To those who have been asking us for an update – the wait is over! We’re excited to bring you the shortlisted candidates from our Open Application.

But first – thank you (once again) to everyone who applied this year. We were overwhelmed with the response that we received this year and the level of dedication that so many of you have to your craft.

Following meticulous selection and scrutiny with our jury, these are the 13 finalists that have been chosen to move on to the next stage of the Open Application process.

Instrumentalist Finalists

Alexandra Bidi - French harpist captivating audiences worldwide with soulful playing and technical mastery, earning accolades at prestigious competitions and pursuing a Master's degree in harp performance.

Bar Zemach - Israeli horn player with performances in prestigious venues and accolades, including a temporary contract as deputy solo horn player with the Düsseldorf Symphony Orchestra.

Daniil Bulayev - Latvian violinist and chamber musician with acclaim on national and international stages, known for a wide-ranging repertoire and community engagement through charity concerts.

Denis Linnik - Belarusian pianist with international recognition, diverse repertoire, and numerous prestigious performances and awards.

Ettore Pagano - Italian cellist with virtuosic performances, first prizes at prestigious international competitions, and extensive concert activity across Italy and abroad.

Jonathan Senik - Israeli pianist and prize-winner at the Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Master Competition, currently pursuing a Master of Music degree at the New England Conservatory in Boston.

Kryštof Kohout - Czech violinist acclaimed for performances at esteemed venues worldwide, winner of various competitions and awards, excelling as both a soloist and chamber musician.

Ido Zeev - Israeli pianist with international acclaim, notable awards, performances at renowned festivals, and collaborations with esteemed musicians.

Irena Josifoska - Serbian cellist with international recognition through prize-winning performances, extensive collaborations, and a diverse repertoire spanning classical to contemporary works.

Simon Zhu - German violinist with multiple first prizes at international competitions, notable performances at esteemed venues, and collaborations with renowned orchestras.

Composer Finalists

Kian Ravaei - American composer transforming diverse influences into captivating musical portraits, with compositions gracing prestigious venues and reflecting a commitment to youth creativity.

Miles Walter - American composer and pianist blending diverse musical traditions to explore human emotion, acclaimed for intricate counterpoint and evocative harmonies.

Sam Wu - Australian-Chinese composer and conductor with worldwide recognition, winning prestigious awards and captivating audiences with innovative compositions exploring diverse themes.

Each finalist brings a unique perspective and interesting career path to the table, and they surely all have a bright future ahead of them. We will be announcing the winners of the Open Application soon—one instrumentalist and one composer—who will join our nominated artists as part of the 2024-25 season of our Ambassador Programme.

Until then, click on the finalists above to browse their ClasseekLink profiles and connect with them. Or then head over to our Instagram page to discover more about them. And, of course, stay tuned for the grand reveal!