BBC Radio 3 has today announced the 11 performers joining the station’s New Generation Artists (NGA) talent development scheme September 2025. Joining the programme in its 25th anniversary year, the performers will remain on the scheme until December 2027 receiving vital support and performance opportunities.  

The performers joining the scheme this year are: the UK-based Astatine Trio (pianist Berniya Hamie, violinist Maja Horvat, and cellist Riya Hamie), Russian American soprano Erika Baikoff, British baritone Andrew Hamilton, the NOVO Quartet from Denmark (violinists Kaya Kato Møller and Nikolai Vasili Nedergaard, viola player Daniel Śledziński, and cellist Signe Ebstrup Bitsch), Austrian pianist Lukas Sternath and Ukranian clarinettist Oleg Shebeta-Dragan who was described, in the review of his debut album by Gramophone’s Mark Pullinger, as ‘adroit and full of character’. 

BBC Radio 3 commissioning editor for live music Emma Bloxham said: ‘It’s always an exciting moment when we reveal the names of those outstanding young musicians we’ve chosen to join the NGA family for the next two years. Each and every one of them brings something very special to the table, and I’ve absolutely no doubt their live concert performances and exclusive studio recordings will delight Radio 3 listeners. It’s a privilege to be involved with such talented young people at this stage in their careers, and we look forward to making great things happen together!’ 

Founded in 1999 and with a legacy of over 150 alumni, the BBC’s New Generation Artists scheme provides young musicians with performance opportunities at venues and festivals across the UK, plus regular broadcasts on BBC Radio 3 reaching across the European Broadcasting Union. The new NGAs will join the scheme’s 2024 cohort, who will remain on the scheme until December 2026. 

For more information, visit bbc.co.uk 

This article was originally written for Classical Music Magazine