2011 Michael Hill International Violin Competition

For immediate release

Announcing the 2011 Michael Hill International Violin Competition

Applications are now open for the 2011 Michael Hill International Violin Competition.  The biennial Competition returns to New Zealand in June 2011 for its 10th year with an expanded prize pool worth over NZ$100,000.

Open to 18 – 28 year olds from all around the world, the last Competition saw entries from over 30 nationalities.  The Czech Republic’s 23 year old Josef Spacek took out the coveted title in 2009 and recently completed an astounding Winner’s tour of New Zealand.

Competition Director Anne Rodda is expecting entries from a wide array of nationalities before the close off date of 30 November 2010. “The Michael Hill International Violin Competition absolutely propels a young unknown violinist onto the international stage.  It really is a coveted title that offers unprecedented opportunities and exposure – hence we’re anticipating the Competition to be fiercer than ever for 2011.” 

New Zealand violinists Dimitri Atanassov, Justine Cormack and Vesa-Matti Leppanen will be joined by their colleagues from Australia, Wilma Smith and Goetz Richter, this December to take on the onerous task of selecting from over 100 audition tapes the 18 semi-finalists that will be flown to New Zealand next year.  This panel will also determine the winners of the NZ and Australian Development Prizes. 

International too is the impressive line up of judges for the 2011 Competition. The esteemed panel of judges are renowned worldwide for their talents and judging abilities and include Michael Dauth (Germany/Australia), Boris Garlitsky (Russia/UK), Philippe Graffin (France), Cho-Liang Lin (Taiwan/USA), Tasmin Little (UK), Vesa-Matti Leppanen (Finland/NZ), Lara St John (Canada) and Dr Robin Congreve the Chairman of the Jury (NZ).

Alongside the international talent of the competitors and judges, the 2011 Competition will showcase the astounding talents of collaborating pianists Michael Houstoun (NZ), Diedre Irons (Canada/NZ) and Sarah Watkins (NZ), Composer John Psathas (NZ), Cellist Ashley Brown (NZ) and the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra.

New to the Competition in 2011 are sponsors Hotel de Brett and McCann Worldgroup.  Alongside long time sponsors Michael Hill, Villa Maria, The British Council and PricewaterhouseCoopers they will contribute to the Professional Development Prize.  A new addition to the prize pool, this is a tailored prize package that empowers the Competition winner with the bespoke skills needed for an international career in music.

Michael Hill, Founding Trustee of the competition is excited about the Competition’s expanded prize pool, “How exciting it is to be able to extend such an amazing prize to these young talented musicians at what is a pivotal moment in their music careers.  The Michael Hill International Violin Competition has achieved extraordinary things since its inception in 2001 and I cannot wait to see what 2011 will bring.”

The Michael Hill Violin Competition is a member of the World Federation of International

Music Competitions (Geneva).

For more information please visit: www.violincompetition.co.nz

ENDS