Hamilton student trumps competition

Hilary Hayes.

After a nerve-wracking concert that saw six young soloists performing before a panel of exacting judges, Hamilton student Hilary Hayes emerges as the winner of the 2009 KBB Music National Performers’ Competition.

Held on Saturday 18th July, 2009, Ms Hayes, a 15-year-old violinist, performed composer Ravel’s fiendishly difficult Tzigane at the University of Auckland’s School of Music auditorium.

This was her second attempt at the competition after receiving a special commendation from the panel in the previous year.

The Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra-run competition, open to top secondary school musicians from around the country, featured an array of instruments including violins, a cello, a marimba and an oboe.

Now in its 11th year, it remains one of the country’s most significant performance platforms for young musicians.

“KBB Music is proud to support the burgeoning talents of youth music in NZ,” says Alan Kemp, managing director of KBB Music.

“We heard six superb performances by six fine soloists on a variety of instruments.

“Congratulations to Hilary whose performance had the intensity and musicianship beyond her age, the ‘X-Factor’ which made her the deserving winner of the 2009 KBB Music National Young Performers Competition.”

Ms Hayes, a current student of Hillcrest High School, has been playing violin for nine years and studies violin performance and chamber music at Waikato University.

Apart from winning the title, Ms Hayes received a cash prize and a concert engagement to perform as soloist with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra.