Yesterday the violinists enjoyed some downtime, which included a trip on Queenstown’s RealNZ, before things get serious later this week.
The contest, which finishes in Auckland next week, is considered an Olympics of the violin world, the winner receiving $40,000, a recording contract with the Atoll music label and a multi-centre winner’s tour with Chamber Music New Zealand.
There is also a special prize of a three-year loan of a fine violin by Rare Violins of New York.
Entries for this year’s competition, the 11th iteration, broke all previous records, with 160 violinists vying for one of the coveted 16 quarterfinal spots.
All 16 will compete in the Queenstown rounds, which will be held from Friday to Monday, before the top six are announced at the Queenstown Memorial Centre on Monday night.
Those violinists will head to Auckland for the semifinals, aiming to be one of the three finalists to perform in a judged grand final concert with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra at the Auckland Town Hall next Saturday.
