York Early Music International Artists Competition winner announced

Germany’s Protean Quartet were awarded the first prize at the biennial York Early Music International Artists Competition following a final held on 16 July as part of this year’s York Early Music Festival (YEMF).

The quartet beat six other international ensembles to win a professional recording contract from Linn Records, £1,000 cash prize, and opportunities to work with BBC Radio 3 and competition hosts National Centre for Early Music (NCEM) in York.

Linn Records producer and recording engineer Philip Hobbs said: ‘The last three years have been extraordinary and extremely challenging for all young musicians. The calibre of musicianship we have seen today is a tribute to their tenacity and dedication. The standard we see keeps going up and up and I would like to applaud all those who have taken part in this incredible day.’

Hobbs chaired a judging panel composed of BBC Radio 3 commissioning and programme editor Edward Blakeman, Réseau Européen de Musique Ancienne Albert Edelman president (2019 - 2022), violinist and YEMF lifetime achievement award-winner Catherine Mackintosh and harpsichordist and early music guest professor at the Royal Conservatoire The Hague, Barbara Willi

In the two days before the competition final, each of the seven finalist ensembles (ApotropaïK, Ensemble Augelletti, Harmos Winds, Liturina, Palisander, UnderStories and Protean Quartet) presented an informal recital under the guidance of YEMF artistic advisers John Bryan and Steven Devine. These recitals allowed the competitors to get to know the competition audience and performance space

The Protean Quartet, which comprises violinists Javier Aguilar and Edi Kotler, viola player Ricardo Gil and cellist Clara Rada, said: ‘We are so proud to receive this wonderful prize which will widen the opportunity for us to share our music far and wide. We were competing against some amazingly talented musicians and we are privileged to receive this great honour.’

ApotropaïK

The competition’s additional prizes, the EEEmerging + PRIZE, the Friends Of The York Early Music Festival Prize and the Cambridge Music Prize were awarded to French ensemble ApotropaïK (pictured above), while the £1,000 Prize For the most promising young artist was awarded to Italian ensemble UnderStories (pictured below).#

UnderStories

Competition highlights and music from the winner’s recital will be broadcast on BBC Radio 3's Early Music Show later this year.

You can find out more about York Early Music International Artists Competition here.

You can find out more about Protean Quartet here.