Armenian cellist Narek Hakhnazaryan is one the six New Generation artists BBC Radio 3 believes will be the classical music starts of the future.
BBC Radio 3’s drive-time show In Tune recently announced Radio 3’s 2014 New Generation Artists – six new artists from around the globe that the station believes will be the classical music stars of the future.
Radio 3’s New Generation Artists scheme was founded in 1999 as part of the BBC’s commitment to nurturing young talent. Now in its 16th year, the scheme provides musicians with opportunities to develop their live and recorded performances, including broadcasts with the BBC orchestras, lunchtime concerts from around the UK and regular studio recordings, as well as forming chamber music collaborations with fellow NGAs.
Through supporting the brightest musicians in reaching the next stage of their careers the scheme showcases new talent to listeners across the UK via a series of Radio 3 broadcasts, fronted by BBC Young Musician presenter Clemency Burton-Hill. Over the past 16 years the scheme has supported and spotted internationally recognised artists as diverse as Benjamin Grosvenor, Alison Balsom, the Belcea Quartet, Christine Rice and Gwilym Simcock.
The 2014-16 New Generation Artists are:
The Armida Quartet – String Quartet (Germany)
Benjamin Appl – Baritone (Germany)
Alec Frank-Gemmill – French Horn (UK)
Narek Hakhnazaryan – Cello (Armenia)
Pavel Kolesnikov – Piano (Russia)
Esther Yoo – Violin (US / Korea / Belgium)
Narek Hakhnazaryan studied at the Moscow and New England Conservatories; he was mentored by Rostropovich and received a scholarship from the Rostropovich Foundation. Prizes include the 2008 Young Concert Artists International Auditions and the Cello First Prize and Gold Medal at the International Tchaikovsky Competition 2011. Hakhnazaryan’s many high-level engagements have included concerto appearances with the London Symphony, Rotterdam Philharmonic, Czech Philharmonic and Chicago Symphony orchestras, with conductors such as Gergiev, Robertson, Bělohlávek and Koopman. He has also performed in recital and chamber music in many of the major halls and festivals across the globe including Wigmore Hall, Salle Pleyel (Paris), Berlin Konzerthaus and Amsterdam Concertgebouw.
BBC Radio 3 is the home of classical music. The station also broadcasts a wide range of cultural programming including jazz, world music, arts and over 25 new drama programmes a year. Radio 3 features more live classical music programming than any other. The station is also the most significant commissioner of new musical works in the country and is committed to supporting new talent; composers, writers and new young performers through schemes such as New Generation Artists and New Generation Thinkers.
