Opening Round Candidates Announced for New Zealand's Gisborne International Music Competition

The opening-round candidates have been announced for the 2019 Gisborne International Music Competition

The opening-round candidates have this week been announced for the 2019 Gisborne International Music Competition – to be held in Gisborne, New Zealand from the 2nd to the 7th of December.

The annual competition, open to solo orchestral instrumentalists aged 16-25, is regarded as one of the most significant development bursaries in the Australasian region.

The opening-round candidates are:

• Hannah Bronn (Flute, 21)
• Alfred Carslake (Trumpet, 23)
• Clement Chan (Violin, 18)
• Ariel Chou (Cello, 22)
• Justin Chuk (Violin, 23)
• Michael Gibson (Cello, 20)
• Phoebe Gilbert (Viola, 21)
• Ally Hocking Howe (Violin, 19)
• Callum Hogan (Oboe, 22)
• Diane Huh (Violin, 23)
• Kim Hunter (Saxophone, 24)
• Hyein Kim (Cello, 20)
• Tahee Kim (Cello, 21)
• Dominic Lee (Cello, 22)
• Matthew Lee (Flute, 25)
• KiHei Lee (Violin, 20)
• Harris Leung (Violin,23)
• Grace Leehan (Viola, 21)
• Enshean Lin (Violin, 17)
• James Littlewood (Trombone, 25)
• Rain Liu (Violin, 21)
• Sam Lucas (Cello, 23)
• Leanne McGowan (Violin, 18)
• Grace McKenzie (Violin, 19)
• Cecile McNeill (Viola, 19)
• Olivia McNeill (Violin, 22)
• Nickolas Majic (Violin, 22)
• Marcus Michelsen (Violin, 17)
• Caitlin Morris (Cello, 25)
• Emma Morrison (Bassoon, 25)
• Miles Mullin-Chivers (Cello, 21)
• Sebastian Pini (Double Bass, 18)
• Sarang Roberts (Violin, 20)
• Isaac Said (Double Bass, 20)
• Andrew Samarasekara (Violin, 22)
• Nicholas Scott (Tuba, 25)
• Daniel Tan (Violin, 25)
• Claudia Tarrant-Matthews (Violin, 21)
• Benedict van Leuven (Clarinet, 18)
• Olivia Wilding (Cello, 23)
• Katherine Woo (Violin, 21)
• Yunesang Yang (Flute, 22)

The 1st prize winner will receive $10,000 NZD – plus a number of local performance opportunities.

This year’s competition will be adjudicated by Auckland Philharmonia Principal Flute, Melanie Lançon – and Goldner String Quartet cellist, Julian Smiles.

Previous 1st prize winners include 2017 Queen Elisabeth International Cello Competition prize winner, VC Young Artist Santiago Canon Valencia, 2015 Joseph Joachim International Violin Competition prize winner, Amalia Hall – and 2016 Lipizer International Violin Competition prize winner, James Dong.