Sean Shibe. Photo: Jules Lawrence Photography
The seven young musicians to join the BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists Scheme this year have been announced – and for the first time they include a classical guitarist.
Sean Shibe, a guitarist from Edinburgh, joins tenor Robin Tritschler, jazz saxophonist Trish Clowes, cellist Leonard Elschenbroich, clarinettist Mark Simpson, violinist Elena Urioste and the Apollon Musagate Quartet on the scheme.
The prestigious programme, which is in its 14th year, has launched the careers of musicians including pianist Paul Lewis, trumpeter Alison Balsom and the Belcea Quartet. It offers young musicians the chance to have their talents showcased on Radio 3 and perform and record with BBC orchestras.
Speaking in the current issue of BBC Music Magazine, guitarist Sean Shibe says: ‘Being the first guitarist is an honour. I’m really looking forward to the opportunities and seeing where it’ll take me.’
Clarinettist Mark Simpson is no stranger to the limelight – he won the BBC Young Musician competition in 2006 and his composition sparks was the opening piece at this year’s Last Night of the Proms. He told BBC Music Magazine ‘Life was all a bit hectic after the Young Musician competition, so I made a conscious effort to take myself out of the limelight and concentrate on getting a degree and so on. I’m now slowly building my profile up again, and hopefully the scheme will help to put me back on that level.’
You can hear performances from the new cohort of artists on Radio 3’s New Generation Artists programme, presented by Clemency Burton-Hill.
For the full story and to read an interview with guitarist Sean Shibe, pick up a copy of the current issue of BBC Music Magazine.