BBC Radio 3 has announced six new musicians from around the globe that the station has selected to join its prestigious New Generation Artists scheme from 2018-20.
Tenor Alessandro Fisher, cellist Anastasia Kobekina, the Aris Quartet, pianist Elisabeth Brauss, baritone James Newby and soprano Katharina Konradi will all be taking part.
BBC Radio 3’s New Generation Artists scheme was founded in 1999 with the aim of nurturing and promoting some of the world’s best young musicians at the start of their international careers.
Now in its 19th year the scheme provides musicians with unrivalled opportunities to make studio recordings of chamber music and with the BBC orchestras, perform in Radio 3’s prestigious Monday Lunchtime Concert series at Wigmore Hall, as well as at many of the UK’s top festivals and venues, commission new work, and collaborate with fellow NGAs.
Through supporting the brightest musicians in reaching the next stage of their careers the scheme showcases new talent to listeners across the UK via a series of BBC Radio 3 broadcasts. Over the past 19 years the scheme has supported internationally recognised artists as diverse as Benjamin Grosvenor, Alison Balsom, the Belcea Quartet, Christine Rice and Gwilym Simcock.
Emma Bloxham, Editor, BBC Radio 3, says: “BBC Radio 3’s New Generation Artists scheme offers an unrivalled platform to some of the world’s most exceptional young musicians at the start of their international careers. It’s always incredibly heartening to see and hear the wealth of young talent out there, and as ever it’s been a huge challenge to choose just six people to join us. However we’re incredibly excited about working with the class of 2018, and I’ve no doubt Radio 3 listeners are in for a treat!”
This year’s New Generation Artists will join those from 2017 and listeners will be able to hear from both talent pools throughout the year. The 2017-19 New Generation Artists, who remain on the scheme for another year, are: violinist Aleksey Semenenko, mezzo-soprano Catriona Morison, pianist Mariam Batsashvili, jazz bassist Misha Mullov-Abbado, Quatuor Arod, trumpeter Simon Hofele, and guitarist Thibaut Garcia.
New Generation Artists is a scheme run by BBC Radio 3 and offers listeners access to the very best young international talent. The scheme was launched in 1999.
Every autumn six or seven artists or groups who are beginning to make a mark on the international music scene are invited to join the NGA scheme. They are given the opportunity to give concerts in London and around the UK, as well as make appearances and recordings with the BBC orchestras and studio recordings for Radio 3.
New Generation Artists have featured in some of Britain’s most prominent festivals, including the City of London Festival, the BBC Proms, the London Jazz Festival, Aldeburgh Festival, Cheltenham Festival and Edinburgh International Festival.
In partnership with the Royal Philharmonic Society Radio 3 has commissioned a number of works for New Generation Artists, from composers including Simon Holt, Geoffrey Burgon, Augusta Read Thomas, Karin Rehnqvist, Mark-Anthony Turnage and Alexander Goehr.