Welcome to the 2025 BBC Music Magazine Awards
The nominated recordings for the 2025 Newcomer Award are listed below.
The nominees for the 2025 Newcomer Award
Chopin
Études, Opp 10 & 25
Yunchan Lim (piano)
Decca 487 0122
It was in 2022 that South Korean pianist Yunchan Lim won the Van Cliburn Competition, then aged 18. Anyone who witnessed his performances there was left in no doubt that his was a dazzling talent, and that came across (and then some) in this, his very impressive first studio recording.
Re-Build
Works by Emily Hall, Ryan Latimer, Alex Paxton et al
Slide Action
NMC NMC D289
This trombone quartet are on a mission not only to push the boundaries of brass repertoire, but also the capabilities of what is possible on their instruments. With virtuosity, theatricality and an invigorating sense of musical adventure, Slide Action may well be the future of brass. ‘What a blast!’ said our review.
Innocence
Works by Head, Hildegard, Palestrina, Purcell, Ravel, Meredith Monk, Shivani Ratani, Howard Skempton et al
Echo Vocal Ensemble
Resonus
‘Here is a deeply satisfying, centuries-spanning, thought-provoking debut album…’ said the review, and from Hildegard to Meredith Monk, the music was wide ranging and the performance indeed sublime. The UK-based Echo Vocal Ensemble have become known for their imaginative programmes, and that was alluringly distilled here.
Vote for the winner of this year's Newcomer Award
Voting runs from Thursday 23 January to Friday 28 February. You can vote for your favourite from our three Newcomer nominees below.
The purpose of this vote is to allow users to share their opinions on the shortlisted recordings for the BBC Music Magazine Awards. While the results will be of interest to other users and the BBC Music Magazine editorial team, it is not a representative sample and only reflects the views of those who choose to participate. Full terms and conditions can be found on our Terms and Conditions page.
