St John’s Smith Square has revealed the newest additions to its Young Artists’ Scheme.
The concert hall's programme, which began last year, aims to cultivate successful professional careers for emerging artists by promoting and developing their skills.
Selected from over 150 applicants, with 34 invited to audition, the latest four members provide a diverse range of musical talent: Tabea Debus (recorder), Joo Yeon Sir (violin), The Ligeti Quartet and vocal ensemble The Gesualdo Six.
Supported over the year by the Young Artists' project, the new members receive funding for a marketing initiative, in order to promote themselves to a wider audience, and also for an outreach programme. As well as receiving financial support, the artists are invited to perform three times during the concert hall’s 2015-16 season, including a performance of either a specially commissioned work or a piece of early music, edited themselves.
Richard Heason, director of St John’s Smith Square, emphasises the importance of the Young Artists: ‘We believe this scheme provides a rare opportunity for Young Artists to develop their work in a nurturing environment; being afforded opportunities normally reserved for those who have already ‘made it’ in the profession, and giving them space to explore their artistic identities’.