We are delighted to announce the results of the 2026–27 Classeek Ambassador Programme Open Application.

Our team and jury would like to thank every musician who applied this year. With the extended submission window, we were impressed by the high standard of applications. It made the selection process both inspiring and competitive, with our jury giving careful consideration to an outstanding group of emerging artists from around the world.

We are pleased to welcome five instrumentalists, one vocalist, and one composer to the 2026-27 season of the Classeek Ambassador Programme:

• Eduard Dayan, violinist
• Hawijch Elders, violinist
• Sandro Nebieridze, pianist
• Ana Oniani, soprano
• Julian Rhee, violinist
• Sam Rudd-Jones, composer
• Juliet Wolff, cellist

Meet the remarkable artists joining us next season

Eduard Dayan (violin)

Born in Yerevan in 2008, Armenian violinist Eduard Dayan has already established himself as one of the most exciting young artists of his generation. A student of Professor Zakhar Bron, he has appeared as a soloist with leading orchestras including the Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra and the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra, performing across Europe, Asia and North America. Eduard is a prizewinner of numerous international competitions, including the 16th International Violin Competition named after Karol Lipinski and Henryk Wieniawski, the Khachaturian International Youth Competition, and the 2026 Wilhelm Shpet International Strings Competition, where he was awarded both First Prize and the Grand Prix.

Hawijch Elders (violin)

Dutch violinist Hawijch Elders (1998) is one of the leading international artists of our time. In 2025, she won First Prize at the prestigious Premio Internazionale Antonio Mormone, following earlier victories at the International Violin Competition Henri Marteau and the Leonid Kogan International Competition. An Associate Artist of the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel, she has appeared as a soloist with orchestras including the Stuttgarter Philharmoniker, Nürnberger Symphoniker, and the Wiener KammerOrchester. Highlights of the current season include her debut with the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, the Concertgebouw Chamber Orchestra, an Artist-in-Residence appointment at the Antwerp Spring Festival, and the release of her debut solo album on Decca Classics Italy (Universal Music Group).

Sandro Nebieridze (piano)

Born in Tbilisi, Sandro Nebieridze has built an international career as both a pianist and composer, seamlessly combining performance with creative work. A prizewinner at the 2025 Ferruccio Busoni International Piano Competition and recipient of the Steinway Förderpreis, he has performed with distinguished orchestras including the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Staatskapelle Dresden. Alongside an expanding concert career, Sandro’s growing catalogue of compositions spans chamber music, orchestral works, ballet and opera, with performances at major venues including the Berlin Philharmonie and Dresdner Kulturpalast.

Ana Oniani (soprano)

Georgian soprano Ana Oniani has quickly established herself on the international operatic stage following her studies at the Vano Sarajishvili Tbilisi State Conservatoire. After acclaimed performances as Violetta, Mimì, Pamina and the Countess, she has appeared with the Tbilisi Opera and Ballet Theatre, the Royal Opera House Muscat, Opéra du Capitole and the National Romanian Opera in Cluj-Napoca. In 2026, she made her debut at the Opéra national de Paris and continues to develop her artistry as a member of the Académie de l’Opéra national de Paris, with upcoming performances including La Traviata at the Verbier Festival Academy.

Julian Rhee (violin)

Korean-American violinist Julian Rhee is one of today’s most compelling young soloists, recognised for his refined artistry and captivating stage presence. Winner of the 2024 Avery Fisher Career Grant, he also earned top prizes at the Queen Elisabeth International Violin Competition and the International Violin Competition of Indianapolis. Julian has performed with leading orchestras across North America, Europe and Asia, is a member of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center’s Bowers Program, and currently studies with Christian Tetzlaff at the Kronberg Academy.

Sam Rudd-Jones (composer)

London-based composer and pianist Sam Rudd-Jones writes music distinguished by rhythmic influences from rap and electronic music, alongside an unmistakably contemporary harmonic language. Currently pursuing a PhD with George Benjamin at King’s College London, he has recently participated in the London Symphony Orchestra’s Panufnik Scheme, the Britten Pears Summer Academy and Creative Dialogue France. Alongside his concert music, Sam also releases electronic music under his own name.

Juliet Wolff (cello)

German cellist Juliet Wolff is celebrated for her expressive musicianship and compelling performances as both a soloist and chamber musician. She has appeared at leading venues including Wigmore Hall, Konzerthaus Berlin and King’s Place, and regularly performs at major international festivals. A scholarship holder of the Villa Musica Rheinland-Pfalz Foundation, Juliet is also the creator of Voices Within, an innovative project exploring the relationship between the cello and the human voice, which has twice received the Deutsche Orchester-Stiftung’s #MusikerZukunft Award.

What comes next? Lots! We are already at work planning the season ahead, which will include our Accelerator Week to kick off the programme with our artists and help them develop some marketing assets. It will be followed by a year of ongoing tailored mentorship and hands-on career support sessions to help them along their journeys. Plus, we’ll have a whole host of new YouTube premieres of their concerts to share! Be sure to follow us on Instagram to keep up with the latest.