Young Concert Artists Trust
Encyclopedia
Young Concert Artists' Trust (YCAT) is a charity which identifies, supports, nurtures and promotes outstanding young classical musicians based in the United Kingdom.
Set up in 1984, YCAT provides a unique stepping stone for exceptional young artists who have the potential for international performing careers. Introducing these artists both in the UK and abroad, YCAT brings high quality classical performances to as wide a public as possible. YCAT is totally reliant upon the generosity of individuals, trusts and foundations, and currently receives no public subsidy.
YCAT provides its young artists with a secure management base. By offering advice, instruction and guidance, they educate the artists in strategic and long term planning, both musically and professionally. YCAT aims to hands the artists on to suitable commercial management within a three to five year period.
To present the artists to as wide a public as possible, YCAT promotes a number of high profile annual presentation concerts at such venues as Wigmore Hall and Bridgewater Hall, Manchester.
YCAT holds annual auditions to identify exciting new talent who could benefit from the charity's work. This rigorous selection procedure culminates in a Public Final at Wigmore Hall in May.
In addition to its services to young musicians at the beginning of their professional careers, YCAT has, since 1994, in a unique arrangement with the BBC, been advising the finalists of the BBC Young Musician Competition. Several of these musicians have gone on to audition to become YCAT artists
YCAT alumni include the Belcea Quartet
, Leopold String Trio, the violist
Philip Dukes, cellist Li-Wei Qin, double bass
ist Dominic Seldis
and violin
ists So-Ock Kim, Laurent Korcia
and Thomas Gould.
Set up in 1984, YCAT provides a unique stepping stone for exceptional young artists who have the potential for international performing careers. Introducing these artists both in the UK and abroad, YCAT brings high quality classical performances to as wide a public as possible. YCAT is totally reliant upon the generosity of individuals, trusts and foundations, and currently receives no public subsidy.
YCAT provides its young artists with a secure management base. By offering advice, instruction and guidance, they educate the artists in strategic and long term planning, both musically and professionally. YCAT aims to hands the artists on to suitable commercial management within a three to five year period.
To present the artists to as wide a public as possible, YCAT promotes a number of high profile annual presentation concerts at such venues as Wigmore Hall and Bridgewater Hall, Manchester.
YCAT holds annual auditions to identify exciting new talent who could benefit from the charity's work. This rigorous selection procedure culminates in a Public Final at Wigmore Hall in May.
In addition to its services to young musicians at the beginning of their professional careers, YCAT has, since 1994, in a unique arrangement with the BBC, been advising the finalists of the BBC Young Musician Competition. Several of these musicians have gone on to audition to become YCAT artists
YCAT alumni include the Belcea Quartet
Belcea Quartet
The Belcea Quartet is a string quartet, formed in 1994, under the leadership of violinist Corina Belcea.-History:The quartet was formed while its members were studying at the Royal College of Music in London. Whilst there, they were coached by the Chilingirian Quartet...
, Leopold String Trio, the violist
Viola
The viola is a bowed string instrument. It is the middle voice of the violin family, between the violin and the cello.- Form :The viola is similar in material and construction to the violin. A full-size viola's body is between and longer than the body of a full-size violin , with an average...
Philip Dukes, cellist Li-Wei Qin, double bass
Double bass
The double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2...
ist Dominic Seldis
Dominic Seldis
Dominic Seldis is a British double bass soloist and principal double bass of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra.- Biography :...
and violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ists So-Ock Kim, Laurent Korcia
Laurent Korcia
Laurent Korcia is a French violinist who studied at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris. After receiving a Premier Prix from the Conservatoire, he won the Paganini Competition in Genoa, a Grand Prix at the Jacques Thibaud Competition, the Premier Grand Prix at the international...
and Thomas Gould.