Kendall National Violin Competition Inc.

01/05/2026

12/03/2025

It is with great sadness that I bring to your attention the passing of our Patron Donald Hazelwood OBE, AO on March 8 2025, a week after Don celebrated his 95th birthday with his family. Donald Hazelwood was one of Australia’s most influential musical leaders who touched the hearts and souls of generations of musicians in this country and beyond. As a concertmaster of the Sydney Symphony for more than three decades, Donald Hazelwood lived a commitment to music and music making that consistently inspired fellow musicians, teachers, generations of audiences and many of the greatest visiting international conductors and artists to this country. His exemplary professionalism and artistry served as a beacon of cultural aspirations in Australia and beyond. Hazelwood shared his vision for music and humanity through his natural leadership in many of the organisations he served, including KNVC, AUSTA and the Australian Youth Orchestra’s Music Camp Organisation. A consummate leader, he exemplified qualities that are frequently talked about but rarely lived with his particular attention and discipline: a commitment to universal humanity, compassion, and social harmony. Born in 1930 in rural NSW, Hazelwood’s life reflects challenges and achievements that will continue to occupy historical and cultural interpreters. Helen Hazelwood has documented some of these in her iconic biography “From Farmer to Fiddler” and her work shows why they remain essential and significant to our times.

KNVC extends its sympathy in particular to Donald Hazelwood’s immediate family,- Helen, his children from his first marriage to the late Anne Menzies, Roy, Jane and Don's many grand-children. More detailed acknowledgements of Donald Hazelwood’s life and significance will follow this notice in due course.

Goetz Richter

05/03/2025

23rd Kendall National Violin Competition prize winners

Category B (born after January 1999 and before January 1 2006)

Benjamin Lam, - 1st Prize, Signe Elizabeth Bohn Award, $ 10,000

Fiona Qiu, - 1st Prize, The Joan Levy Award, $ 10,000; Audience Choice Award, $ 1,000

Phoebe Fan – 3rd Prize, Peter Lee Award, $ 3,000

Beverly Kwan, - 4th Prize, The Carl Pini Award, $ 2,000

(no 2nd prize was awarded)

Category A (born after January 1 2006)

Audrey Jarvis – 1st Prize, A concert violin by John Simmers to the value of $30,000 (The Graham Caldersmith OAM memorial award).

Connie Liu -, 2nd Prize, The Richard Pollett Award $ 3,000

Lily Song, - 3rd Prize, The Joan Levy Award $ 2,000, Audience Prize $ 1,000 (supported by Gil Appleton)

09/02/2025

The violin competition 2025 is fast approaching. For information and ticket bookings please access the site. https://www.kendallviolin.org.au/

17/01/2025

Finals of the 23rd Kendall National Violin Competition

Saturday. March 1 @ 2 pm

Sunday, March 2 @ 11 am: Finalists of Competition A (violinists born after January 1 2006)

Sunday, March 2 @ 2.30 pm
Award Ceremony and Celebration Concert with Kendall String Academy and all prize winners.

09/12/2024

We are thrilled to announce the finalists of our 23rd competition following a day of performances by fifteen stellar young violinists in Sydney on December 7.

The finalists performing in Kendall on March 2 2025 are

Category A (violinists born after January 1 2006)
Audrey Jarvis, Connie Liu and Lily Song

Category B (violinists born after January 1 1999 andbefore January 1 2006)
Phoebe Fan, Beverly Kwan, Benjamin Lam, Fiona Qui

It was simply incredible to see the skills of these talented young violinists and hear their musical vision and imagination manifest itself. This was a captivating day and we are grateful to our judges, Dr.Elizabeth Layton (Adelaide), Fintan Murphy (Melbourne) and Timothy Kantor(Sydney) for tackling the difficult task of selecting the finalists. All performers could have been selected for the finals and it would have been challenging to make a decision. Please make a note that March 1/2 2025 will be the finals of the competition in Kendall.

01/10/2024

Caught up today with Sonja Schebeck, a KNVC finalist in 2006 and 2007, in Vienna.