LOANED INSTRUMENTS

The Michael Hill International Violin Competition Charitable Trust recognises that high performance musical education is an expensive investment for families and quality string instruments are beyond most household budgets. The intent of the Trust is to facilitate the lending of instruments to gifted and promising New Zealand classical string instrumentalists or young professionals to support their aspirations.

2019 Michael Hill International Violin Competition NZ Emerging Artist winner and Chiron Charitable Trust Young Artist 2020 Scholarship recipient

(The Trust does not provide support for the private purchase or hire of instruments). The Trust is committed to equity and inclusion and encourages participation from culturally-diverse musicians.

The ability to loan instruments is entirely dependent on the instruments available in the programme. The Trust gratefully acknowledges the donors and lenders of the instruments.

Over time, the Trust hopes to attract a growing number of fine instruments to make available to New Zealand’s outstanding musical talent.

INFORMATION FOR OWNER BENEFACTORS

The Trust’s loans programme is individually- tailored to facilitate the careful use of quality instruments for promising New Zealand musical talent. The MHIVC Trust provides the knowledgeable facilitation of a quality instrument matched with a worthy and deserving young artist; it also provides the luthier set up costs, the instrument insurance premiums, the appropriate legal agreements and the programme administration.

This programme serves the instrument’s owner who might not be ready or prepared to sell but frees them of the burden of maintenance and insurance costs; it allows their instrument to be played regularly and provides the owner occasions to attend performances by the student recipient.

The Trust welcomes quality string instruments and bows into the Loaned Instrument programme that have a value of NZ$4000 or higher which meet the threshold of fine instrument insurance cover with Hugh Wood Insurance (London)

Better quality student or amateur-level instruments that are under NZ$4000 will also be of need and the Trust can facilitate introductions to teachers and music schools with talented learners who have the appropriate level of responsibility for an instrument’s care and maintenance and where individual arrangements outside of this programme may be possible.

If you wish to request an instrument(s) for your programme, the steps are

  1. Send an email to us at office@violincompetition.co.nz with a photo of the instrument’s front and back and a valuation from a reputable luthier or dealer (see below for a list of NZ professionals).
  2. We will respond and work with you to craft an individualised benefactor agreement that addresses the duration of a loan, renewal options, and any restrictions you wish to put in place in addition to our comprehensive insurance policy.
  3. If needed, we will undertake, at our cost, to have a trusted luthier or dealer set up the instrument for the most beneficial sound production and ease of playing.
  4. We will inventory and add the instrument, bow and case (if included) to our insurance policy.
  5. We will identify an aspiring and responsible student or young professional that will be a good fit for your instrument and your loan framework.
  6. We will put in place a legally-binding benefactor agreement between you and us and monitor it throughout the term of the loan.
  7. We will put in place a legally-binding loan agreement between the recipient and us and monitor it throughout the term of the loan.

Recommended New Zealand luthiers and instrument dealers for obtaining valuations:

Richard Panting (Auckland) 021 027-32710
String Instrument Shop (Auckland) www.stringedinstrument.co.nz
Annette Voll (Auckland) www.theViolinWorkshop.co.nz
The Violin Shop (Wellington) www.theviolinshop.nz
Antonio Strings (Christchurch) www.antoniostrings.com
David Hume, Wellington, 021 080-75600 dhumeamati@gmail.com

YOUNG ARTIST EXPRESSIONS OF INTERESTS FOR USE OF A LOANED INSTRUMENT

The Michael Hill International Violin Competition Charitable Trust does not purchase instruments or meet instrument hire costs but instead facilitates the loan of instruments from private owners and collectors. We expect that the need for instruments will outstrip what we are able to facilitate.

The MHIVC Trust provides the knowledgeable facilitation of a quality instrument matched with a worthy and deserving young artist; it also provides the luthier set up costs, the instrument insurance premiums, the appropriate legal agreements and the programme administration.

Recipient artists will need to demonstrate they are dedicated to their musical studies or are at a critical juncture of their professional growth. It is critically important that the recipient has quality storage and behaviours in place to engender trust and confidence for benefactors. We welcome requests from private teachers, students and families demonstrating how an instrument will nurture and transform a particular young artist. The ability to travel with the instrument will vary between arrangements depending on the views of the benefactor.

Eligibility:

  1. Talented violinists, violists, and cellists 13 years and older who have begun or are about to embark on a quality music education.
  2. Early-career violinists, violists and cellists who are in a key period with regard to career development.
  3. New Zealand citizen or resident or have lived and/or studied in New Zealand for a minimum of two years. They do not need to be living in New Zealand to apply but the Trust will not ship or deliver instruments offshore.
  4. Agree to maintain permanent resident status in New Zealand for the term of the loan, unless the MHIVCCT agrees otherwise.
  5. Be recognised as an outstanding artist by their teacher and/or employer.
  6. Students must have complete support from their parent/guardian and are responsible for meeting the requirements of the insurance policy.
  7. Agree to provide a minimum of one private concert per year to the owner benefactor of the instrument and invitations to attend public performances.

How to Submit an Expression of Interest:

  • Complete and submit the Expression of Interest form
  • An audition video may be required at the discretion of the Trust
  • If or when an instrument is available, and at the Trust’s discretion, we will contact the applicant for an interview. This may lead to the match of a suitable instrument
  • We will put in place a legally-binding loan agreement between the recipient and us and monitor it throughout the term of the loan

Application: by Expression of Interest