New Generation Artists Chosen for 2008
Next Round Includes Jazz Trumpet, Harpsichord, Piano, Violin
Oct 6, 2008
The BBC Radio 3's program New Generation Artists is designed to mentor and launch the careers of promising young artists. Now entering its 10th year, the program is beginning to grow up itself, branching out into more musical styles. With the selection of 8 new musicians from around the world, the New Generation Artists team is complete for the coming 2008-9 season.
Each musician embarks on a 2-year term, meaning that the new musicians will join the ranks of last year's selection. When added to the 2nd year musicians, the 8 new musicians bring the current total up to 14 New Generation Artists. As an indication that the New Generation initiative is supporting a wider variety of talent, the entering class includes representatives of two styles new to the program: jazz and early music.
A Diverse and International Selection: Jazz Trumpet, Early Music Harpsichord, String Quartet, Cello, Mezzo-Soprano and Violin
British jazz trumpeter Tom Arthurs follows in the footsteps of 2006-2007 New Generation Artist Gwilym Simcock, whose talent as a jazz pianist prompted the decision to make jazz a regular category in the initiative. Arthurs has also won the BBC Jazz Awards for Rising Star and Best Instrumentalist and has recorded four albums.
The Iranian-born American harpsichordist Mahan Esfahani is the very first early music performer to become a New Generation Artist. He currently performs with two early music groups, the baroque string orchestra A Far Cry and the early music ensemble Ciaramella.
The string quartet Meta4 from Finland was also chosen as a 2008-2009 Artist, as well as Danish cellist Andreas Brantelid, Austrian mezzo-soprano Daniela Lehner and British violinist Jennifer Pike.
New Generation Artist Perks: Concerts, Recordings, Commissions, Festivals
New Generation Artists receive significant publicity through concert engagements at London's Wigmore Hall and the London Symphony Orchestra's St. Luke's, recordings with the BBC Orchestra, appearances on Radio 3 and performances at the Proms. Composers have received commissions and several New Generation Artists partake in festivals across the United Kingdom, including the City of London Festival, the Aldeburgh Festival, the Cheltenham Festival and the Edinburgh International Festival.
Previous Artists include violinist Lisa Batiashvili, cellist Natalie Clein, soprano Emma Bell, mezzo-soprano Alice Coote, pianist Simon Trpceski, the Kungsbacka Piano Trio and the Belcea Quartet.
To read full biographies on each of the musicians or to review concert schedules or radio performances, please visit the New Generation Artist webpage.
Sources
New Generation Artist webpage.
"New Generation Artists Opens Up With Eight Additions." Musolife.com.
