Where are they now?

The steps to the Mid-Somerset platform are a well trodden path to success as the Festival never fails to notice and encourage excellence in music. This is evidenced by how many young award winners go on to enjoy impressive long term careers.

If you’re wondering how former Bath Young Musician winners are faring today, Mid-Somerset Festival Music Chair Janet Read has found some inspiring updates, via Google, about some of those who took the trophy home in previous years –

Danielle Jalowiecka (winner 2003) graduated with a first class degree in recorder performance from the Royal College of Music in London.  She continued her studies at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music where she had a number of works written for her by the  Australian composer, Ian Shanahan. She formed a recorder quartet, i Flautisti, which has performed in a number of venues. She is now primarily a newsreader and presenter on Radios 3 and 4.

Hannah Conway (winner 1992) is internationally recognised for her work with leading opera houses, orchestras and arts organisations, with 22 years of expertise as composer, presenter and artistic director working in eighteen countries. At the heart of her work is intense collaboration with diverse communities, including works for the BBC Singers, London Symphony Orchestra, Glyndebourne Opera, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, BBC Concert Orchestra and English National Opera. Dare To Dream (2019 ) and The Freedom Game (2015) both premiered at the Royal Albert Hall and Beautiful World (2016) won the Education Middle East prize. She was Artistic Director of Streetwise Opera, and has presented for BBC Radio 3.

Emil Huckle Kleve (winner 2005)  began playing the violin at an early age. In addition to winning both the Bristol Rotary and Bath Young Musician of the Year competitions he reached the semi-finals of the BBC Young Musician of the Year in 2005.  He gained a Bachelor degree with first class honours from the Royal Academy of Music, London, where he won the Mica Comberti prize for solo Bach and was selected to play for prominent artists including Maxim Vengerov, James Ehnes and Tasmin Little.  He continued his studies in Oslo at the Barratt Due Institute of Music. In 2014, during his final year of study, Emil successfully auditioned to join the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra as a permanent member, a position he currently holds.

James Gardiner-Bateman (1999) has been playing the saxophone since he was 9 years old. He grew up in Dundry, a small picturesque village in the Chew Valley, just outside the city of Bristol. James attended Exeter Cathedral School, Wells Cathedral School and Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester. He then went on to win a scholarship to study at London’s prestigious Royal Academy of Music where he gained a performance degree in Jazz studies.  Since graduating, James has been working and touring extensively with Grammy award-winning female Soul artist Joss Stone, as part of the three piece horn section he founded, “The Rhino Horns”. James was a core member of Maceo Parker’s trombonist, Dennis Rollins’ funk outfit “Badbone & Co” for two years whilst he was studying in London. He toured with Dennis throughout the UK and Europe and his introduction to the world famous Jazz club, Ronnie Scott’s started at this time – playing 3 night sell-out residencies at the club every year. Most recently, James has been fortunate enough to work with other UK Pop & Soul sensations: Mica Paris, Beverley Knight, Pixie Lott and Paloma Faith.

Proud of our alumni, the Mid-Somerset is always delighted to hear about former winners, runners up and competitors who are using their creative and performance talents directly in the arts, or as transferable skills in other industries.

Where will this year’s competitors be in a few years time?

 

Photo by Andrey Konstantinov on Unsplash