23 year old Georgian pianist, Giorgi Gigashvili is the latest winner of the Terence Judd-Hallé Award. The prize is given out annually and the recipient is chosen from members of the BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists programme which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year.

Gigashvili will receive a cash prize of £7,000 as well as performance opportunities with musicians from the Hallé, including a solo recital and a concerto performance with the Hallé at Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall.

Born in Tbilisi, Georgia, Gigashvili studied at the Tbilisi State Conservatory and has previously won prizes in Spain, Italy, Israel and Zurich. He released his debut album Meeting My Shadow in April 2023.

The prize winner said: ‘When you are at the beginning of your musical career, you are so incredibly happy and grateful for support and awards like this. I feel very honoured, it motivates me to continue and makes me happy. I also look forward to playing with the outstanding Hallé Orchestra and getting to know its musicians better. I know about the history and the tragic life of Terence and after receiving this award I became immensely touched with the feeling that he started breathing in me and now I have a duty to fulfil his ideas and dreams.’

The Terence Judd-Hallé Award honours the work and life of Terence Judd, who died in 1979 at the age of 22. The award has been presented in association with the Hallé since 1982, and was relaunched in 2021 in partnership with the BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artist scheme.

Sam Jackson, the BBC Radio 3 and Proms controller said ‘Our partnership with the Hallé has been crucial, and we congratulate Giorgi Gigashvili on being the next recipient of the Terence Judd-Hallé Award, following in the footsteps of Tom Borrow. The ongoing link between the New Generation Artists scheme and the Hallé will create further opportunities for collaboration with outstanding musicians, providing memorable experiences for audiences both in the concert hall and on BBC Radio 3.’