The eight new names to join the illustrious list of New Generation Artists alumni have been announced today. The BBC Radio 3 scheme, which offers performance and broadcast opportunities to some of the leading young musicians of their day, acts as both a springboard for many leading soloists, and also an excellent guide for audiences as to who are the names to watch in the years ahead.

The new members, who will join in September and remain part of the scheme until December 2023, are: British-Israeli pianist Tom Borrow, a Gramophone One to Watch in February 2020 and signed to the Hänssler label; British mezzo-soprano Helen Charlston; Spanish violinist María Dueñas; German-Romanian baritone Konstantin Krimmel, Alpha artist and another former One to Watch; Indian-American collaborative pianist Kunal Lahiry; the London-based Mithras Trio; Paris-based string quartet Quatuor Mona; and British bass William Thomas.

Radio 3 also announced that for the second year running, current New Generation Artists will stay on for an additional year to give them more of the performing and recording opportunities that were lost due to Covid-19.

It was also announced that a new award will be given to a young artist on the scheme each year. The Terence Judd–Hallé Award - a tribute to the late Terence Judd, a rising star British pianist who died aged 22 in 1979 - offers financial support and performance opportunities in concert and chamber settings with Manchester’s Hallé or members of the ensemble. The inaugural recipient is German pianist Elisabeth Brauss, who joined the New Generation Artists scheme in 2018 and leaves at the end of 2021.

‘Being a young musician at the time of the pandemic has been challenging: performance opportunities have been scarce and sustained connections with audiences have been hard to achieve,’ said Alan Davey, Controller BBC Radio 3 and classical music. ‘We are therefore delighted to announce BBC Radio 3’s support for another group of brilliant young performers who are at such a vital stage of their development, and the extension of the New Generation Artists scheme for those who are already on it. Music will only be alive for as long as young people choose to dedicate their creative lives to it, and it is our privilege to support them at the start of their careers.’