2026 performers
Katya Apekisheva
Described by Gramophone as a “profoundly gifted artist”, Katya Apekisheva is recognised as one of Europe’s most distinguished pianists. Born into a family of musicians in Moscow, she studied at the Gnessin Music School for gifted children and made her debut at the age of 12. She later continued her training at the Rubin Academy in Jerusalem and at the Royal College of Music in London, before coming to international attention as a prizewinner at the Leeds International Piano Competition.
Charles Owen
Charles Owen enjoys an extensive international career, performing a wide-ranging repertoire to outstanding critical acclaim. In the UK he appears regularly at major venues including Bridgewater Hall, The Sage Gateshead and Kings Place, while internationally he has performed at leading halls such as Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall in New York, the Brahms-Saal in Vienna’s Musikverein, the Amsterdam Concertgebouw and Melbourne Recital Centre.
Keelan Carew
Pianist and broadcaster Keelan Carew balances the piano with a broad interest in classical music education. Born and raised in Medway, Kent, Keelan studied at the RNCM with Dr Stephen Savage.He made his concerto debut in 2018, performing Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini in Southampton.
Peter Donohoe
Peter Donohoe, born in Manchester in 1953, is widely regarded as one of the foremost pianists of his generation, celebrated for his musicianship, stylistic versatility and formidable technique. He studied at Chetham’s School of Music, the University of Leeds, and the Royal Northern College of Music before continuing his studies in Paris with Olivier Messiaen and Yvonne Loriod.
Kathryn Stott
Kathryn Stott has had a distinguished career as a soloist and chamber musician, best known for her long‑standing partnership with Yo‑Yo Ma, with whom she performed and recorded for over four decades. Alongside her performing career, she is a respected teacher and Professor of Piano at the Royal Northern College of Music, with a strong commitment to supporting emerging musicians. In 2024, she was awarded the King’s Medal for Music, recognising her outstanding contribution to musical life in the UK.
Gulsin Onay
Gülsin Onay is internationally recognised as one of today’s leading pianists, celebrated for her expressive depth, technical brilliance and wide-ranging repertoire. A child prodigy, she gave her first public recital on Turkish Radio at the age of six before studying with Ahmed Adnan Saygun and Mithat Fenmen, and later at the Paris Conservatoire with Pierre Sancan, Monique Haas and Nadia Boulanger. She graduated at just sixteen, winning the prestigious Premier Prix du Piano.
Junyan Chen
Junyan Chen made her debut with the Philharmonia Orchestra this season performing Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No 4. She played this concerto in the final of the Leeds International Piano Competition 2024, where she won Second Prize. In Leeds she collaborated with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and Domingo Hindoyan.
Martin James Bartlett
Martin James Bartlett possesses a fearless technique and plays with a maturity and elegance far beyond his years. In 2022, he became the inaugural recipient of the Prix Serdang, a Swiss award curated by Rudolf Buchbinder to recognise a young pianist forging an international solo career. An exclusive recording artist with Warner Classics, Bartlett has earned consistent critical acclaim, with his albums receiving five-star reviews and top accolades. Praised by The Arts Desk for his performance as “frankly like watching another, superior, species,” Bartlett continues to affirm his place as one of the most compelling pianists of his generation.
Tom Poster
Tom Poster is a pianist of exceptional versatility, acclaimed for his imaginative programming and wide-ranging musical interests. Described as “a marvel … who can play anything in any style” (The Herald), he has performed more than forty concertos ranging from Mozart to Ligeti with leading orchestras including the BBC Philharmonic, London Philharmonic, Philharmonia, Hallé and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. He has collaborated with conductors such as Vladimir Ashkenazy, Nicholas Collon and Robin Ticciati, and frequently directs performances from the keyboard.
Bill Laurance
Classically trained composer, sought-after collaborator, and 5-time Grammy Award-winning pianist, Bill Laurance has built a career uniquely blending genres of music that seem to be at stylistic polar opposites. Originally trained as a classical pianist, Laurance has been demonstrating his unique creativity and improvisation for many years as a founding member of Snarky Puppy.
George Benjamin
George Benjamin, born in 1960, is widely recognised as one of the leading composers of his generation. He began composing at the age of seven and, at just sixteen, entered the Paris Conservatoire to study with Olivier Messiaen, later continuing his studies with Alexander Goehr at King’s College, Cambridge.
Madeline Brown
Described as having “the potential to become a major voice in the classical music world” (Peter Donohoe CBE), Madeleine Brown is establishing herself as one of the most exciting young pianists of this generation. Having graduated with a BA in Music from Trinity College, Cambridge,she is now studying with Kathryn Stott at the Royal Northern College of Music, with whom she recently appeared on BBC Radio 3 “In Tune”.
Ulrich Gerhatz
Ulrich Gerhartz began his career with Steinway & Sons in Hamburg in 1986 as an apprentice piano maker, later moving to London to specialise in restoring and preparing concert pianos. Since becoming Director of Concert & Artist Services in 1994, he has worked closely with many of the world’s leading pianists and oversees Steinway concert instruments across the UK and internationally.
