Young Classical Music Artists Agency and Promoter

18th May 2009

On Friday 15 May 2009 four artists were selected for representation by YCAT at the Public Final Auditions held at Wigmore Hall: Philip Higham (cello), Caroline MacPhie (soprano), Alexander Romanovsky (piano) and Helen Sherman (mezzo-soprano).

A total of eight finalists were heard, chosen from 115 applicants in the preliminary rounds. The jury consisted of Dame Anne Evans (soprano), William Lyne (Director Emeritus, Wigmore Hall), Adam Gatehouse (Editor, BBC Radio 3), John Fraser (recording producer), Ian Ritchie (Director, City of London Festival) and Alasdair Tait (Chief Executive, YCAT).

Scottish cellist, Philip Higham, recently became the first British cellist to win 1st prize in the prestigious 2008 International JS Bach Competition in Leipzig, quickly followed by 1st prize in the 7th International Luoslawski Cello competition in Warsaw. He is currently studying at the RNCM with Ralph Kirshbaum and Emma Ferrand. Caroline MacPhie is in her final year at the RAM where she receives tuition from Noelle Barker and Audrey Hyland. As well being a current Samling Scholar and Britten-Pears Young Artist, she was also a recent finalist in the Kathleen Ferrier Awards 2009. Having won the renowned International “Ferruccio Busoni” Competition at the age of 17, Alexander Romanovsky already has an established international profile, recently being signed on an exclusive recording contract with Decca. He is currently completing his studies with Dimitri Alexeev at the RCM. Australian mezzo-soprano Helen Sherman is currently a postgraduate student at the RNCM, having already gained a considerable reputation back home in Australia.

For more information, please contact the YCAT office: 0207 379 8477