Meet the 2015 AYCA winners

The winners can be engaged by Making Music's 3000+ members - music clubs, amateur choirs and orchestras - at fixed fees and substantial subsidies, thanks to the generous funding by the Philip and Dorothy Green Music Trust. Artists gain valuable performing experience at the beginning of their careers and often forge lifelong relationships with groups all over the country, and voluntary music groups benefit from the substantial subsidy to book the best young soloists at an early stage in their professional careers.​

Charlotte Ashton – Flute

Currently in her final year at the Royal Academy of Music, Charlotte recently won the 2015 Royal Over-Seas League Wind, Brass and Percussion category, and has given recitals in venues across the country. She has played with the CBSO and WNO, and is currently on trial with the Hallé and for Principal Flute of Birmingham Royal Ballet.

Nazan Fikret – soprano

GSMD trained Nazan Fikret won the English Song Competition and Susan Longfield Competition 2012 and is currently studying privately with Yvonne Kenny. Engagements include Flora (Britten’s The Turn of the Screw) across Europe, Diane Disney in Philip Glass’s The Perfect American for ENO/Teatro Real and Fiordiligi (Mozart’s Cosi Fan Tutte) for RLPO. Recent and future roles include cover Queen of the Night for WNO and cover Wendy (Richard Ayres’ Peter Pan) for WNO and ROH.

Amy Green – saxophone

One of this generation’s most exciting saxophonists, Amy graduated with a Masters from the Royal College of Music. She is in high demand as both a soloist and an orchestral musician, performing at such venues as the Royal Festival Hall, Cadogan Hall and the Royal Albert Hall, and with the RLPO, RPO, EUYO and Birmingham Royal Ballet.

Savitri Grier – violin

Savitri is currently studying at the Guildhall School of Music. She won the Tunbridge Wells International Young Concert Artists Competition in 2010 and has attended festivals across Europe. She has performed across the UK and internationally as a recitalist and chamber musician and in 2014 Savitri graduated from Christ Church, Oxford, with First Class Honours.

Ella Rundle – cello

Ella studied at the Yehudi Menuhin School and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and completed her Masters degree at the Universität der Künste, Berlin, with Konstantin Heidrich. She was chosen for the Tillett Trust Young Artist Scheme (2013/2014) and has performed in venues such as Barbican Hall, Wigmore Hall, Purcell Room and at festivals in Europe and the U.S.

Jinah Shim – piano

Jinah is currently completing postgraduate studies at GSMD with pianists Martin Roscoe, Noriko Ogawa and Ronan O’Hora. Notable performances include Grieg’s Piano Concerto in Birmingham’s Symphony Hall and solo recitals around the UK, including Wigmore Hall and Steinway Hall. Jinah represented the UK at Stellenbosch Chamber Music Festival 2014 in South Africa.

Joanna Songi – soprano

Award-winning soprano Joanna Songi has worked with Glyndebourne Festival, Garsington Opera, and West Green Opera among others. She won first place in the Brooks-Van Der Pump English Song competition, and second place in the Maureen Lehane competition, Thelma King Awards and Sir Anthony Lewis Memorial Competition.