RNCM selects 2023 IAD artists
We’re delighted to announce the four performers chosen to undertake the RNCM International Artist Diploma.
Commencing in September, violinist Roman Lytwyniw, violist Wenhan Jiang, and pianists Tyler Hay and Yuanfan Yang will spend one year studying for the prestigious qualification, intended for artists on the cusp of international careers.
Through intensive tuition and specialist classes, the selected artists will receive advanced musical training to the highest level in performance, honing their artistic, technical, presentation and communication skills. They will also expand their recital and concerto repertory and benefit from exciting opportunities both at the College and externally.
Dr David Horne, Head of our Graduate School, said: ‘We are absolutely thrilled to welcome such a high calibre of performers onto the 2023/24 International Artist Diploma programme. Roman, Wenhan, Tyler and Yuanfan will have incredible opportunities to refine their skills during the year, performing concertos with the BBC Philharmonic and giving RNCM recitals as part of our public performance programme.’
About the Artists
Ukrainian/British violinist, Roman Lytwyniw, is a versatile musician who likes to seek out opportunities which allow him to explore the expressive capabilities of the violin. He formed and led Ensemble7 on an International tour with guitarist Miloš Karadaglič, performing for the BBC and ClassicFM in venues such as Snape Maltings and Dubai Opera House. He has also performed with Lawrence Power and Collegium, Royal Northern Sinfonia as Associate Leader and other chamber orchestras across the UK. He has worked with the Doric and London Haydn Quartets, Anthony Marwood, Philippe Graffin and Kolja Blacher.
Chinese violist Wenhan Jiang is currently undertaking his role as section leader of the Ulster Orchestra. He graduated from the Royal Academy of Music under Paul Silverthorne. As a concert performer Wenhan is working on expanding music for the viola, transcribing music from other instruments and working closely with living composers. He has been awarded first prize in the Theodore Holland Viola Competition and third prize at the Oskar Nedbal Competition. He has appeared at festivals all over the world, including Britten-Pears Young Artist Programme, Pacific Music Festival, Encuentro Santander, and Lucerne Festival.
Tyler Hay studied with Graham Scott and Frank Wibaut at the RNCM and with Niel Immelman and Gordon Fergus-Thompson at the RCM. He has performed Rachmaninoff’s second Sonata at Wigmore Hall, Scriabin’s fifth Sonata at the Purcell Room and Ravel’s Concerto for Left Hand Alone at the Queen Elizabeth Hall. In 2016, Tyler won first prize in the keyboard section of the Royal Over-Seas League Competition and in addition to winning the RNCM’s Gold Medal, also won first prize in the Liszt Society Competition. He competed in the final stages of the Leeds International Piano Competition in 2021 and won first prize in the Dudley International Piano Competition in 2022. CDs of Liszt, John Ogdon and Kalkbrenner are available on Piano Classics/Brilliant Classics.
Yuanfan Yang is fast establishing himself as one of the most interesting and distinctive musical voices of today. An award-winning pianist, composer, and improviser Yuanfan’s performances of Schumann and Liszt have been compared to the young Ashkenazy by International Piano Magazine, and his own compositions have been praised for their ‘soulful poignancy’ by The Observer. A first-class graduate of the Royal College of Music and Royal Academy of Music, Yuanfan has performed extensively with orchestras in the UK and worldwide, including the Sydney Symphony, Wuhan Philharmonic, Canton Symphony, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Royal Northern Sinfonia, and Manchester Camerata.
17 August 2023
