As part of its series exploring 'The Power of Music', Classic FM celebrated the success of YCAT's Hardship Fund in the perfect way: performances by our artists. 

With around 5.7 million listeners tuning in each week, Classic FM is the biggest classical music radio station in the world and offers an exciting opportunity to reach and inspire new audiences. 

Catherine Bott presented the varied programme on Friday the 29th May 8 - 10 pm, the night on which in normal circumstances we would have been selecting the next group of young artists in the YCAT public live finals at Wigmore Hall. 

By raising over £100,000 during the Covid-19 crisis, YCAT has sought to alleviate some of the immediate financial pressure, whilst continuing to promote their exceptional musicianship. 

During the evening show, Catherine presented exclusive live recordings by three current YCAT artists: cellist Jamal Aliyev, pianist Giuseppe Guarrera, and cellist Maciej Kulakowski. These performances, all of which took place at the Wigmore Hall, will be broadcast alongside label releases from past YCAT artists including Alison Balsom, the Heath Quartet, and Joanna Macgregor.

In case you missed it you can listen to the full YCAT programme on Classic FM's website.