life. He regularly practised on his personal instrument, an 1831 J. Pressenda violin. In 2001, he founded the biennial Michael Hill International Violin Competition for emerging young violinists. The competition winner receives a cash prize, a recording deal for international distribution and a tour of New Zealand and Australia. The 2026 edition will be held in Queenstown and Auckland from 29 May to 6 June.
The competition released a statement on Hill’s death: ’Not only did Sir Michael lend his name to one of the world’s most respected major violin contests and an iconic event on the New Zealand landscape, he inspired generations of international violinists that all know they are a member of the Michael Hill International Violin Competition whānau (family). In doing this, Michael demonstrated the importance of fine music – he put New Zealand on the map and made sure it was known for its artistic abilities.
’He was a true artist, with a keen eye for aesthetics and beauty, and an uncompromising standard of excellence. A committed amateur violinist, he practiced solo Bach every day his schedule allowed - constantly striving for improvement from which he derived enormous satisfaction.
’Michael’s enthusiasm for music was infectious, yet his loss will be felt as much for the strong and practical advice he infused in hundreds of musicians by candidly sharing his own life lessons regarding the importance of goal setting, resilience, and the balance of being laser-focused yet not sweating the small stuff. He taught us to dream big, set a long-term goal, and work very hard with imagination and open heartedness towards that goal every day.
’Throughout his long life, his passion for the violin smouldered and he often expressed that his, and his wife Lady Christine’s, greatest enjoyment in their fulfilling lives was their ability to be actively involved in the violin competition and the other activities of his family’s philanthropic work in the arts.’
The eleven previous winners of the Michael Hill International Competition have contributed to a video recording of Bach’s Chaconne, as a tribute to Hill and his significant role in their lives and careers. They are Joseph Lin, Natalia Lomeiko, Ning Feng, Bella Hristova, Josef Špaček, Sergey Malov, Nikki Chooi, Suyeon Kang, Ioana Cristina Goicea, Anna Im and Yeyeong Jenny Jin.
Photos courtesy Michael Hill International Violin Competition.
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