BREAKING | Do Gyung Anna Im Awarded 1st Prize at New Zealand's Michael Hill Comp

21-year-old Do Gyung Anna Im from South Korea has been awarded 1st prize at the 2019 Michael Hill International Violin Competition

21-year-old Do Gyung Anna Im from South Korea has just minutes ago been awarded 1st prize at the 2019 Michael Hill International Violin Competition - in Auckland, New Zealand.

A current student of Shmuel Ashkenasi at the Curtis Institute of Music and So-Ock Kim, Anna will receive NZ $40,000 (USD $26,000), a recording on the Atoll label, a personalised professional development package, winners’ tour – plus a custom-designed gown and diamond pendant.

2nd and 3rd prizes were awarded to 22-year-old Eric Tsai from United States - and 23-year-old Jevgēnijs Čepoveckis from Latvia.

4th, 5th and 6th prizes were awarded to 22-year-old Angela Sin Ying Chan from Hong Kong, 24-year-old Hannah Cho from the United States - and 20-year-old Victoria Wong from Australia

DO GYUNG ANNA IM | SIBELIUS VIOLIN CONCERTO | GIORDANO BELLINCAMPI & AUCKLAND PHILHARMONIA  | 2019 MICHAEL HILL INTERNATIONAL VIOLIN COMPETITION | 1ST PRIZE

ERIC TSAI | SHOSTAKOVICH VIOLIN CONCERTO NO. 1 IN A MINOR | GIORDANO BELLINCAMPI & AUCKLAND PHILHARMONIA  | 2019 MICHAEL HILL INTERNATIONAL VIOLIN COMPETITION | 2ND PRIZE

JAVGENIJS CEPOVECKIS | SHOSTAKOVICH VIOLIN CONCERTO NO. 1 IN A MINOR | GIORDANO BELLINCAMPI & AUCKLAND PHILHARMONIA  | 2019 MICHAEL HILL INTERNATIONAL VIOLIN COMPETITION | 3RD PRIZE

The 2019 jury comprised: Robin Congreve (Chairman), Dale Barltrop, James Ehnes, Mauricio Fuks, Clara-Jumi Kang, Anthony Marwood, Wilma Smith and Ning Feng.

The 2 year loan of the 1645 Ex Christian Ferras grand pattern Nicolò Amati violin, on generous loan from a benefactor in Europe and the Rare Violins In Consortium, in New York, was awarded to Jevgēnijs Čepoveckis from Latvia.

The prize for the ‘Best Performance of the Newly-Commissioned work ‘Chatoyance‘ by New Zealand composer Lyell Cresswell’ in the Quarter Final stage of this year’s competition was awarded to 23-year-old Harry Ward from Australia.

This year's audience prize was awarded to Jevgēnijs Čepoveckis.

Held biennially, previous Michael Hill International Violin Competition 1st prize winners include VC Artists Nikki Chooi, Josef Spacek, Bella Hristova, Sergey Malov, Ioana Cristina Goicea and Suyeon Kang.