Violinist Yeyeong Jenny Jin on returning to New Zealand following competition success, and the Young Virtuosi Antipodean tour

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The violin and piano duo Young Virtuosi has embarked on a chamber music tour of the southern hemisphere, with the aim of delighting audiences in both New Zealand and Australia. South Korean rising talents Yeyeong Jenny Jin on violin and Jeonghwan Kim on piano take on the tour following recent competition success for both — Jin having been victorious at the 2023 Michael Hill International Violin Competition and Kim emerging as winner of the Sydney International Piano Competition in the same year.

Presented by Chamber Music New Zealand and Piano+, the Young Virtuosi tour will see the pair perform works by composers such as Tartini, Ysaÿe, Wieniawski and Saint-Saëns, as well as contemporary works by New Zealand composers Michael Norris and Gillian Whitehead. With the tour currently underway in New Zealand until a performance in Auckland Town Hall on 10 November, the duo will head across the ditch with performances at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and Melbourne Recital Centre on 16 and 18 November respectively.

Jin began her violin studies at the age of two in her hometown of Seoul, before being admitted to the Curtis Institute of Music at the age of nine to study with Ida Kavafian. She is currently enrolled at the Juilliard School, studying with Itzhak Perlman and Li Lin, and plays a c.1735 Domenico Montagnana violin, on loan from Rare Violins In Consortium, Artists and Benefactors Collaborative.

She spoke to The Strad about her experiences performing in the southern hemisphere, as well as her choice of repertoire.

You have a special connection to New Zealand, having won the Michael Hill International Violin Competition in 2023, and Jeonghwan with Australia as a previous winner of the Sydney International Piano Competition. How do you feel coming back to this part of the world?

Returning to New Zealand feels really nice! Last time, I didn’t have a chance to explore, so I’m glad to enjoy it more now. The country is beautiful, and I’ve loved checking out different cafes. I’m also really looking forward to performing in new venues and connecting with local audiences!

The programme you’ve chosen is a mix of established pieces, as well as newer works from New Zealand. How did you go about choosing these works, and how do you think they complement or contrast with each other?

I chose the programme a while back, and I remember being so excited to include pieces that really speak to me. The Wieniawski Polonaise was my first thought; I still remember hearing it for the first time at 14 and being struck by its fresh, lively take on the dance. The Saint-Saëns Sonata is newer to me, and I love its intensity mixed with nostalgic moments, especially in the thrilling last movement. Ysaÿe’s Sonata No. 5 was a natural choice—it’s a joy to play, with ’Dawn’ and the rustic dance movement creating a powerful contrast.

For the New Zealand pieces, I included Waipounamu by Michael Norris, which I loved playing in last year’s competition. The backing track immerses me in nature; it’s like becoming part of the landscape in sound. Gillian Whitehead’s Bright Silence also fascinated me. The concept of ’silence’ in nature intrigued me, and imagining scenes like a bird swooping by or wind moving through rocky spaces brings the music to life.

Jeongwhan’s Chopin and Bartók add another layer to the programme, creating contrasts of virtuosity, nostalgia, nature, and more. And of course, there’s a surprise encore just for New Zealand audiences!

One of the challenges with touring down under when travelling from the northern hemisphere is jetlag! What are your tips for overcoming this, and staying on top of your game?

I find that getting as much sleep as possible really helps. On the way here, I slept ten hours straight, and I haven’t felt jetlagged at all. I love walking around to take in the local culture, lifestyle, and unique shops. Discovering new restaurants or dessert spots is always a joy!

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