The semi final round of the Kendall National Violin Competition (KNVC) was at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music on Sunday, August 6. 

The finalists are Mitzi Gardner (NSW), Emmalena Huning (WA), Riley Skevington (VIC) and Johnny van Gend (QLD).

The adjudicators were Carl Pini (Sydney), Patrick Wong (Melbourne) and Stuart Johnson (Sydney).

The finals will be at the Kendall School of Arts on Saturday, September 17 followed by the Celebration Concert on Sunday 18th September which will include the 2017 KNVC winner.

Associate Prof. Goetz Richter, KNVC's artistic director, said the young musicians played fabulously and were supported by piano accompanist Jeanell Carrigan.

Patron Donald Hazelwood and his wife attended the semi final round and from New Zealand Sir Michael Hill along with his wife. 

Sir Michael founded the biennial Michael Hill International Violin Competition for emerging young violinists in 2001. 

Sir Michael was thrilled with the event and said he had the best day for some time.

The adjudicators for the Final Round will be Elisabeth Holowell (Auckland), Charles Stegeman (Pittsburgh) and Carl Pini (Sydney).

Charles Stegeman who was an adjudicator in 2016 said the standard of the KNVC competitors was equal to any from the renowned Julliard School in New York and the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia.

For more information about the competition and the four finalists visit www.kendallviolin.org.au