HYUNGI LEE (MARIMBA) WINNER 2019
https://k-music.co.uk/artist/hyungi-lee
Hyungi Lee was born in South Korea and came to UK at the age of 12. She held an ABRSM Scholarship during her time at the Royal College of Music studying orchestral percussion with David Hockings and solo percussion with She-e Wu and Daniella Ganeva. Hyungi has been awarded First Prize at the Seoul University National Competition, the Guildhall and Trinity Hall Marimba Competition and the Fermo International Percussion Competition in Italy. She reached the semi-finals of the 2012 BBC Young Musician of the Year Competition and was awarded the Walter Todd Bursary for her performance. She has performed as a soloist and as a chamber group at various concert venues including Wigmore Hall, Elgar room (RAH), Royal Opera House, Cadogan Hall and V&A Gallery. More recent competitions include first prize the RCM Percussion Competition in 2016 and 2017 and the second prize in Karl Jenkins Award 2017 and 2018. Hyungi was one of the Featured Young Artists at the London Ear Festival 2018 and she has recently performed a Bach Harpsichord concerto arranged for two marimbas with the RCM Symphony Orchestra. Awards include the Feltenstein Leaver’s award, the Macklin bursary for an outstanding student in the final year of undergraduate studies from ABRSM 2017 and the Joy Hockings Prize 2018 for excellent contribution at the RCM.
LUKE JONES (PIANO) WINNER 2018
https://www.lukejonespianist.com
Luke Jones is a Welsh pianist. Originally from Wrexham in North Wales, he started playing the piano at the age of 5 and made his debut recital at the Wrexham Arts Centre aged 10. Since then he has performed all over Britain in venues such as Eaton Square - London, Dora Stoutzker Hall - Cardiff, Barber Institute - Birmingham, Pump Room - Bath etc. He has also performed in France (Salle Cortot - Paris), Italy, Austria (Wienersaal - Salzburg), Spain (Palau de la Musica Catalana - Barcelona), Majorca and Slovenia and has won prizes in competitions around Europe notably 2nd Prize and Mompou Prize at the prestigious Maria Canals International Piano Competition, 1st Prize at the Bromsgrove International Musicians Competition, 1st Prize in "Aci Bertoncelj" International Piano Competition, Slovenia. 1st Prize in "Section A" Chopin-Roma International Piano Competition, Italy, and 3rd Prize in the Manchester International Concerto Competition, UK. He was also the recipient of the 16-19 'Blue Ribbon' Instrumental Award at the National Eisteddfod in Wales. Most recently, Luke performed Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No.1 at the Palau De la Musica Catalana in Barcelona to a packed audience in the Final of the Maria Canals International Piano Competition. Furthermore, he has had broadcasts of his performances on BBC Wales Radio, S4C Television, Radio Vaticana and Telepace in Italy. In October 2020, he was able to perform in Cyprus for the Pharos Arts Foundation.
Where is he now? Luke has filmed many of his performances due to the coronavirus pandemic, which have then been released on his YouTube channel. He has also taken part in our BIMC 40th Anniversary recital series.
EMILY SUN (VIOLIN) WINNER 2017
http://www.emilysunviolin.com
Emily was born in Australia, and after studying at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, she moved to London. Since 2011, she has been studying at the Royal College of Music, graduating with a Masters of Music with first class honours. She made her concerto debut with the East-West Philharmonic Orchestra at the age of 10, and has since been a soloist with orchestras all over Australia, as well as in the US, China and Russia. Emily regularly performs in recitals, and has played in the Wigmore Hall and Buckingham Palace. She has been the winner of numerous competitions, most recently winning the gold medal in the Royal Overseas League UK Music Competition.
Where is she now? At the beginning of January 2021, Emily was lucky enough to perform for a live audition at the 2021 Sydney Festival.
TOBY HUGHES (DOUBLE BASS) WINNER 2016
Toby was born in Bristol, and started playing the double bass at the age of 9. He attended the Junior Conservatoire in Birmingham and became bass section leader of both its orchestra and the CBSO Youth Orchestra. He was later principal bass with the National Youth Orchestra, playing at a number of leading venues including a prom in the Royal Albert Hall. After a period studying in Berlin, Toby entered the Royal Northern College of Music and has played with many orchestras. In 2014, he was overall winner of the strings section of the Royal Overseas League Annual Music Competition.
Where is he now? Toby finished his studies in 2016 and is now a Junior Fellow at the RNCM. He has performed with major international orchestras both in Europe and the UK. Toby was asked to be guest lead for the Royal Northern Sinfonia and his recital engagements have included appearances at St-Martin-in-the-Fields, Edinburgh Festival and the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London, both as part of the ROSL winners' platforms.
JAMAL ALIYEV (CELLO) WINNER 2015
Cellist Jamal Aliyev began his musical studies at the age of five in Turkey before moving to the Yehudi Menuhin School in 2008. He studied with Prof. Thomas Carroll at the Royal College of Music, where he won the RCM Concerto Competitions in 2014 and 2015, and the RCM Violoncello Competition 2014. Jamal made his debut with BBC Concert Orchestra at the Menuhin Hall in a 2012 live broadcast on Radio 3 and was also invited to perform on Sean Rafferty’s programme, ‘In Tune’. Jamal has won many international competitions and enjoys performing as a solo artist and a chamber musician in Europe and Asia.
Where is he now? Jamal has been named as the Winner of the third Arts Club - Sir Karl Jenkins Music Award. Jamal has also been awarded First Prize in The Musicians' Company Prince's Prize Competition 2017 and has been selected as a Young Classical Artists Trust artist following the final auditions at Wigmore Hall in May 2017. He has a debut album entitled Russian Masters out now.
DANIEL PETRICA CIOBANU (PIANO) WINNER 2014
http://www.danielpetricaciobanu.com/pianist
Daniel is from Romania, where he graduated from the Victor Brauner Music High School, and then won a scholarship to study for a year at Stewart’s Melville College in Edinburgh, where he won the Young Musician of the Year award from Edinburgh Rotary International. Daniel was awarded a scholarship at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. He has taken part in many competitions, and among his successes were 1st prize in the National Olympiads in Romania, and another 1st at the Italian Carpinetti in Musica competition.
Where is he now? Daniel won second prize and the public prize at the internationally renowned competition, Arthur Rubinstein, in Tel-Aviv in May 2017. He also won first prize in the BDNES International Piano Competition I Brazil and first prize and special prize for Best Classical Sonata at the UNISA International Piano Competition in South Africa. He held a Private Recital for His Royal Highness Prince Charles at Dumfries House, Scotland. Daniel is the current Artistic Director at the Neamt Piano Festival.
ANTHONY BROWN (SAXOPHONE) WINNER 2013
http://www.anthonybrownsaxophone.com
Anthony studied at the Royal Northern College of Music and when he graduated in 2011, he was nominated by the Principal for the Worshipful Company of Musicians’ prestigious Silver Medal. He often plays with pianist Leo Nicholson, and they have given recitals in London’s Wigmore Hall. He has also performed the world première of two works by composer Graham Ross, one of which was released as a CD in 2015. He also enjoys playing jazz.
Where is he now? With a passion for education, Anthony has given workshops in primary schools through to tuition at university level. He has worked as part of an ensemble for Live Music Now! and Music in Hospitals, and also provided solo workshops through WCOM. Anthony's versatility means that he is also a confident jazz player. He won the Burghausen Jazz Prize in 2011 and has recorded broadcasts for BBC Radio 3.
HANNAH DAVEY (SOPRANO) WINNER 2012
http://hannahmdavey.com
Hannah comes from Cheltenham, England, and trained at the Birmingham Conservatoire where she won their singing competition in 2011. She now enjoys an active career as a professional soprano, including a UK tour with Sir James and Lady Galway performing Bach Arias with double flute obligato. In 2013, Hannah sang in a recording of Mozart’s Requiem, which was released the following year.
Where is she now? In her life as a classical soprano, Hannah’s professional engagements take her across the country performing song recitals, oratorio and orchestral concerts.
As a jazz vocalist, Hannah sings with the Derek Paravicini Quartet and as part of a piano duo creating stunning realisations of the great standards. Their debut album was released on Absolute Records in November 2013.
Alongside her performance career, Hannah leads vocal masterclasses and teaches singing privately. She works with the charity Music for Autism which provides high calibre performance for children and adults with special needs.
MIKHAIL NEMTSOV (CELLO) WINNER 2011
Originally from St Petersburg, Mikhail studied at Chethams School of Music and the Royal Northern College of Music. He frequently plays as a duo with his sister Elena (who accompanied him in Bromsgrove), and together they won the 2012 Swedish International Duo Competition. They also made their first CD. Mikhail is a City Music Foundation artist and in July 2014, he played in a CMF sponsored concert at the City of London Music Festival.
Where is he now? Mikhail has performed a recital at the Royal Festival Hall, London, as an Martin Trust award winner. In 2011, he was awarded the prestigious Pierre Fournier Award. Mikhail was invited by Ralph Kirschbaum to participate in Los Angeles international Cello Festival in March 2012.
His album, 60 Degrees North, was launced in 2015.
MENG YANG PAN (PIANO) WINNER 2010
Meng Yang Pan was born in China, and won a scholarship to study at the Purcell School for young musicians near London, then another scholarship to study at the Royal College of Music. In her professional career, highlights have been performing concertos under the batons of Vladimir Ashkenazy and John Wood.
Where is she now? Meng Yang continues to perform recitals across the UK and on the international stage in some of the most renowned venues in the world. Critics have described Meng Yang Pan's playing as "so fine that time seemed to stand still”.
ILYA MOVCHAN (VIOLIN) WINNER 2009
Like Anna Peletsis, with whom he sometimes gives recitals, Ilya comes from Russia and studied at the Royal College of Music.
Where is he now? Ilya currently performs as one third of the Eidos Trio, formed at the RCM, and most recently played at the Brighton Festival.
ANNA PELETSIS (PIANO) WINNER 2008
Anna was born in Russia, and she came to the Royal College of Music in London to continue her studies. She has since been active as a soloist and chamber music performer in Britain and in Europe, and in 2012/13 was graduate assistant in the School of Music at the University of South Florida, and afterwards won a scholarship to study music teaching at the McGill University in Montreal.
Where is she now? Anna is currently a D.Mus. student at Schulich School of Music in Montreal, Canada.
Anna was the winner of the 2015-2016 McGill Concerto Competition and performed Aram Khachaturian’s Piano Concerto in D-flat Major with the McGill Symphony Orchestra (MGSO).
SASHA GRYNYUK WINNER 2007
Born in Ukraine, Sasha has become a successful and popular recitalist and concerto soloist including a spell at the Grieg Museum, Bergen as pianist of the week. Later, he performed the Rachmaninov 2nd concerto at the Cadogan Hall with the London International Orchestra. Sasha released his first CD in 2012, with music by Friedrich Gulda and Glenn Gould, described by Classical Source ¹as wacky¹.
Where is he now? Sasha's CD ‘Sasha Grynyuk Gould Gulda‘ was chosen as an album of the month by Piano News magazine (Germany), and also an album of the week by New York classical radio.
Sasha is a winner of over ten International competitions, prizes and awards. He was chosen as a Rising Star for BBC Music Magazine and International Piano Magazine. His recent successes also include first prizes at Rio de Janeiro International Piano Competition, Grieg International Piano Competition and Guildhall School’s most prestigious award – the Gold Medal - previously won by such artists as Jacqueline Du Pre and Bryn Terfel.
ALEXANDER SITKOVETSKY WINNER 2006
http://www.alexandersitkovetsky.com
Born in Moscow, Alexander came to study at the Yehudi Menuhin School in Kent, where he drew inspiration from Lord Menuhin, with whom he performed many times. After winning in Bromsgrove, he has had a successful career as a soloist with leading Russian Orchestras and as a member of the Sitkovetsky Trio with pianist Wu Qian and cellist Leonard Elschenbroich.
Where is he now? Alexander’s recording for CPO of Andrzej Panufnik's Violin Concerto to commemorate the composer's 100th Birthday has been critically acclaimed. Since 2012, he has played in a String Quartet project with Julia Fischer, meeting once a year to perform in some of Europe's most prestigious venues. His teaching commitments include the Zurich University of Arts, the Royal Academy of Music and the Royal Northern College of Music.
JOHANNES MÖLLER (GUITAR), WINNER 2005
http://johannesmoller.com
Johannes is the only guitarist to have won in Bromsgrove, and he has had a similar success in other leading competitions. He has now turned mainly to composition, and in 2010 released a CD of him playing his own work.
Where is he now? Johannes' CD, China, was released in June 2017. It is a complete album dedicated to Chinese traditional songs. He is currently Head of Classical Guitar Studies at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam.
JI-YEOUN YOU (PIANO) WINNER 2004
http://www.jiyeounyou.de
Ji-Yeoun was born in Yeosu, Korea, where she has been made an honorary citizen in view of her cultural achievements. She came to Germany to study the piano, and in addition to her success in Bromsgrove, has won prizes in several other international competitions. She now works as a recitalist in venues throughout Europe, frequently with flautist Ulrich Roloff.
Where is she now? Ji-Yeoun is currently teaching at the Academy of Music "Carl Maria von Weber" in Dresden and at the Berlin University of the Arts. In her hometown of Yeosu, Ji-Yeoun was appointed an honorary citizen for her services in the cultural/music field.
MAYA RASOOLY (VIOLA) WINNER 2003
Maya Rasooly was born in Israel, and after wining in Bromsgrove has pursued an active performing career, working with the Schnitzler Quartet, as a duo with pianist Sasha Grynyuk (another Bromsgrove winner), and as 1st viola with Vladimir Ashkenazy’s West-Eastern Divan Orchestra.
Where is she now? Since 2008, Maya has been a member of the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra of Daniel Barenboim, and she has also played with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Berliner Philharmoniker (2008-2009) and as guest leader of the Philharmonia orchestra.
In 2013, Maya was appointed an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music in London for her achievements in music.
AMY DICKSON (SAXOPHONE) WINNER 2002
www.amydickson.com
Amy was born in Sydney, Australia, and after winning in Bromsgrove, she won the 2004 Symphony Australia Young Performer of the Year Competition. Now based in London, Amy plays all over the world, and has had a successful recording career, including her own arrangements of works such as Glass’s Violin Concerto.
Where is she now? Twice GRAMMY-nominated Amy Dickson made history by becoming the first saxophonist and the first Australian to win a Classic Brit Award, as 2013 MasterCard Breakthrough Artist of the Year. This followed the release of her third album, Dusk and Dawn, which attained the coveted No. 1 position in the UK Classical Album Charts. In January 2016, Amy was named Young Australian of the Year in the UK. She was also a Judge of the BBC Young Musician 2016 Final.
In January 2017, Amy released her album, Glass, a ground-breaking recording of some of Philip Glass’s most iconic music.
MAYA RASOOLY (VIOLA) WINNER 2003
Maya Rasooly was born in Israel, and after wining in Bromsgrove has pursued an active performing career, working with the Schnitzler Quartet, as a duo with pianist Sasha Grynyuk (another Bromsgrove winner), and as 1st viola with Vladimir Ashkenazy’s West-Eastern Divan Orchestra.
Where is she now? Since 2008, Maya has been a member of the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra of Daniel Barenboim, and she has also played with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Berliner Philharmoniker (2008-2009) and as guest leader of the Philharmonia orchestra.
In 2013, Maya was appointed an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music in London for her achievements in music.
BENJAMIN BIRTLE (CELLO) WINNER 2001
Benjamin was born in Manchester and his career now encompasses playing cello concertos, as well as chamber music with cello and double bass duo, Bass Instinct, and other groups.
Where is he now? Since 2004 Ben has been working as a freelance cellist with orchestras such as the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. In 2007, he also spent a year as the number 3 cellist in the Singapore Symphony Orchestra.
SIMONA MIHAI (SOPRANO) WINNER 2000
http://simonamihai.com/home.html
Simona was born in Bucharest, Romania, and came to study in England. Since then she has had a successful career in opera, singing in Covent Garden, the Glyndebourne Touring Opera, and La Scala, Milan.
Where is she now? Simona is currently Soprano at the Royal Opera House. Singing roles have included Dew Fairy (Hansel and Gretel), Belinda (Dido and Aeneas) and Poussette.