Proteges of great masters to judge competition

Media Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

16 May 2007

Proteges of the great masters in NZ to judge Competition

JASCHA HEIFETZ, YEHUDI MENUHIN and DAVID OISTRACH are three of the most revered names in the violin world. And the Michael Hill International Violin Competition has secured proteges of these legendary masters to judge this year’s Competition.

Pierre Amoyal spent five intense years with Jascha Heifetz, culminating in chamber music concerts and recordings with the cellist Gregor Piatigorski.

Hu Kun was invited by Lord Yehudi Menuhin to London to become his protege and only private student. The teacher and student played all over the world together, and made several recordings.

Boris Kuschnir spent considerable time studying with David Oistrach – this period, along with his many encounters with Dmitri Shostakovich, had a lasting influence on his artistic development.

Competition Director Anne Rodda says, “Heifetz, Menuhin and Oistrach are probably the three most famous violinists that ever lived. Their musical traditions have moulded the violin playing and technique that we hear today. That we have their proteges on the jury of the Michael Hill International Violin Competition gives our competitors the opportunity to learn from the ‘direct descendants’ of these great masters.”

Pierre Amoyal (France/Switzerland), Boris Kuschnir (Russia/Austria) and Hu Kun (China/UK) are joined by other violin luminaries Pamela Frank (US), Mark Kaplan (US) Dene Olding (Australia), and Justine Cormack (NZ) to judge the Michael Hill International Violin Competition at the beginning of June. Audiences in Queenstown will be treated to a rare gala performance by the judges, NZTrio, and pianists Bernadette Balkus and Sarah Watkins on Friday 1 June.

From 2-4 June the Competition itself gets underway with all 18 semi-finalists competing in the first two rounds in Queenstown’s Memorial Hall. The top six semi-finalists then perform with the NZTrio in Auckland’s Concert Chamber on 6-7 June. From this round, three finalists are selected to compete in the final round, a concerto performance on Saturday 9 June in the Auckland Town Hall accompanied by the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra.

First prize is NZ$40,000, a CD recording on the Naxos label and a winner’s tour in 2008. Second prize is NZ$10,000, and Third prize is NZ$5,000. A prize of NZ$2,500 is awarded to the semi-finalist who has the best performance of New Zealand composer, Ross Harris’s, specially-commissioned work, Fanitullen (The Devil’s Tune).

All rounds of the Competition are open to the public. Bookings for the Queenstown rounds at Ticket Direct 0800 4 TICKET or www.ticketdirect.co.nz. Bookings for the Auckland rounds at Ticketek (09) 307 5139 or www.ticketek.co.nz.

A new dimension of the Competition’s offerings for 2007 is professional development for New Zealanders. Wellington’s New Zealand School of Music hosts masterclasses by Pierre Amoyal and Dene Olding on 31 May and Hu Kun on 1 June, and Auckland’s School of Music at the University of Auckland hosts masterclasses by Pierre Amoyal, Mark Kaplan, Dene Olding, Hu Kun and Pamela Frank on 7 and 8 June. Luthier Richard Panting offers a workshop, “Care of your String Instrument”, on 8 June. Admission is free to the general public. Further information: Wellington (04) 463 5369; Auckland (09) 373 7999 ext 87409.

ENDS

© Scoop Media