Some Past Winners

Douglas Boyd Oboist and Conductor

Wind section TWIYCA winner in 1980. A founding member of the Chamber Orchestra of Europe (COE), he was its principal oboist from 1981 to 2002. During this time he developed an interest in conducting, his first mentors being Claudio Abbado and Nikolaus Harnoncourt. In 2001, Boyd became music director of the Manchester Camerata, his first major conducting post.

Anne Sofie von Otter – Mezzo-Soprano

TWIYCA winner in 1982, she made her operatic début in 1983 with the Basel Opera as Alcina in Haydn's Orlando paladino. She is considered one of the finest singers of her generation and is sought after by many of the major conductors, orchestras, opera and recording companies of the. In 2001 she released an album with Elvis Costello, for which she won an Edison Award.

Lorraine McAslan - Violinist

Strings section TWIYCA winner in 1982, she has shared the concert platform with many of Britain's greatest orchestras, including the London Symphony, London Philharmonic and English Chamber Orchestra. A committed chamber musician, Lorraine is a popular performer at festivals throughout the U.K. including Aldeburgh, Bath and Cheltenham

Michael Cox - Flautist

Wind section TWIYCA winner in 1983. As a soloist and chamber musician he has recorded for Sony, Naxos, EMI and the BBC. Recent tours and recordings include collaborations with Murray Perahia (tours of the USA and Italy and a Bach CD), Sir James Galway and the Magini String Quartet. Michael Cox is currently principal flute of the BBC Symphony Orchestra.

Paul Lewis - Pianist

Currently President of the Tunbridge Wells International Young Concert Artists Competition. Joint TWIYCA winner in 1994, and since described as a “vituoso pianist”, Paul Lewis has played in most of the prestigious venues, and various festivals, around the world with many notable orchestras and conductors. He performed all the Beethoven piano sonatas on tour in the USA and Europe between 2005 and 2007 seasons, in parallel with his complete recording of the cycle for Harmonia Mundi. Every one of Lewis's Beethoven Piano Sonatas CD series (four in all) from Harmonia Mundi has been included in Gramophone magazine's "Editor's Choice", and in August 2008, volume 4 of the series was awarded Gramophone's "Best Instrumental" recording and "Best Recording of the Year". In 2000 he became a Professor of Piano at the Royal Academy of Music in London.

Simon Haram – Saxophonist

Joint TWIYCA winner in 1994, Simon is much sought after as a recitalist and ensemble player, appearing with several well known groups and all the London Orchestras. Professor of Saxophone at the Guildhall for over 10 years, he was appointed Principal Saxophone of the London Sinfonietta in 1997. He is currently Visiting Professor of Saxophone at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music. Picture by courtesy of Martin Elliot

Martyna Jatkauskaite – Pianist

TWIYCA winner in 2006, Martyna went on to win the Jaques Samuel Competition, and appeared at the Royal Festival Hall after winning the Martin Musical Scholarship. “She has proved herself as a promising new talent following many critically acclaimed recitals, including performances at the Wigmore and Cadogan Halls”. (Guildhall School of Music and Drama).

Sasha Grynyuk – Pianist

Winner of the 2008 TWIYCA Competition, and ten other international competitions. Sasha was born in Kiev, studied at the National Music Academy of Ukraine and later, with with Ronan O’Hora, at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London where he was the only pianist in more than a decade to win their prestigious Gold Medal - previously won by artists such as Jacqueline Du Pre and Bryn Terfel.