BBC Radio 3 will present a day of special programming on Monday 3 March, celebrating 25 years of its New Generation Artists (NGA) scheme. The broadcaster is also launching 'new partnerships and strengthened collaborations' with the Hallé, the Academy of St Martin in the Fields and the Royal Northern College of Music.
What is the New Generation Artists scheme?
Founded in 1999 to support some of the world’s most promising young instrumentalists, singers and ensembles at the start of their careers, the BBC’s New Generation Artists scheme turns 25 this year. With over 150 alumni, it provides young musicians with regular broadcasts on Radio 3 and performance opportunities throughout the UK, in recital as well as with BBC orchestras.
New Generation Artists on Radio 3, celebrating 25 years
On 3 March, Radio 3 will feature current and former NGAs throughout the day in live and specially-recorded music.
Breakfast and Essential Classics will be broadcast live from the BBC’s Maida Vale studios, with performances by Alim Beisembayev (piano), Elizaveta Ivanova (flute) with Dominic Degavino (piano), Alessandro Fisher (tenor), Ryan Corbett (accordion), Thibaut Garcia (guitar) and Fergus McCreadie (jazz piano).
The Calidore Quartet plays Korngold and Beethoven live from London’s Wigmore Hall at 1pm, and Radio 3 in Concert is also live from Wigmore at 7.30pm with a recital by pianist Alexander Gadjiev of music by Debussy, Corigliano, Bartók, Schumann and Rachmaninov.
The young German pianist Julius Asal makes his debut with the BBC Symphony Orchestra under Elena Schwarz at 3pm in Scriabin’s Piano Concerto, live from Maida Vale studios.
In Tune will feature live music from jazz saxophonist and bandleader Emma Rawicz, mezzo-soprano Helen Charlston and violinist Johan Dalene.
Throughout the day listeners will also hear messages from NGA alumni, including baritone Benjamin Appl, trumpeter Alison Balsom, guitarist Rob Luft, violinist Maria Dueñas, collaborative pianist Kunal Lahiry, double bassist Misha Mullov-Abbado, and clarinettist Annelien Van Wauwe.
New Generation Artists collaborations, celebrating 25 years
As part of the 25th anniversary celebrations, BBC Radio 3 and the New Generation Artists scheme is also working with the Hallé, the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, and the Royal Northern College of Music:
- Pianist Julius Asal is the next recipient of the Terence Judd-Hallé Award, and receives a concerto performance with the Hallé, a chamber recital with Hallé musicians at Hallé St Peter’s, and a solo recital as part of the Manchester Mid-Day Concert Series.
- Asal is also the first Academy of St Martin in the Fields (ASMF) BBC New Generation Associate and receives coaching and mentoring from ASMF principal artist Murray Perahia, culminating in a concert at St Martin-in-the-Fields, broadcast on BBC Radio 3.
- Timothy Ridout is the first RNCM/BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artist Fellow at the Royal Northern College of Music, and will work with RNCM students throughout the 2025-26 academic year in coaching and mentoring sessions, culminating in a concert as part of the RNCM’s Inspirational Artists series at the end of the year, broadcast on BBC Radio 3.