#16 Amalia Hall shares about her life at CIM and what it's like to lead an orchestra

The Brettybang Show

Recently appointed as Concertmaster of Orchestra Wellington, Amalia Hall is widely recognised as one of the foremost young violinists to emerge from New Zealand, having received widespread acclaim for her ability to move audiences, her inherent musicality and natural facility.

Her numerous competition successes include laureate prizes at the Joseph Joachim International Violin Competition in Hannover, the International Violin Competition 'Premio R. Lipizer', the International Tchaikovsky Competition for Young Musicians, Premio Citta di Padova International Competition for Soloists and Orchestra, and the Kloster Schöntal International Violin Competition.

She won the Royal Overseas League Overseas Award and both 1st Prize and the overall prize at the Tunbridge Wells International Music Competition, and has received the top prize at the Jeunesses International Music Competition Dinu Lipatti; 1st Prize at the Leos Janacek International Competition, the Postacchini International Violin Competition (and the 'Absolute Winner' Prize), the Gisborne International Music Competition (at the age of 16) as well as many special prizes at these competitions.

While still in her teens she won all of the major awards in New Zealand, including the National Concerto Competition, the National Young Performer of the Year, the Pettman/Royal Over-Seas League Arts Scholarship, the University of Auckland Concerto Competition, and the NZCT Chamber Music Contest on two occasions.

Since making her debut at the age of 9 with the Auckland Philharmonia, Amalia has been a regular soloist with orchestras in New Zealand, including the Auckland Philharmonia, Orchestra Wellington, Auckland Symphony Orchestra, Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, Auckland Chamber Orchestra, Waikato Symphony Orchestra and Saint Matthews Chamber Orchestra. In 2016 she performed the world premiere of Claire Cowan's 'Stark' Concerto with Orchestra Wellington under the baton of Marc Taddei.

She has been a soloist with orchestras in Europe including I Virtuosi Italiani, Munich Chamber Orchestra, NDR Radiophilharmonie, Brno Philharmonic Orchestra, Amadeus Polish Radio Chamber Orchestra, the State Philharmonic of Sibiu and Filharmonica Marchigiana, and with the Mexico State Symphony Orchestra and Orquesta Filharmonía in Mexico. Performances have taken her to China, Germany, Scotland, England, France, Austria, Mexico, USA and Australia among other countries.

At the age of 10 Amalia was the youngest ever member to be accepted into the NZSO National Youth Orchestra, and continued on to later become its Concertmaster. She has been an associate member of the Auckland Philharmonia since the age of 16 and was contracted as Principal 1st Violin in 2012. Amalia has performed as guest concertmaster for a number of the main orchestras in New Zealand including the Auckland Philharmonia, Auckland Chamber Orchestra, Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and Opus Orchestra.

At the age of 8 Amalia cultivated a love for chamber music after she commenced playing chamber music with her siblings in the Hall String Quartet, and has gone on to play chamber music with eminent musicians including David Starobin (with whom she has recorded for Bridge Records), Jonathan Biss, Pamela Frank, Ida Kavafian, Roberto Diaz, Gary Hoffman and Clive Greensmith.

She has performed chamber music throughout Europe and the US as a recitalist, a member of Curtis on Tour and member of the New Zealand Chamber Soloists. Amalia has toured numerous times for Chamber Music New Zealand and her performances have been regularly broadcast on the Radio New Zealand Concert Programme. She has also appeared on WHYY On Stage at Curtis, the Good Morning TV Show, the Paul Holmes Show and Paul Henry Show.

At the age of 19 Amalia began postgraduate studies at the Curtis Institute of Music, studying under the tutelage of renowned violinists Pamela Frank and Joseph Silverstein, while receiving chamber music coachings from distinguished artists such as Ida Kavafian, Shmuel Ashkenasi and Peter Wiley. Prior to this she completed her Bachelor of Music degree at the age of 19 at the University of Auckland, New Zealand studying with Dimitri Atanassov.

In 2014 Amalia was guest violinist with New Zealand Chamber Soloists and undertook a temporary position as violin and viola lecturer on the University of Waikato faculty, a position she is also currently holding in 2017. She has also taught and given masterclasses at institutions including The Menuhin School, Vicenza Conservatorio, Rossini Conservatorio, University of Veracruz Faculty of Music and New Zealand School of Music.

Recent engagements include solo performances in Italy and Mexico, recital tours around New Zealand and choreographed performances with the New Zealand Dance Company. Amalia plays on a violin made in 2013 by the Padova-based luthier Alberto Cassutti.

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