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Nau mai, haere mai and welcome to the Dunedin Concerto Competition!
Launched in 2021, the Dunedin Concerto Competition stands as a beacon of opportunity for the young classical musicians of Otago and Southland. Our mission is simple yet profound: to provide a platform for emerging talents to develop and showcase their performing skills. Since our inception, we have proudly hosted successful competitions in 2021 and 2023, with the third eagerly anticipated in 2025.
The Preliminary Rounds, held at the Marama Hall, University of Otago, have seen a growing number of participants, with as many as 30 talented individuals in 2021 and 22 in 2023. From these rounds, three finalists are selected, earning the prestigious opportunity to perform in the Finalists' Concert alongside an orchestra.
In addition to the honour of participation, significant prizes await the winners in 2025. The first-place winner will receive $7,000, with $5,000 awarded for second place and $3,000 for third place. Furthermore, prizes will be allocated to instrument categories, totalling around $5,000.
Our collaboration with the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra (DSO) and the Dunedin Youth Orchestra (DYO) has been pivotal in creating unforgettable musical experiences. These partnerships have allowed our finalists to shine on stage, accompanied by seasoned professionals, under the direction of esteemed conductors such as Peter Adams in 2021 and Anthony Ritchie in 2023.
In 2021, Rose Stevenson (violin) claimed the top prize, with Abhinath Berry (piano) and Boudewijn Keenan (cello) securing second and third place, respectively. In 2023, Boudewijn Keenan (cello) emerged as the winner, with Elio Oh (violin) and Cameron Monteath (piano) securing second and third place. In 2021, a total of $12,900 and 2023 $13,500 were awarded to category prize winners and finalists, respectively.
Distinguished New Zealand musicians like Diedre Irons, Bridget Douglas, and Donald Maurice graced our adjudication panel in 2021, ensuring fairness and expertise in our evaluation process. Richard Mapp, Debbie Rawson, and Donald Maurice adjudicated our competition in 2023.
The Dunedin Concerto Competition could not take place if it were not for the generous patronage of the HTowers Charitable Trust and the Bill and Clare Hodgson Bequest.
"On behalf of the HTowers Charitable Trust and Bill and Clare Hodgson Bequest, we are delighted to support the third Dunedin Concerto Competition to be held in 2025. The competition will bring together and celebrate some of the finest young musical talent throughout the Southern region. We look forward to this wonderful opportunity."
Bruce Hodgson Patron: Dunedin Concerto Competition
As we look forward to the 2025 competition, we invite you to join us in celebrating the finest young musical talent throughout the Otago and Southland regions at the Dunedin Concerto Competition.
*We extend our deepest condolences to the Hodgson family on the passing of Clare and Bill Hodgson in 2023 and 2024, respectively. Their unwavering support and patronage have been instrumental in the success of our competition.
Adjudicators
Jian Liu
Dr. Jian Liu is an internationally acclaimed concert pianist and one of New Zealand’s most sought-after artists. He has performed across Europe, Asia, and North America, showcasing his artistry in some of the world's most prestigious concert halls, including Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. A dedicated collaborator, Dr. Liu works with leading national performing arts organizations such as the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Music New Zealand, the Royal New Zealand Ballet, and the New Zealand Arts Festival. He currently serves as Deputy Head of School at the New Zealand School of Music—Te Kōkī, Victoria University of Wellington, and is a trustee of the New Zealand Music Trust. Dr. Liu has released numerous solo and chamber albums in both New Zealand and the United States, with his performances broadcast by major international TV and radio networks. A passionate advocate for New Zealand music, he has premiered and recorded many works by New Zealand composers. In 2022, he edited and published New Zealand Piano Works in both English and Chinese through Shanghai Music Publishing House, marking the first-ever publication of New Zealand music in China. His album Where Fairburn Walked—an independent audio companion to the collection released by Rattle Records—was named one of three finalists at the 2025 Aotearoa Music Awards.
Monique Lapins
Monique Lapins was, until recently, the Second violinist of the New Zealand String Quartet and Lecturer at the New Zealand School of Music - Te Kōkī, Victoria University of Wellington. Monique will join the Auckland Philharmonia as Associate Concertmaster later in 2025. She is the violinist of the Ghost Piano Trio, who will tour with CMNZ in 2025. She performs regularly with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, and Orchestra Wellington. She has been a finalist twice in the Asia Pacific Chamber Music Competition. She has performed in festivals throughout France, the Czech Republic, Holland, Japan, Hong Kong, Australia and at the Open Chamber Music Seminars in Prussia Cove directed by world-renowned cellist Steven Isserlis. Monique has toured extensively in collaboration with the Australian Chamber Orchestra Collective, the Melbourne Chamber Orchestra and the Singapore Symphony Orchestra. Monique has performed with artists including Seiji Ozawa (conductor) in Japan, Philippe Herreweghe (conductor) in France, Jerusalem String Quartet in New Zealand (Adam Chamber Music Festival - ACMF), Dénes Várjon (pianist) in New Zealand (ACMF) and as a soloist with French violinist, Oliver Charlier in Japan. Monique Lapins is a recording artist with Naxos and Rattle Labels and performs on an 1883 Gand violin, kindly on loan from the Rin Collection in Singapore.
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Samuel Jacobs
Sam was appointed Principal Horn of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra in 2024. He previously held the position of Principal Horn with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, returning to NZ in 2017 after a three-year tenure as Principal Horn of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London.
During his time in the UK, he performed as a guest Principal Horn with numerous leading symphony orchestras. In the Southern Hemisphere, he often collaborates as guest Principal Horn with the Sydney and Melbourne Symphony Orchestras and played a significant role in the 2016 ‘Ring Cycle’ in Melbourne.
As a soloist, Sam has performed concertos by Haydn, Mozart, Hoffmann, Franz Strauss, and Richard Strauss. He recorded John Rimmer’s Horn Concerto with the NZSO, and his performance of Mozart’s 4th Horn Concerto with Sinfonia Viva was broadcast on Classic FM. Sam also toured this concerto with the NZSO in 2016.
Sam has made numerous commercial recordings for the film and pop industries, including albums with Sting, Sam Smith, and Florence & the Machine, and soundtracks for “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug”, “Interstellar”, “The Martian”, and the Bond film “Spectre”. He has also contributed to scores for television and video games, including the Halo franchise. He has recorded on numerous live BBC Radio 3 broadcasts and on many commercial record labels.
Some of Sam's career highlights include performing with Sting at iconic venues such as the Hollywood Bowl, New York Met, and MGM Grand in Las Vegas. He also played Principal Horn on the Star Wars In Concert tour across America, Canada, and Europe with the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra.