21/11/2024 The John Barbirolli Memorial Prize for Cello

One of Europe’s most versatile cellists, the Norwegian Jonathan Aasgaard is active as a soloist, chamber musician, studio musician, orchestral principal, teacher, and explorer of new music. He is Principal Cello of both the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and the Sinfonia of London, a regular guest principal of leading British and continental European orchestras, and, as a dedicated teacher, Professor of Cello at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Chamber music performances have taken him across Europe, the Middle East, Japan, South Korea, and the USA: he has collaborated with artists such as the violinists Nigel Kennedy, Henning Kraggerud, and Julian Rachlin, violist Lawrence Power, cellists Yo-Yo Ma and Giovanni Sollima, pianists Simon Trpčeski, Boris Giltburg, and Joanna MacGregor, and clarinettist Martin Fröst in a range of prominent festivals and concert halls. He has performed more than fifty works for cello and orchestra, his discography including recordings of the William Walton Cello Concerto with the Sinfonia of London, Richard Rodney-Bennett Cello concerto with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Bloch’s Schelomo with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, works for cello and orchestra by Carl Davis with the Philharmonia Orchestra, and, among a number of recital discs, Brahms’s cello sonatas with Martin Roscoe, an ‘Editors Choice’ for chamber music in the magazine Gramophone. A champion of new music, he has given the world première of Carl Davis’s Ballade for cello and orchestra, the European première of Giovanni Sollima’s Double Cello Concerto, the UK première of Weinberg’s Cello Concerto, the US première of concertos by Franz Neruda and Emil Hartmann, and world premières of dozens of solo pieces, many written specially for him. Jonathan Aasgaard plays a cello made by Celeste Farotti, in Milan, in 1926.

Lola García Márquez began learning cello at the age of seven and completed her studies at the Alcalá de Henares Conservatoire in 2022 with a special commendation, leading to her performing as soloist with the conservatoire orchestra. Playing in ensembles has been one of the things she has enjoyed the most, serving as first cellist with both the Community of Madrid Young String and Symphony Orchestras. In 2021 she also won the second prize of the Juventudes Musicales chamber music prize with her trio. She has also participated in masterclasses with notable cellists like Steven Isserlis and Natasha Brovsky. Lola is currently in her second year of undergraduate studies at the Royal Northern College of Music and is enjoying quartet playing with the Emerz Quartet.

Scott Manson is an Aberdonian pianist, composer, and conductor currently studying with Adam Swayne on the Joint Course at the RNCM and The University of Manchester. His solo recital experience includes performances at the Aberdeenshire-based Haddo Arts Festival and Deeside Community Theatre, and two appearances at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. In his first year at RNCM, he was awarded The Shirley Cattarall Award for Piano, and at The University of Manchester he won the Hargreaves Prize for Academic Performance. He was selected from the RNCM to attend the Leeds International Piano Competition 2024 as a Piano Ambassador, performing lunchtime recitals and bringing classical music to wider audiences via the award-winning Leeds Piano Trail. He has also conducted the Manchester University Symphony Orchestra and String Orchestra and is looking forward to further performances with the Music Society throughout the year. A passionate collaborator, he regularly accompanies lessons, masterclasses, and performances at both the RNCM and University, winning the 2024 Elsie Thurston Vocal Accompaniment prize. He is excited to perform with Lola in the Barbirolli Prize!

Finley Spathaky began his musical journey at four, introduced to the cello through the Suzuki method by his aunt. Early performances, including a memorable Suzuki Gala at the Royal Festival Hall, sparked his passion for music and the joy of live performance. Finley later took on leadership roles in various ensembles, becoming principal cellist in the Leicestershire School’s Symphony Orchestra and performing at the Royal Albert Hall—experiences that confirmed his ambition to pursue music professionally. In 2022 Finley graduated with a first-class Bachelor’s degree from the Birmingham Conservatoire, studying under Ulrich Heinen. During this time, he formed a close friendship with pianist Tristan MacWhirter, to whom he is deeply grateful for his dedication and collaboration. Now continuing his studies at RNCM under Victoria Simonsen, Finley seeks to further hone his skills while exploring new and exciting repertoire.

Tristan MacWhirter was born in South Africa and was introduced to piano at a young age by his parents, who saw it as a hobby for him. Though initially obligatory, his enthusiasm for the instrument flourished in his teenage years. He pursued multiple piano diplomas alongside his school studies and secured a scholarship to study at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire under the tutelage of Mark Bebbington. Now, he is a postgraduate student at the Royal Northern College of Music studying with Benjamin Frith.

Chloe Chen is a cellist from Singapore and is currently studying at the Royal Northern College of Music under the tutelage of Hannah Roberts. As a solo player, Chloe has taken part in masterclasses by Qin Li-Wei and Bruno Philippe and was awarded the Amy Lindley Prize for cello in her first year of studies at the RNCM. She was also awarded the Creative Arts Award by her Junior College and was a recipient of the Ministry of Education’s Music Elective Scholarship from 2021 to 2022. Chloe is a keen chamber musician and is currently part of the Spirit Trio which won the RNCM Nossek Prize in 2024. As an orchestral musician, Chloe was appointed as Principal Cello of the Singapore National Youth Orchestra from 2018 to 2022. She has also represented the SNYO in overseas concert tours playing in Guangzhou, China and Hong Kong. She has also played with the Orchestra of Music Makers and the Metropolitan Festival Orchestra in Singapore.

Aaron Le Maistre will be performing Minuet in C alongside Chloe Chen.

Asia Movsovic will be performing Rachmaninov’s Sonata in G minor alongside Chloe Chen. Asia is a Chinese-born pianist from Reading, UK studying at the Royal Northern College of Music under the guidance of Helen Krizos. She began her musical journey at the age of 7, although her passion for music and especially the piano was discovered years before. She attended the Royal College of Music Junior Department from the age of 15, studying with Ann Martin Davis and Christine Stevenson. Here, she achieved distinction in her DipABRSM exam and Grade 8 theory and ultimately decided to pursue music professionally. Being an avid chamber musician, Asia has engaged in a wide range of musical activities in conjunction with being a soloist, having been part of a piano trio for four years as well as enjoying accompanying choirs, orchestras and other instrumentalists. At the RNCM, her piano trio won the 2024 Nossek Prize and she has also won first prize trophies in solo and recital classes in the Woodley, Berkshire and Oxford festivals.