The six artists – or ensembles – to join BBC Radio 3’s prestigious New Generation Artist Scheme have been named. 

They are: the Amatis Piano Trio from the Netherlands, Romanian cellist Andrei Ionita, British bass-baritone Ashley Riches, the Calidore Quartet from America, Norwegian violist Eivind Holtsmark Ringstad and Egyptian soprano Fatma Said.

Since its launch in 1999, the scheme – which offers members significant performance, broadcast and recording opportunities at an early stage of their career – has amassed an impressive list of alumni, including pianists Steven Osborne, Igor Levit, Paul Lewis and Benjamin Grosvenor, clarinetists Martin Fröst and Mark Simpson, viola player Maxim Rysanov, the Pavel Hass Quartet, violinist Ilya Gringolts, harpsichordist Mahan Esfahani, percussionist Colin Currie and baritone Benjamin Appl. The musicians join the scheme for two years.