RCM musicians made YCAT Artists

Tuesday 21 May 2013

RCM violinist Ben Baker and baritone Morgan Pearse have been announced as Young Classical Artists Trust (YCAT) Artists 2013.

Ben and Morgan were selected for representation by YCAT following their performances at the YCAT Public Final Auditions at Wigmore Hall on 17 May. They were among just five artists picked from over 100 musicians who took part in the preliminary and semi-final rounds of the auditions.

This exceptional achievement adds to a string of recent successes for both these RCM musicians. Ben, an ABRSM Scholar at the RCM studying with Natasha Boyarsky, was recently awarded the RPS Emily Anderson Prize, and won the First Prize and the Audience Prize at the Windsor Festival International String Competition. Morgan, the RCM’s inaugural Joan Sutherland Scholar studying with Russell Smythe, was recently awarded top prize in the Singers Section of the ROSL Music Competition.

The eight finalists competing in this year’s YCAT Final Auditions also included RCM soprano Anna Rajah and RCM alumnus Manus Noble, a guitarist.

YCAT provides a unique stepping stone for exceptional young artists who have the potential for international performing careers. Previous YCAT Artists include RCM alumni guitarist Morgan Szymanski, soprano Elizabeth Watts, and the Sacconi Quartet.