Trinity alumnus and former Steinway Scholar Amiri Harewood (Class of 2020) has won the annual Young Concert Artists Trust (YCAT) competition, with the final held at Wigmore Hall last week. He is one of three artists for 2024 who will now be represented by YCAT, gaining management and guidance to launch his career.
Amiri was one of our youngest Steinway Scholars, aged 13 and won a number of awards including our annual piano competition on three occasions and, in 2018, was named our Trinity Musician of the Year. After Trinity, he took up a full scholarship at the Royal College of Music to study piano under the tutelage of Danny Driver where he is now in his final year. Amiri’s Southbank Centre debut with Chineke! Orchestra (a Trinity Music Academy partner) was universally acclaimed, and described as a “Royal Festival Hall debut with considerable panache” (Richard Fairman, The Financial Times).
At this year’s YCAT competition only seven artists were selected following rigorous auditions in London and Germany, and Amiri was the only British artist involved (and the youngest). He gave an outstanding performance at Wigmore Hall, which Mr Evans, Head of Piano, described as ‘deeply musical, thoughtful, colourful, engaging, and with grace and confidence’.
The only charity of its kind in the UK, YCAT supports the early careers of talented classical musicians and by joining its sought-after roster of artists, Amiri will receive numerous performance opportunities, strategic career planning and mentoring, professional publicity materials, and the benefits of being part of the global network.
Mr Evans adds, “This is a truly outstanding achievement, and we look forward to an amazing career ahead for Amiri. Congratulations!”
It’s been a busy few months, as Amiri was also awarded the Kerr Memorial prize at the prestigious Royal Overseas League Piano competition for an outstanding pianist of promise last month.
Check out Amiri’s website and latest performances here: https://www.amiriharewood.com/
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