But it was a Queenstown musician who stole the show.
At the end of January German violinist Matthias Wells - who plays at prisons, to holocaust victims and at hospitals - asked organisers to put him in contact with a Queenstown piano accordion player to accompany him him during the ad libitum or "as you choose" section of the 2019 Michael Hill International Violin Competition.
Mark Wilson, who is blind, was recommended, agreed to perform with Wells and began learning two Russian folk songs by ear.The pair met for the first time last week and "clicked musically", Mr Wilson said.
Their first public performance, of Those Were the Days and I've Met You & Mama, brought the house down.
The 16 quarterfinalists in the competition, all aged between 18 and 28, will be narrowed down to six semifinalists in Queenstown tonight.
After the third round in Auckland on Thursday the top three violinists will be named.
The finalists will then perform concertos with the Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra on Saturday night before the 2019 winner is crowned.
