Australian cellist Miles Mullin-Chivers has won first prize at this year’s Gisborne International Music Competition in New Zealand. The 21-year-old Sydney-based musician, a graduate of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and a casual cellist with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, took home $10,000. Placing second was fellow Australian cellist Sam Lucas, 23, who received a cash prize of $5000, while 21-year-old American violinist Katherine Woo was awarded $3000 for coming third. The $2000 prize for Most Promising Player was awarded to 17-year-old Australian violinist Leeanne McGowan.

Miles Mullin-Chivers

The Gisborne International Music Competition, held on New Zealand’s North Island, is an annual competition founded in 1989 by Ian Dunsmore celebrating the talent of young orchestral musicians.

Other winners at this year’s competition included New Zealand violist Grace Leehan, who received the $1000 Pultron Composites Award for the best performance of a work by a New Zealand composer; British violinist Andrew Samarasekara, who received the $1000 J.S. Bach Prize; New Zealand violinist Diane Huh, who received the $1000 New Zealand String Player Award; Australian double bassist Sebastian Pini, who received the $1000 International String Player Award; New Zealand flautist Matthew Lee, who received the $1000 New...