Join us on Wednesday, September 17, at 7:30 pm, for a Lewis Eady Emerging Artists Series recital 2025, featuring the talented Hayden Chiu

Photo by Thomas Hamill

Hayden Chiu is a year 10 student violinist from Auckland Grammar School. He began his studies with Elena Abramova, and learns from Stephen Larsen and Professor Robin Wilson.

Hayden performed at Carnegie Hall at age 8, and attended the King's School as a John Henley Music Scholar. His ensemble experiences included receiving chamber and orchestral guidance from Mark Bennett, Pettman National Junior Academy, Auckland String Quartet Summer School, APO Big Play In, Melbourne Youth Orchestra Summer School, and as Manukau Symphony Orchestra youth scholar. His piano trio received both Highly Commanded and Regional Finalist awards in 2021 and 2023. Hayden currently serves as concertmaster to both chamber and symphony orchestras at school.

At 11 years old, Hayden participated the NZSO National Youth Orchestra for the first time and enjoyed playing Mahler's Titan and the amazing Wahi Ngaro by David Mason and touring at different cities. He was selected as Associate Concertmaster in the following year. At 13 years old, Hayden performed as soloist with the Accademia d'Archi Arrigoni orchestra during the Il Piccolo Violino Magico competition in Italy, and was named a 2024 NZSO Emerging Artist. Hayden subsequently won the Michael Hill National String Competition, and received the award for Best Interpretation of a New Zealand Work performing both Whakatipu by Gareth Farr, and Ode to the Western Shore by Michael CW Bell.

Hayden successfully auditioned to the 2025 Ysaÿe International Music Competition as a Senior Category Semi-finalist, and as soloist with the Auckland Philharmonia and Manukau Symphony Orchestra. He has also been invited as returning soloist to perform with the Devonport Chamber Orchestra in 2025.

2025 EMERGING ARTISTS SERIES | FEATURING HAYDEN CHIU
Programme
Bach solo violin sonata No.1 Adagio and Fugue

Paganini Caprice No.13

Paganini Caprice No.20

Beethoven violin and piano sonata No.7 Allegro Con Brio (with Rosemary Barnes)

Interval

Franck violin and piano sonata in A major

(with Rosemary Barnes, below)

For more information on the foundation, visit the CLEF website.