2009 Michael Hill International Violin Competition winner
Josef Spacek, of the Czech Republic. Applications have
opened for next year's competitions. Photo from ODT files.
Applications have opened for the Michael Hill
International Violin Competition, with an expanded prize pool
of more than $NZ100,000.
The biennial competition, being held in June 2011, will
celebrate its 10th anniversary next year and is expected to
attract entries from a wide array of nationalities before the
November 30 close-off date.
Open to 18- to 28-year-olds from around the world, the last
competition saw entries from 30 different nationalities.
Josef Spacek (23), of the Czech Republic, won the 2009
competition.
Competition Director Anne Rodda said the competition
"absolutely propels" a young, unknown violinist on to 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, in December to
select 18 semifinalists from more than 100 audition tapes.
The semifinalists will be flown to New Zealand next year.
The panel would also be determining the winners of the New
Zealand and Australian development prizes.
The judges for the 2011 competition include Michael Dauth
(Australia-Germany), Boris Garlitsky (Russia-United Kingdom),
Philippe Graffin (France), Cho-Liang Lin (Taiwan-United
States), Tasmin Little (United Kingdom), Vesa-Matti Leppanen
(New Zealand-Finland), Lara St John (Canada) and Dr Robin
Congreve, chairman of the jury (New Zealand).
The 2011 competition would also showcase the "astounding"
talents of collaborating pianists Michael Houstoun (New
Zealand), Deidre Irons (Canada-New Zealand) and Sarah Watkins
(New Zealand), composer John Psathas (New Zealand), cellist
Ashley Brown (New Zealand) and the Auckland Philharmonia
Orchestra.
The professional development prize would be an addition to
the prize pool, sponsored by Hotel de Brett and McCann
Worldgroup, Michael Hill, Villa Maria, The British Council
and PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Mr Hill, the founding trustee of the competition, said he was
excited about the expanded prize pool for next year.
"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."
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