We are thrilled to announce this group of outstanding young artists as our Britten Pears Young Artists 2025-26. Over the coming year, these exceptional musicians will join us at Snape Maltings to take part in one of our specialised courses or residencies as part of the Britten Pears Young Artist Programme.

Each of these artists contributes to our founders’ vision of nurturing the next generation and connecting them with some of the world’s best performers, creatives and teachers. An experience on the programme combines world-class artistic training, a nurturing and inclusive ethos, the natural beauty of the Suffolk countryside and the lasting legacy of Britten and Pears – giving powerful, career-shaping experiences.

Once part of the Britten Pears family, we aim to create opportunities that go beyond the course they have participated in. This may include additional coaching and masterclasses, wider professional development, industry-relevant offers and performance/commissioning opportunities. We also frequently connect young artists with our other strands of work at Britten Pears Arts, including our work with children, families and young people, those in later life, music in the criminal justice system, experimental Residencies, as well as the chance to visit The Red House and explore the Britten Pears Archive.

This course will be led by acclaimed baritone Roderick Williams, known for his expert approach and interpretation of repertoire from the baroque to new music, alongside Malcolm Martineau, a leading collaborative pianist of his generation and artistic director of the Oxenfoord International Summer School. They are joined by Julia Faulkner, one of the world’s leading voice teachers. The Young Artists will work to create new and interesting recital programmes, combining their most loved songs with new, perhaps unfamiliar, repertoire. The course will include a final recital to showcase their work alongside two masterclasses, and sessions on supporting women and parents in the arts, career advice and how to care for the voice.

Will Prior is the recipient of the Chandos Bursary.

Nancy Holt is the recipient of the Elizabeth Harwood Memorial Award.

David Kennedy is the recipient of the H Steven and P E Wood Bursary.

Anna Gebhardt and Rozalia Kierc are the Viola Tunnard Scholars.

CAPPA is for makers in sound and new music, regardless of specialism or discipline. Led by composers Larry Goves and Sarah Hennies, this course is designed to foster conversation and collaboration between likeminded artists, to explore different approaches to making new work. The Young Artists will explore and experiment, collaborating with their peers, the course tutors and visiting instrumentalists. There will be a performance at the Aldeburgh Festival in June 2026 to showcase their exciting new creations.

Zahrah Hutton is the recipient of the John Lawrence Field Memorial Bursary.

Elise Arancio is the recipient of the Mary Mackintosh Award.

This series offers emerging chamber ensembles the opportunity to take time away from their usual commitments and focus on their artist development. Each ensemble will have a self-guided two-week residency at Snape Maltings, for dedicated rehearsal time, exploring new repertoire or time out to reflect and refresh. They will perform two Friday lunchtime concerts at the Jubilee Hall in Aldeburgh, the original home of the Aldeburgh Festival.

Paddington Trio are the recipients of the Richard and Gillie Cave Bursary.

Terra String Quartet are supported by The Barbara Whatmore Charitable Trust.

Bellot Ensemble are the recipients of the Medd Bursary.

*Hugh Mackay © Foppe Schut and Radek Dranokowski; Junyan Chen © Radski Photography; Edgar Francis © Juri Hiensch; Charlotte Spruit © Marco Borggreve

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