Radio 3 announces New Generation of classical music stars

Now in its 15th year, the BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists scheme brings listeners the best of emerging British and international classical and jazz talent to the airwaves and live concerts. 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, fronted by BBC Young Musician of the Year presenter Clemency Burton-Hill. Over the past 15 years the scheme has supported and spotted internationally recognised artists as diverse as Benjamin Grosvenor, Alison Balsom, the Belcea Quartet, Christine Rice and Gwilym Simcock.

The New Generation Artists 2013-15 are:

Danish String Quartet – String Quartet (Denmark)In 2009, the Danish String Quartet not only won first prize in the Eleventh London International String Quartet Competition, but their performance was so convincing that it was awarded four additional prizes: the 20th Century Prize, the Beethoven Prize, the Sidney Griller Award and the Menton Festival Prize. In January 2012, the quartet were appointed to the prestigious Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center Two programme, beginning with the 2013-2014 season.

Kitty Whately – Mezzo Soprano (UK)
Kitty Whately studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and the Royal College of Music International Opera School. Kitty was the winner of the Kathleen Ferrier Award 2011 and the 59th Royal Overseas League Award for Singers, and in 2012 she was chosen to be a member of the prestigious Verbier Festival Academy in 2012.

Olena Tokar - Soprano (Ukraine)
Soprano Olena Tokar was a finalist in the 2013 Cardiff Singer of the World competition. In 2012 she was awarded first prizes both at the Lortzing Competition in Leipzig and at the renowned ARD International Music Competition in Munich.

Lise Berthaud - Viola (France)
Lise Berthaud was a prize winner of the European Young Instrumentalists Competition in 2000 and won the Hindemith Prize at the Geneva International Competition in 2005. In 2009, she was shortlisted by the Victoires de la Musique Classique as 'Révélation de l’Année' (Newcomer of the Year).

Louis Schwitzgebel – Piano (Switzerland)Pianist Louis Schwitzgebel secured second prize at the Leeds International Piano Competition, where his performance of Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4 with the Hallé Orchestra under Sir Mark Elder in the final round was broadcast live on BBC Four and BBC Radio 3. At the age of 17, he was the winner of the Geneva International Music Competition.

Zhang Zuo - Piano (China)
Zhang Zuo has garnered a host of awards, including first prizes at the third Shanghai International Piano Competition, the seventh International Franz Liszt Piano Competition, and a ‘Vendome Virtuoso’ award from Vendome Prize competition. In 2013, she won fifth prize at the 2013 Queen Elisabeth International Piano Competition.

The New Generation Artists come from a wide field, and represent a cross-section of the most exciting and talented young musicians in Britain and internationally today. The scheme opens up a wide range of opportunities over two years to develop their live and recorded performances for radio, including live broadcasts with BBC orchestras, lunchtime concerts from around the UK and regular studio recordings. The artists are also encouraged to be involved in chamber music collaborations with fellow NGAs.

Roger Wright, Controller of BBC Radio 3 and Director of BBC Proms, says: "It’s fantastic to see this next wave of talented young musicians joining Radio 3’s New Generation Artists scheme. In its 15 years the scheme has showcased and nurtured some of the brightest musicians working in the classical music world today and we’re looking forward to showcasing the 2013-2015 NGA artists to listeners across the UK."

Last year’s selection of New Generation Artists, who remain on the scheme for another year, are: tenor Robin Tritschler (Ireland), classical guitarist Sean Shibe (UK), jazz saxophonist Trish Clowes (UK), cellist Leonard Elschenbroich (Germany), clarinettist Mark Simpson (UK), Apollon Musagate Quartet (Poland) and violinist Elena Urioste (USA). The New Generation Artists for 2013 will join the artists from 2012 on the scheme and listeners will be able to hear the New Generation Artists on air throughout the year.