BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists scheme


BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists scheme was launched in 1999 by Adam Gatehouse as part of the BBC's commitment to young musical talent.
Each autumn six or seven young artists at the beginning of careers on the national and international music scenes join the scheme for a two-year period. Since 2006 a jazz artist has also been invited every other year. The artists are given performance opportunities, including Radio 3 studio recordings, appearances and recordings with the BBC Orchestras and appearances at several music festivals, including the Cheltenham Music Festival and the BBC Proms. They also regularly appear at the Edinburgh International Festival, Aldeburgh Festival, East Neuk Festival, Gregynog Festival, London Festival of Baroque Music and the York [Early Music Festival]. Artists also appear at London's Wigmore Hall in the Radio 3 Lunchtime Concert series, as well as at the Sage Gateshead and other UK concert venues.
As part of the scheme Radio 3 has also collaborated with record companies, including nine co-production CDs with EMI Debut series, three of which have won Gramophone Awards for the best Debut CD of the year. There have also been co-productions with Harmonia Mundi, Decca, BIS, Sony Classical, Onyx, Signum and Basho Music, while a number of New Generation Artists have also featured on BBC Music Magazine cover CDs.

2024–2026

  • piano
  • violin
  • cello
  • Elizaveta Ivanova flute
  • Emma Rawicz jazz saxophone
  • tenor

2023–2025

2022–2024

2021–2023

  • mezzo-soprano
  • baritone
  • collaborative piano
  • María Dueñas violin
  • piano trio
  • piano
  • bass

2019–2022

2018–2020

2017–2019

2016–2018

2015–2017

2014–2016

2013–2015

2012–2014

2011–2013

2010–2012

2009–2011

2008–2010

2007–2009

2006–2008

2005–2007

2004–2006

2003–2005

2002–2004

2001–2003

2000–2002

1999–2001

Specialist artists

In 2006 Welsh pianist Gwilym Simcock was invited as the first jazz artist to join the New Generation Artists scheme. This continues every other year with jazz trumpeter Tom Arthurs joining in 2008 and jazz reeds player Shabaka Hutchings in 2010.
In 2008 Iranian harpsichordist Mahan Esfahani joined as the scheme's first artist playing an early instrument, though he has also made a serious mark as an interpreter of 20th-century music and newly commissioned compositions.
On 26 September 2012 seven new artists were announced which included the scheme's first guitarist Sean Shibe.

Young Musician of the Year relationship

Several New Generation Artists are also former participants in the BBC Young Musician of the Year competition.
;Winners
;Finalists

10th Anniversary weekend

To celebrate the tenth anniversary of the New Generation Artists scheme, over fifty New Generation Artists past and present performed 12 concerts during the bank holiday weekend Saturday 29th - Monday 31 August at the Cadogan Hall in London, as part of the 2009 BBC Proms.