Philip and Dorothy Green Young Artists

The Philip and Dorothy Green Young Artists (PDGYA) awards have helped kick start the careers of artists including Steven Isserlis, Elizabeth Watts and Craig Ogden, by providing up-and-coming classical musicians with performing opportunities with Making Music’s 3,300+ group members.

In the current economic climate, where arts funding is scarcer than ever, it can be tough for amateur music groups to engage high-quality soloists for their concerts. The £150 for soloists and £250 for accompanied artists subsidy we provide makes it realistic for our members to book these talented musicians at the start of their careers, who in turn get crucial real-world performance experience and opportunities to raise their profile.

2018 winners

Lewis Banks - saxophone

Scottish saxophonist Lewis Banks studied at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland where he won most major prizes and was awarded full marks in his final undergraduate recital, graduating with a Bachelor of Music with Honours (First Class). In the same year, while still an undergraduate student, Lewis appeared with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra as soloist in Jacques Ibert’s Concertino da Camera. Lewis has since continued his masters studies at the Conservatoire, during which time he became a Yeoman of the Worshipful Company of Musicians. In March 2019, Lewis will appear in recital at the Southbank Centre's Purcell Room.

View Lewis' repertoire
 

Emma Halnan - Flute

Emma first came to prominence when she won the BBC Young Musician of the Year's Woodwind award. She has performed worldwide and played concerti with orchestras including BBC NOW, the EU Chamber Orchestra and London Mozart Players. Emma studied at the Royal Academy of Music, where her flute-viola-harp trio held a prestigious fellowship from 2014-16. Recitals with pianist Daniel King Smith include St. David’s Hall, Gower Festival and La Côte International Flute Festival. Emma has worked with the EU Youth Orchestra (principal flute), BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra (guest principal) and English National Opera (guest piccolo). Emma is a City Music Foundation artist.

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Catriona Hewitson - soprano

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Toby Hughes -  double bass

Toby's aim is to bring as much largely unheard bass repertoire to as wide an audience as possible. In 2011 he took time out from his studies at the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) to study with Matthew McDonald, Principal Bass of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. Toby graduated from the RNCM in 2015. Awards include the 2013 Chandos Orchestra 'Young Musician of the Year', the string section of the 2014 Royal Over-Seas League (ROSL) Competition (the first double bassist ever to do so) and in 2016 he won the Bromsgrove International Competition. His recital engagements include appearances at the Wigmore Hall, St-Martin-in-the-Fields, Edinburgh Festival and at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London, both as part of the ROSL winners platforms. 

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Alexandra Lomeiko -  Violin

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Ugnius Pauliukonis - piano

A leading pianist of Lithuania’s new generation of musicians, Ugnius has been performing professionally since the age of 6. Prize-winner of multiple piano competitions, including the Royal Nothern College of Music Gold Medal and Silver Medal from the Worshipful Musicians Company for excellence in performance, Ugnius has worked with many well-known musicians of the musical world, such as Lang Lang, Jean Efflam-Bavouzet, Matti Raekalio, Stephen Hough, Sir Harrison Birtwistle, Eduardo Delgado and many others. As a solo pianist, he has performed with Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra, Kaunas State Symphony, and the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra.

View Ugnius' repertoire
 

Find out how to book each of the Young Artists in the latest Selected Artists guide

Selected Artists Guide
Find out how to apply as an Artist

Previous winners