BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists scheme (also known as the NGA scheme) was launched in 1999 by Adam Gatehouse as part of the BBC's commitment to young musical talent.New Generation Artists. Online resource, accessed 26 August 2026
Overview Every Autumn, six or seven artists or groups who are on the threshold of an international career are invited to join the scheme, which offers them unique opportunities to develop their talents. These include concerts in London and around the UK, appearances and recordings with the BBC performing groups, studio recordings for BBC Radio 3 and, last but not least, the possibility of appearing at the BBC Proms.'About the NGAs' New Generation Artists BBC website. Online resource, accessed 26 August 2026.
From time to time questions are asked about the lack of detail concerning the NGA recruitment process, for example: a scheme [...] with no transparency how the candidates are selected [...] it seems that this is being put by the wayside in favour of a vapid internationalist approach which serves only those who already have a big profile and international connections.James Earlbridge. 'Comment of the Day: Why won't the BBC back British artists?'. Slipped Disc (5 May 2021)
Participants 2025-2027 Astatine Trio (UK) Erika Baikoff soprano (US) Andrew Hamilton baritone (UK) NOVO Quartet (Denmark) Oleg Shebeta-Dragan clarinet (Ukraine) Lukas Sternath piano (Austria) 2024-2026 Julius Asal piano (Germany)Julius Asal. Online resource, accessed 29 August 2026 Hana Chang violin (US)Hana Chang violin (US)]. Online resource, accessed 29 August 2026 Sterling Elliott cello (US)Sterling Elliott cello (US)]. Online resource, accessed 29 August 2026 Elizaveta Ivanova flute (Russia) Kleio Quartet (UK)Kleio Quartet (UK)]. Online resource, accessed 29 August 2026 Emma Rawicz jazz saxophone (UK) Santiago Sánchez, tenor (Uruguay)https://www.santiagosanchez.de/ Santiago Sánchez, tenor (Uruguay)]. Online resource, accessed 29 August 2026 2023–2025 James Atkinson, baritone (UK)James Atkinson, baritone (UK). Online resource, accessed 29 August 2026 Chaos String Quartet (Europe)Chaos String Quartet (Europe). Online resource, accessed 29 August 2026 Alim Beisembayev] piano (Kazakhstan)Alim Beisembayev, piano (Kazakhstan). Online resource, accessed 29 August 2026 Giorgi Gigashvili] piano (Georgia)Giorgi Gigashvili piano (Georgia)]. Online resource, accessed 29 August 2026 Niamh O'Sullivan mezzo-soprano (Republic of Ireland) Niamh O'Sullivan mezzo-soprano (Republic of Ireland) Michael Pandya, collaborative piano (UK)Michael Pandya, collaborative piano (UK). Online resource, accessed 29 August 2026 Johanna Wallroth soprano (Sweden) 2022–2024 Fergus McCreadie jazz piano (UK) Geneva Lewis violin (New Zealand) Hugh Cutting, countertenor (UK)Hugh Cutting, countertenor (UK). Online resource, accessed 29 August 2026 Leonkoro Quartet (Germany) Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha soprano (South Africa) Ryan Corbett, accordion (UK)https://www.ryancorbett.com/ Ryan Corbett, accordion (UK)]. Online resource, accessed 29 August 2026 Santiago Cañón-Valencia, cello (Colombia)Santiago Cañón-Valencia, cello (Colombia). Online resource, accessed 29 August 2026 Leonkoro Quartet (Germany) 2021–2023 Helen Charlston, mezzo-soprano (UK)Helen Charlston, mezzo-soprano (UK). Online resource, accessed 29 August 2026 Konstantin Krimmel, baritone (Germany)Konstantin Krimmel, baritone (Germany). Online resource, accessed 29 August 2026 Kunal Lahiry, collaborative piano (Indian-American)Kunal Lahiry, collaborative piano (Indian-American). Online resource, accessed 29 August 2026 María Dueñas violin (Spain) Mithras Trio, piano trio (UK)Mithras Trio, piano trio (UK). Online resource, accessed 29 August 2026 Tom Borrow, piano (British-Israeli) Tom Borrow, piano (British-Israeli). Online resource, accessed 29 August 2026 William Thomas, bass (UK)William Thomas, bass (UK). Online resource, accessed 29 August 2026 2019–2022 Eric Lu piano (United States) Alexander Gadjiev piano (Slovenia/Italy) Timothy Ridout viola (UK) Consone Quartet (UK) Consone Quartet (UK). Online resource, accessed 29 August 2026 Johan Dalene, violin (Sweden)[https://www.johandalene.com/?about Johan Dalene, violin (Sweden). Online resource, accessed 29 August 2026 Rob Luft jazz guitar (UK) Ema Nikoslovska, mezzo-soprano (Macedonia/Canada)Ema Nikoslovska, mezzo-soprano (Macedonia/Canada). Online resource, accessed 29 August 2026 2018–2020 Alessandro Fisher, tenor (UK) Alessandro Fisher tenor (UK) Anastasia Kobekina cello (Russia) Aris Quartet (Germany)Aris Quartet (Germany)] Elisabeth Brauss piano (Germany) James Newby, baritone (UK)James Newby, baritone (UK) Katharina Konradi soprano (Kyrgyzstan) 2017–2019 Quatuor Arod (France)Quatuor Arod (France). Online resource, accessed 29 August 2026 Aleksey Semenenko violin (Ukraine) Mariam Batsashvili piano (Georgia) Simon Höfele, trumpet (Germany) Simon Höfele, trumpet (Germany). Online resource, accessed 29 August 2026 Catriona Morison mezzo-soprano (Scotland) Thibaut Garcia guitar (France) Mullov-Abbado, jazz bass (UK)Misha Mullov-Abbado, jazz bass (UK). Online resource, accessed 29 August 2026 2016–2018 Amatis Piano Trio (Netherlands) Andrei Ioniță (cello - Romania) Ashley Riches (bass-baritone - UK) Calidore Quartet (United States)Calidore Quartet (United States) Eivind Holtsmark Ringstad, (viola - Norway)Eivind Holtsmark Ringstad (viola - Norway) Fatma Said (soprano - Egypt) 2015–2017 Annelien Van Wauwe (clarinet – Belgium) Beatrice Rana (piano – Italy) lker Arcayürek, (tenor – Turkey)Ilker Arcayürek (tenor – Turkey)] Kathryn Rudge, (mezzo-soprano – UK)Kathryn Rudge, (mezzo-soprano – UK) Laura Jurd (jazz trumpet – UK) Peter Moore (trombone – UK) Van Kuijk Quartet (France)Van Kuijk Quartet (France) 2014–2016 Alec Frank-Gemmill, (French horn - UK)Alec Frank-Gemmill (French horn - UK)] Armida Quartet (Germany) Benjamin Appl (baritone - Germany) Esther Yoo (violin - US/Korea/Belgium) Narek Hakhnazaryan (cello - Armenia) Pavel Kolesnikov (piano - Russia) 2013–2015 Kitty Whately, (mezzo-soprano - UK)Kitty Whately, (mezzo-soprano - UK) Olena Tokar (soprano - Ukraine) Lise Berthaud (viola - France) Louis Schwizgebel (piano - Switzerland) Zhang Zuo (piano - China) Danish String Quartet (Denmark) 2012–2014 Mark Simpson (clarinet - UK) Robin Tritschler, (tenor - Ireland)Robin Tritschler, (tenor - Ireland) Elena Urioste (violin - United States)https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/artists/3c7bb718-7662-42e9-8b2f-abc47a42074e Elena Urioste (violin - United States)] Leonard Elschenbroich (cello - Germany)Leonard Elschenbroich (cello - Germany) Sean Shibe (guitar - UK)L the scheme's first guitarist. Apollon Musagete (string quartet - Poland)Apollon Musagete (string quartet - Poland) Trish Clowes (jazz saxophone - UK)Trish Clowes (jazz saxophone - UK) 2011–2013 Christian Ihle Hadland (piano - Norway)Christian Ihle Hadland (piano - Norway) Clara Mouriz (mezzo-soprano - Spain)Clara Mouriz (mezzo-soprano - Spain) Signum Quartet (string quartet - Germany) Ruby Hughes (soprano - UK) Ruby Hughes (soprano - UK) Jennifer Johnston (mezzo-soprano - UK) Igor Levit (piano - Germany) Veronika Eberle (violin - Germany) 2010–2012 Benjamin Grosvenor (piano - UK) Ben Johnson] (tenor - UK)Ben Johnson (tenor - UK) Veronika Eberle (violin - Germany) Alexandra Soumm (violin - France) Nicolas Altstaedt (cellist - Germany) Shabaka Hutchings (jazz reeds - UK): the first jazz reeds player to join the scheme. Escher String Quartet (string quartet - United States) 2009–2011 Atos Piano Trio (piano trio - Germany) Khatia Buniatishvili (piano - Georgia) Malin Christensson (soprano - Sweden) Elias Quartet (string quartet - UK)Elias Quartet Henk Neven (baritone - Netherlands) Francesco Piemontesi (piano - Switzerland) 2008–2010 Meta4 Quartet (Finland) Jennifer Pike (violin - UK) Tai Murray (violin - United States) Daniela Lehner (mezzo-soprano - Austria) Giuliano Sommerhalder (trumpet - Italy) Andreas Brantelid (cello) Mahan Esfahani (harpsichord - United States): joined as the scheme's first artist playing an early instrument. Tom Arthurs (jazz trumpet) 2007–2009 Allan Clayton (tenor - UK) Ingrid Fliter (piano - Argentina) Pavel Haas Quartet (Czech) Maxim Rysanov (viola - Ukraine) Elizabeth Watts (soprano - UK) Shai Wosner (piano - Israel) 2006–2008 Aronowitz Ensemble (UK) Sharon Bezaly (flute - Israel) Ronan Collett (baritone - UK) Ébène Quartet (string quartet - UK) Danjulo Ishizaka (cello - Germany) Eduard Kunz (piano - Russia) Gwilym Simcock (jazz piano - UK): the first jazz artist to join the scheme. 2005–2007 Christianne Stotijn (mezzo-soprano - Netherlands) Cédric Tiberghien (piano - France) Martin Helmchen (piano - Germany) Alina Ibragimova (violin - Russia) Andrew Kennedy (tenor - UK) Alexei Ogrintchouk (oboe - Russia) Psophos Quartet (France) 2004–2006 Christian Poltera (cello - Switzerland) Christine Rice (mezzo-soprano - UK) Trio Ondine (Piano Trio - Denmark) Alison Balsom (trumpet - UK) Antoine Tamestit (viola - France) Royal String Quartet (Poland) Andrew Kennedy (tenor - UK) 2003–2005 Llyr Williams (piano - UK) Artemis Quartet (Germany) Ailish Tynan (soprano - Ireland) Martin Fröst (clarinet - Sweden) Colin Currie (percussion - UK) 2002–2004 Jonathan Lemalu (bass-baritone - New Zealand) Jonathan Biss (piano - United States) Claudio Bohorquez (cello) Janine Jansen (violin - Netherlands) The Galliard Ensemble (UK) Sally Matthews (soprano - UK) 2001–2003 Simon Trpceski (piano - Macedonia) Alice Coote (mezzo-soprano - UK) Ilya Gringolts (violin) Li-Wei Qin (cello - Australia/China) Karol Szymanowski Quartet (Germany) Lawrence Power (viola - UK) 2000–2002 Alexander Melnikov (piano - Russia) Ashley Wass (piano - UK) Kungsbacka Piano Trio Ronald Van Spaendonck (clarinet - Belgium) Emma Bell (soprano - UK) James Rutherford (bass-baritone) 1999–2001 Lisa Batiashvili (violin - Georgia) Alban Gerhardt (cello - Germany) Steven Osborne (piano - UK) Paul Lewis (piano - UK) Belcea Quartet (UK) Jerusalem Quartet (Israel) François-Frédéric Guy (piano - France) Natalie Clein (cello - UK) Lisa Milne (soprano - UK) Christopher Maltman (baritone - UK) Emily Beynon (flute - UK) Leopold String Trio (UK)
BBC Young Musician of the Year Several New Generation Artists had preiously been BBC Young Musician of the Year winners or finalists.. Winners Natalie Clein (cello) – 1994 Guy Johnston (cello) – 2000 (joined NGA scheme as part of Aronowitz Ensemble) Jennifer Pike (violin) – 2002 Mark Simpson (clarinet) – 2006 Peter Moore (trombone) – 2008 Finalists Colin Currie (percussion) – 1994 Alison Balsom (trumpet) – 1998 Magnus Johnston (violin) – 1998 (joined NGA scheme as part of Aronowitz Ensemble) Tom Poster (piano) – 2000 (joined NGA scheme as part of Aronowitz Ensemble) Benjamin Grosvenor (piano) – 2004
10th Anniversary events To celebrate the tenth anniversary of the New Generation Artists scheme, over fifty New Generation Artists past and present performed 12 concerts during the bank holiday weekend Saturday 29th - Monday 31 August at the Cadogan Hall in London, as part of the 2009 BBC Proms.
Collaborations As part of the scheme Radio 3 has also collaborated with record companies, including nine co-production CDs with EMI Debut series, three of which (Belcea Quartet, Simon Trpceski and Jonathan Lemalu) have won Gramophone Awards for the best Debut CD of the year. There have also been co-productions with Harmonia Mundi, Decca, BIS, Sony Classical, Onyx, Signum and Basho Music, while a number of New Generation Artists have also featured on BBC Music Magazine cover CDs.
References
External links Official BBC website Youtube playlist of performances and interviews