Decca Classics has signed 24-year-old violinist Randall Goosby. His debut album, set for release next spring, will, according to a statement from the label, ‘journey across more than a century of African-American music for violin, tracing its roots in the spiritual through to the present day’, embracing composers including William Grant Still and Florence Price, plus newly commissioned music by composer and double-bass played Xavier Foley.

Goodby, who grew up in Memphis, Tennessee, is a protégé of Itzhak Perlman, who arranged a full scholarship for him to study with him at Juilliard. The young violinist paid tribute to his mentor at last week’s Gramophone Awards when Perlman received our Lifetime Achievement Award. You can watch him talking about Perlman’s great influence on him and his generation of musicians in the video below, preceded by a tribute from composer John Williams.

‘I’m so thrilled to be working with the Decca Classics team for the release of my debut album!’, said Goosby, whose achievements to date include being the youngest ever winner of the junior division of the prestigious Sphinx Competition, First Prize Winner in the 2018 Young Concert Artists International Auditions in New York, and the first ever Robey Artist with Young Classical Artists Trust in London. ‘It’s a record label that has been home to some of my favourite artists and musical role models, and I’m delighted to be joining such an esteemed roster. For me, music has always been a way to inspire others. It’s part of my quest as an artist to amplify black voices in classical music, bringing heightened recognition to this incredible music.’

Dominic Fyfe, Label Director of Decca Classics, added: ‘Randall and I first met back in February 2019 and I have followed his development closely. It’s rare to find such a supremely eloquent player and an equally articulate advocate for the value of classical music. In his playing Randall looks back to a golden age of violin greats, as befits a student of Itzhak Perlman, and in his advocacy for music education, outreach and diversity he is a forward-looking ambassador for the future of our industry. Randall will inspire us, and we welcome him to Decca Classics.’