Guildhall School announces 2024 Gold Medal Finalists
Guildhall School announces finalists for its most prestigious music prize: The Gold Medal
Wednesday 1 May at 7pm, Barbican Hall
Guildhall School of Music & Drama is pleased to announce the finalists for its most prestigious prize for musicians: the Gold Medal. The prize is awarded to instrumentalists and singers in alternate years. In 2024, the instrumentalists take centre stage, and the finalists are: harpist Heather Brooks, clarinettist Kosuke Shirai and double bassist Strahinja Mitrović.
On Wednesday 1 May each finalist will perform a concerto with the Guildhall Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Jonathan Bloxham in front of an audience at Barbican Hall.
This year’s judges are Guildhall School’s Vice-Principal and Director of Music Armin Zanner, Chief Executive of Britten Pears Arts Roger Wright CBE, Director of Maestro Arts Emma Sweetland and Barbican’s newly appointed Head of Music Helen Wallace.
The finalists have chosen a variety of repertoire for the final, including Ginastera’s Harp Concerto performed by Heather Brooks; Copland’s Clarinet Concerto performed by Kosuke Shirai; and Nino Rota’s Divertimento concertante for double bass performed by Strahinja Mitrovic.
The Gold Medal award was founded and endowed by Sir H. Dixon Kimber in 1915. Since 1950 it has been open to singers and instrumentalists in alternate years. Previous winners include Jacqueline du Pré OBE (1960), Tasmin Little CBE (1986) and Sir Bryn Terfel CBE (1989).
Recent Gold Medal winners are forging impressive careers. Winner of the 2022 Gold Medal, Stephanie Tang is currently undertaking a number of engagements across the UK and enjoying collaborations as a chamber musician with Guildhall School’s award-winning Paddington Trio. Soohong Park, winner of the Gold Medal in 2020, continues to perform internationally and has begun to explore composition which has seen him earn a prize from the Jeju World Cultural Preservation Society. Last year’s winner, mezzo soprano Alexandra Achillea Pouta continues to explore music through improvisation and collaboration, and has been Artist in Residence at Britten Pears Arts along with composer Thomas Fournil.
The Gold Medal Final takes place on Wednesday 1 May at 7pm in Barbican Hall. Tickets are £14–£25 (£12 concessions) available from the Barbican Box Office. Priority booking opens for Guildhall Circle members at 10am on Friday 1 March. General booking opens on Tuesday 12 March.