Classeek is proud to have partnered with the prestigious Gramophone Awards to sponsor the 

, an accolade that celebrates exceptional young musicians on the cusp of international recognition. This year, the award went to the remarkable pianist 

, whose meteoric rise has left the classical music world in awe. Yunchan’s extraordinary talent, artistic depth, and technical mastery have solidified his place among the most exciting young artists of our time.

At just 20 years old, Yunchan Lim’s achievements are nothing short of extraordinary. His breakthrough came in 2022 when he became the youngest-ever Gold Medallist at the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, a pivotal moment in his burgeoning career. His fearless performance of Liszt’s Études d’exécution transcendante during the semi-finals stunned audiences and judges alike, showcasing not only his virtuosic technical skill but also his deep musical sensitivity. The performance was more than just a display of prowess—it was an emotional and imaginative journey, one that confirmed Lim’s status as a musician with something truly unique to offer.

Since then, Yunchan has continued to captivate listeners worldwide. His recordings of Chopin’s Études and Liszt’s works, both of which were shortlisted for the Gramophone Awards, reveal a rare combination of technical brilliance and profound interpretation. The two albums, released within a year of each other, exemplify his ability to navigate the most demanding repertoire while bringing a fresh and personal touch to each piece.

In an exciting move, Yunchan's Chopin album was named Gramophone's Recording of the Month in May 2024, solidifying his position as one of the brightest young stars in classical music today. His interpretation of Chopin, full of delicate nuance and emotional depth, reminds us of the transformative power of music when placed in the hands of a true artist.

For a more detailed exploration of Yunchan Lim’s accomplishments and his path to becoming this year’s Young Artist of the Year, you can read Gramophone’s feature article 

A Shared Vision: Classeek's Commitment to Young Artists

Our collaboration with the Gramophone Awards this year is a natural extension of Classeek’s mission to support and promote the next generation of classical music talent. At Classeek, we believe in empowering young musicians by providing them with the tools, platforms, and opportunities to thrive on the international stage.

Collaborating with Gramophone for their Young Artist of the Year Award reinforces our commitment to nurturing talent and helping young artists like Yunchan Lim find their voice in a highly competitive industry. Our Classeek Ambassador Programme supports some of the most promising young artists, providing them with mentorship, performance opportunities, and media visibility. These initiatives align closely with the values that the Gramophone Awards celebrate: artistic excellence, innovation, and dedication.

Yunchan Lim’s journey resonates deeply with Classeek’s mission. His rise from a teenage prodigy to an internationally acclaimed artist embodies the very essence of our work. Like many of the young artists we support, Yunchan has shown not only extraordinary artistry but also  tireless commitment, a quality that will continue to drive his career forward.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Classical Music

As we reflect on this year’s Gramophone Awards, we are more inspired than ever to continue supporting young artists like Yunchan Lim. The future of classical music is bright, and Classeek is honoured to be a part of it, working alongside such gifted musicians and esteemed institutions to ensure that talent and creativity are nurtured and celebrated.

Join us in congratulating Yunchan Lim on this well-deserved honour! We look forward to witnessing his continued growth as one of the world’s leading pianists.

Yunchan Lim Wins Gramophone's Young Artist of the Year 2024

Classeek collaborated with Gramophone on the award this year

 announced the launch of the ICMA  Classeek Award, promoting an outstanding young musician among the finalists of the Classeek Ambassador Programme open application. The winner and first recipient of the award was announced as French-Austrian double bassist,  Marc-André Teruel, French-Austrian double bass player. 

The award will be present to Marc-André at the ICMA awards ceremony, followed by a performance with the NFM Philharmonic and music director Giancarlo Guerrero, at the gala concert on 21st April -

 Find out more about the musician himself, in this

Interview with Marc-Andre Teruel

ICMA Classeek Award winner

, we announced earlier this month that this year there will be a new ICMA award, the Classeek Award. The award winners have now been announced and we are delighted that double bass player Marc-André Teruel is the first recipient of the ICMA Classeek Award. 

, double bassist Marc-André Teruel has won numerous prizes so far within his career, and he has already achieved great international success both as a solo artist and passionate chamber musician. He regularly gives concerts in the most renowned concert halls, including the Wiener Konzerthaus, Wiener Musikverein, Salzburger Mozarteum, Auditorio Nacional de Música Madrid, Grand Auditorium de Radio France Paris, to name just a few. 

Marc-André will be presented with the ICMA Classeek Award on 21st April, and will perform with the NFM Philharmonic alongside their music director Giancarlo Guerrero, in Wrocław at the ICMA Gala Concert.

The other nominees for the ICMA Classeek Award were a selection of promising artists from our 2022-23 Ambassador Programme application, including pianists Callum McLachlan and Zhu Wang, violinist Julia Blachuta, cellist Ivan Skanavi and clarinetist Arthur Stockel. 

In addition to the new ICMA Classeek Award, we will also be supporting the winner of the ICMA Young Artist Award, Sào Soulez Larivière, with a place on our 2023-24 Ambassador Programme for young artists. We are very happy to welcome Sào to our programme next year!

ICMA Classeek Award

Announcing the 2023 award winner

We are proud to announce our new collaboration with the International Classical Music Awards (ICMA). This year for the first time, the International Classical Music Awards (ICMA) will present a new award, the ICMA Classeek Award, to be presented during the Award Ceremony and Gala Concert at the National Forum of Music in Wroclaw (Poland), in April 2023. 

At Classeek, we are thrilled to begin our collaboration with the ICMA, with whom we feel an alliance of passion to support both the highest level of artistry in combination with the next generation of artists. We are proud to present this new Classeek award in the 2023-24 season, and have the artists in connection with our programme, nominated in association with ICMA.

"Nowadays the competition between young talented musicians is very strong. We believe that the best should also receive and benefit from the best possible support! This is a common goal of ICMA as well as of Classeek

We have therefore added this new award to the already existing categories. It allows us to annually promote a young, outstanding musician chosen from a list of the open application finalists of Classeek’s flagship Ambassador Programme for talented artists. With our independent jury of 19 music critics from 16 different countries, we hope to strengthen the recognition of the winning musician. We are thrilled to organize this new award in close cooperation with Classeek and to develop profitable synergies between both organizations." 

The jury of the International Classical Music Awards (ICMA) annually presents the world's only international record and music awards. With representatives of 19 media from 16 countries, the magazines Andante, Crescendo, Das Orchester, Musica, Musik & Theater, Musical Life, Opera, Papageno, Pizzicato, ResMusica, Rondo Classic and Scherzo, the radio stations Deutsche Welle, MDR-Klassik, Polskie Radio Chopin, Radio 100,7 and Radio Romania Muzical, the umbrella organization Unison-Croatia and the International Music and Media Center (IMZ), the ICMA reach an audience of millions.

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