Friends Newsletter - November 2014

NEWSLETTER NOVEMBER 2014

JONATHAN WARE WINS 1ST PRIZE On 27 September, pianist Jonathan Ware and baritone Ludwig Mittelhammer won 1st Prize in the International Art Song Competition in Stuttgart. They received â‚Ź15,000, along with an invitation to give a recital in the Hugo Wolf Akademie programme. The International Art Song Competition in Stuttgart aims to encourage young singers and pianists to devote themselves to the art song and to help them to attain international recognition.

RICK DEBUTS NEW CD On 15 October, Richard Uttley premiered his new CD 'Ghosts & Mirrors' at The Forge in Camden, London.

Ivan Hewett, music journalist from The Telegraph, gave the performance 4-stars and reviewed it as a 'fine example' of the now firmly rooted 'concept album' taking hold in classical music.

Ask YCAT how you can purchase his CD.

ONWARDS AND UPWARDS

MORGAN PEARSE JOINS HOUSTON GRAND OPERA STUDIO Since September, Morgan has been living in Houston, Texas and working alongside some of the world’s most talented opera singers and teachers.

The Houston Grand Opera Studio is one of the most respected young artist programmes in the US. For more then 30 years it has served young singers, providing a bridge between full-time training and fully-fledged operatic careers.

Help us celebrate YCAT’s 30th Anniversary season by becoming a YCAT30 Donor You can support the budding careers of these extraordinary artists!

Request more information from Zak (Zak@ycat.co.uk or 020 7379 8477)

MICHAEL PETROV SETS OFF ON EUROPEAN TOUR Cellist Michael Petrov was nominated by the Barbican as an ECHO Rising Star for the 2014/15 season, and has just begun his exciting tour.

Each year ECHO (European Concert Hall Organisation) nominates a group of exceptional artists as Rising Stars.

The selected artists are offered the opportunity to present an engaging musical programme at 15 major concert halls in Europe.

Michael begins his tour in Luxembourg, then moves on to Baden-Baden, Vienna, Cologne, Brussels, Paris, and many other places!

Follow Michael’s travels on his new blog:

michaelpetrovcello.wordpress.com

PHILIP HIGHAM SIGNS WITH LAURA TEAR YCAT is delighted to announce that cellist Philip Higham has moved on successfully to commercial management with Laura Tear Artist Management.

Described by the Washington Post as a major talent (2014) following his USA debut at The Phillips Collection, Philip returns to Wigmore Hall on 21 December 2014 with pianist Alasdair Beatson. This autumn Philip records the complete Bach Cello Suites due for release by Delphian in 2015. He will perform all six Cello Suites at the Musashino Cultural Foundation in Tokyo in March 2015.

BEN BAKER PERFORMS WITH NEW ZEALAND BALLET

BARTOSZ CURATES SERIES WITH SINFONIA CYMRU

Benjamin joined the Royal New Zealand Ballet this summer as an onstage violinist, and enjoyed private ballet lessons with Gillian Murphy, principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre.

Throughout 2014 Bartosz has been Guest Leader & Director with Sinfonia Cymru, working with theatre director Tom Morris at the Bristol Proms, and directing the orchestra’s first ever international collaboration with musicians from Italy, Estonia and Sweden.

Ben comments on this photo, ‘‘It was great to get the shows underway in Wellington, my hometown and RNZB’s.

Just before curtain up Kohei and I discovered that we were a perfect two man violin team. Michael, Antonia and Shaun don’t seem to be convinced.’

This culminated in October with a unique festival in Cardiff, of which he was artistic director, called ‘Small Nations, Big Sounds.’

SNAPSHOTS OF YCAT ARTISTS

Clarinettist Mark Simpson had the unique opportunity to perform for Harrison Birtwistle in May this year at Oxford, where Birtwistle received an Honorary degree of Doctor of Music.

The Trio Isimsiz hard at work!

Pablo Hernán Benedí, violin Erdem Misirlioglu, piano Michael Petrov, cello

New YCAT Artist and bassoonist Amy Harman here performs solos with the Aurora Orchestra, as part of the BBC Proms this summer.

Pianist Richard Uttley is inspired by Thomas Adès at the International Musicians’ Seminar, Prussia Cove.

Pianist Jonathan Ware (seated) poses with baritone Ludwig Mittelhammer after winning 1st Prize at the International Art Song Competition in Stuttgart in September.