Top Six Violin Competition Semi-Finalists Announced
Tuesday 7 June 2011, 8:09AM
By SWPR
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The top six semi-finalists in the prestigious Michael Hill International Violin Competition 2011 have been announced.
Eighteen violinists from around the world performed in the initial rounds of competition in Queenstown. The six semi-finalists who go through to the next round in Auckland are Stefani Collins (United States), Nadir Khashimov (Uzbekistan/United States), Richard Lin (United States), Sergey Malov (Russia), Eric Silberger (United States) and Xiang Yu (China).
Richard Lin won the $2000 award for best performance of the specially-commissioned work Gyftiko (“gypsy”) by New Zealand composer John Psathas.
Michael Hill International Violin Competition Director Anne Rodda says the international judging panel agreed that there had been a noticeable jump in the standard of competitors this year and it was fantastic to have full houses for the initial rounds in Queenstown.
“A number of people travelled from all around New Zealand to come to Queenstown and follow the entire competition.”
The top six competitors now compete in the next round at the Concert Chamber, Auckland Town Hall with pianist Michael Houstoun and cellist Ashley Brown on Wednesday 8 and Thursday 9 June. Three finalists will be selected who will perform concerti with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra on Saturday 11 June.
Tickets for the next round are available from the Aotea Centre Box Office, by phoning 0800 BUY TICKETS (289 842) or ww.buytickets.co.nz