Classic FM’s Rising Stars 2024: 30 young musicians reshaping classical music
14 March 2024, 7:56 | Updated: 14 March 2024, 14:07
Introducing the 30 incredible musicians under the age of 30 that we’re championing for 2024.
A new generation of musicians continues to evolve the classical music landscape. They come armed with incredible technique, creativity and musicality, and are already drawing millions to their music.
Every year we select Classic FM’s Rising Stars, shining a light on 30 young players who are doing something very special. Here are the names to watch in 2024...
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Deniz Sensoy – violin
Born in Turkey, Sensoy gave her first solo concert with the Çukurova State Symphony Orchestra aged eight.
“Deniz has a very bright musical personality, passion for music and great determination... She has a bright future.” These are the words of none other than legendary violin virtuoso Maxim Vengerov, and if this recent performance of Amy Beach is anything to go by, we’d have to agree.
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Hayoung Choi – cello
Born in 1998, Choi began her musical education in Seoul, South Korea, before moving to the UK, where she attended the Purcell School of Music. Last year she created a sensation with a stunning Haydn concerto, which won her the Queen Elisabeth Competition for Cello. She plays an instrument on loan from Florian Leonhard Fine Violins, made by Nicola Bergonzi in Cremona around 1785.
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Laura Lootens – guitar
Laura Lootens was born in 1999. Her passion for classical guitar was kindled when she took her very first guitar lesson at the age of eight. Ever since, she says she has found fulfilment by sharing what she terms as the ‘infinite variety of sonorities the guitar offers’.
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George Li – piano
This young American star pianist won the Silver Medal at the 2015 International Tchaikovsky Competition. Since then, he has performed with a host of the world’s top orchestras and conductors and made acclaimed recordings of virtuoso repertoire on Warner Classics.
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Laure Chan – violin
A star violinist and also a composer, top conductors are already talking of the power of Laure Chan’s musical communication. Her debut album Tribute to Bach was released in March 2021 and featured her own compositions alongside those of the Baroque master. Chan’s second album featuring the Schumann Violin Concerto was recorded at London’s iconic Abbey Road Studios.
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Juya Shin – conductor
One of the most exciting young conductors of today, Juya Shin has just been named one of the London Philharmonic Orchestra’s Fellow Conductors for 2024/25. The Korean-born star of the podium is now based in Germany with many saying she’s one to watch.
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Thomas Horeczko – composer
The Algerian-Ukrainian known as ‘Braths’ is a classical composer, producer and developer who is making waves with his evocative music and impressionistic soundscapes. His piano work Nuit d’été was released last month.
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Lucy Walker – composer
Cambridge-based Lucy Walker is one of the country’s brightest compositional voices. Her beautiful choral writing has been championed by The Chapel Choir of Pembroke College and conductor Anna Lapwood. As Composer in Residence at St Martin’s Voices, Lucy writes new commissions for performances at London’s iconic St Martin-in-the-Fields church.
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Alexander Malofeev – piano
One of the most talented young pianists around today, Alexander won the International Tchaikovsky Competition for Young Musicians aged 13 and has never looked back. He is the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra’s Artist in Residence for the 2023/24 season and has been thrilling audiences with his virtuosity as part of the prestigious residency.
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Ryan Corbett – accordion
Born in Glasgow in 1999, Ryan Corbett has been described as “one of Scotland’s most exciting young musicians” (The Scotsman). When he was 11, Ryan’s grandmother gave him a small accordion on which he taught himself to play Scottish traditional music. It’s a journey that would lead him to classical repertoire, but all with the natural, infectious joy of his wonderful instrument.
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Philipp Schupelius – cello
This Berlin-born cellist is in his early 20s and has already amassed an impressive array of competition wins and devotees. Philipp is currently studying at the Kronberg Academy. His debut album was recorded at the Beethoven House in Bonn and was a tribute to a musical hero, Catalan cello master Pablo Casals.
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Gabríel Ólafs – composer
The latest remarkable musician to come out of Iceland, this composer defines himself by his melodic storytelling and atmospheric arrangements, and his music always holds a connection to the volcanic island’s incredible geography and history. Gabríel is also co-founder of the Reykjavik Recording Orchestra, his country’s first dedicated orchestra performing for film, TV and video games.
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Andrzej Filończyk – baritone
One of the world’s rising star singers, this 29-year-old is very much one to watch in the opera world. In 2016 he won first prize and the award for Best Polish Voice in the Stanisław Moniuszko International Vocal Competition in Warsaw. He is also a former member of the International Opera Studio in Zurich Opera House, and a recipient of a number of awards and scholarships. This Rossini will show you why...
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Tim Posner – cello
This young cellist started playing his instrument at age eight. Tim Posner is a star soloist and one of the finest young chamber music players of today, with a very impressive future in store. When he’s not on solo duties with some of the UK and Europe’s most exciting orchestras, Tim is principal cellist of Amsterdam Sinfonietta.
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Alberto Navarra – flute
In spring 2022, the Italian flautist shot to woodwind stardom, winning the Carl Nielsen International Flute Competition. Later that year, Alberto joined the Berliner Philharmoniker as member of the prestigious Karajan Akademie, studying with world-leading French flute virtuoso Emmanuel Pahud.
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Chloe Rooke – conductor
Chloe Rooke came to international attention after winning the Contemporary Award at the first International Conducting Competition in Rotterdam in May 2022 and the Audience Prize at the Donatella Flick-LSO Conducting Competition in 2021. She is passionate about music’s role in bringing social transformation and is Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of Street Orchestra Live, the UK’s first street orchestra.
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Will Duerden – double bass
Double bassist Will Duerden is fast becoming one of the most sought-after artists of his generation. In demand as a soloist, chamber musician and orchestral leader, his growing international career spans four continents, showcasing the unique magic of his mighty instrument.
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Tarmo Peltokoski – conductor
Born in Vaasa to Finnish and Filipino parents, Tarmo Peltokoski began learning piano at age eight, and started studying conducting at 14. Since then, many of the major orchestras have seen his considerable talent. In October 2023, Peltokoski signed a recording contract with the always-star-hunting record label Deutsche Grammophon. This Mozart shows that star quality...
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Njioma Chinyere Grevious – violin
Njioma Chinyere Grevious is a graduate of The Juilliard School and a winner of its prestigious John Erskine Prize for scholastic and artistic achievement. She has appeared as star soloist for many orchestras and is a founding member of the Abeo Quartet.
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Sebastian Heindl – organ
There really must be no better place to start a journey in music other than as a member of the St Thomas Boys Choir in Leipzig, where Johann Sebastian Bach once was Cantor. Bach clearly made his impression, and Sebastian Heindl began his life as an organist and is now regarded as one of the world’s most exciting players. Here he is, returning to that home of Bach to play his incredible music.
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Charlotte Spruit – violin
This talented Dutch violinist began her violin studies at the age of four. Fast-forward 20 years and she is completing her Master’s degree at the Royal Academy of Music. As a soloist and chamber music specialist, Charlotte has played at the world’s finest concert halls, including the Concertgebouw, Wigmore Hall in London, and Hamburg’s Elbphilharmonie.
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Rob Burton – saxophone
British saxophonist Rob Burton is one of this nation’s most exciting young musicians. He has played with many of the UK’s leading orchestras and is known for bringing a unique flair to everything he plays. Having completed his studies at the Royal Academy of Music he then persued his Masters at Zürich University of the Arts before returning to the UK.
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Aaron Azunda Akugbo – trumpet
Born in 1998 and of Nigerian-Scottish descent, Aaron Azunda Akugbo is being tipped as a future leading exponent of his instrument. A graduate of the Royal Academy of Music and ex-principal trumpet of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, he cites Louis Armstrong as his biggest musical inspiration. You can’t go wrong there...
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Laurence Kilsby – tenor
Born in 1998, Laurence began his singing career as a boy treble with the Tewkesbury Abbey Schola Cantorum. He went on to study and sing at Royal College of Music, the Curtis Institute of Music and Académie de l’Opéra National de Paris, and is now regarded as one of the country’s finest tenor voices.
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Nathan Amaral – violin
Born and raised in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro where opportunities for young people are scarce, 12-year-old Nathan Amaral received a visit from a stranger one day that changed his life. The person at the door simply asked him, “Would you like to play the violin?” There began a journey in music that led to him just recently to being awarded with the Paul Roczek award at the Mozarteum University in Salzburg.
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Hayato Sumino – piano
One of the most exciting young musicians of Japan, Hayato Sumino was a semi-finalist at the prestigious 2021 International Chopin Piano Competition, and immediately became one to watch. He also performs his own music under the name of ‘Cateen’ on YouTube, with over 100 million views to his classically-inspired piano improvisations, recreations, and recreations. Here’s one of them...
Read more: Pianist plays 7 levels of ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’ with increasing virtuosity
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Simone El Oufir Pierini – piano
Born in Rome in 1996, pianist Simone El Oufir Pierini began studying music at the age of eight. At 18, he graduated from St. Cecilia Conservatory of Music, Rome with the highest honours. He loves exploring early piano music, with a historically informed approach and began his recording career with the works of Italian composer Luigi Cherubini and France’s Hélène de Montgeroult.
Read more: Hélène de Montgeroult – the French composer who played piano to save herself from the guillotine
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Julius Asal – piano
A “uniquely beautiful sound and special sonority”. That was the praise of great, late pianist Menahem Pressler when he hear this German youngster. In 2023, Deutsche Grammophon announced the exclusive signing with Julius Asal, and his first album is scheduled for release later this year.
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Alis Huws – harp
Alis Huws is the current Official Royal Harpist, bringing her musicality to important occasions of state, and offering moments of music on royal occasions, including at 10 Downing Street, Windsor Castle and St James’ Palace. But that’s just as important as her work in music education and advocacy – she recently embarked on a tour of 30 primary schools across rural Powys to celebrate 30 years of Live Music Now’s work in Wales.
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Hana Chang – violin
In 2023, Hana Chang was a prize-winner for the charity that does so much to identify and support the young classical stars of the future, the Young Classical Artists Trust. Hana is currently at Kronberg Academy with violin superstar Christian Tetzlaff, and is playing with many leading orchestras alongside her studies.