Our Conservatoire Scholars

Saxophone, Royal Academy of Music

London-based saxophonist and artist Rob Burton won the Woodwind Category Final of BBC Young Musician 2018 and went on to secure a place in the Grand Final at Birmingham’s Symphony Hall, where he performed as concerto soloist with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Highlights since then include appearances as soloist with some of the UK’s leading orchestras, such as Britten Sinfonia and Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra as well as at prestigious international festivals, including Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Leicester, Cheltenham, Harrogate, and Oundle International Festivals.

Violin, Royal Academy of Music

Iohan Coman is a distinguished violinist currently studying at the Royal Academy of Music in London under the tutelage of So-Ock Kim. His musical journey is marked by exceptional training and performances, enriched by masterclasses and lessons with esteemed violinists and conductors such as Emmanuel Tjeknavorian, Hilary Hahn, Noah Bendix-Balgley, Anthony Marwood, Dumitru Goia, Remus Azoitei, Luke Hsu, Jack Liebeck and Hubert Kroisamer.

Double Bass, Royal College of Music

Will Duerden began playing the double bass at the age of seven, and two years later was awarded a full scholarship to the Yehudi Menuhin School. As a keen chamber musician, he has worked with artists including Lawrence Power, the Sitkovetsky Trio and the Echea Quartet. Will is also a member of the LGT Young Soloists and the prestigious Young Classical Artists Trust’s roster.

Piano, Royal College of Music

Born in 2002, Misha Kaploukhii is an alumnus of the Moscow Gnessin College of Music. He recently completed his undergraduate studies at the Royal College of Music and is an ABRSM award holder, generously supported by the Eileen Rowe Trust, Talent Unlimited Charity, The Keyboard Charitable Trust and The Robert Turnbull Foundation. He was a Drake Calleja Trust scholar in 2023/4 and is now studying for a Master of Performance with Professor Ian Jones.

Piano, Guildhall School of Music and Drama

Henry Lewis is the recipient of multiple awards including, most recently, the Royal Northern College of Music’s Gold Medal 2022, the college’s most prestigious award for instrumental performance. Henry has collaborated and performed chamber music with such artists as Matthew Hunt, Bruno Delepelaire, Patrick Gallois, and David Waterman. He has also received chamber coaching from members of the Elias and Endellion String Quartets, the Gould Piano Trio, Trio Gaspard, and Ralf Gothoni.

Double Bass, Guildhall School of Music and Drama

Serbian double bassist Strahinja Mitrović is studying at the Guildhall School of Music where he was invited by his professor Rinat Ibragimov. Strahinja is currently in his final year of Undergraduate studies mentored by Luis Cabrera and the cellist Louise Hopkins.

Trombone, Royal College of Music

Meggie is in her second year studying a Masters degree in performance at the Royal College of Music in London. Meggie is a Leverhulme Arts Scholarship holder studying under Lindsay Shilling, Byron Fulcher, Rupert Whitehead, Becky Smith and Amos Miller. Meggie was a former Elton John Scholarship holder at the Royal Academy of Music, where she did her undergraduate degree and studied under Matthew Gee, Peter Moore, Dudley Bright and Ian Bousfield.

Harp, Royal Academy of Music

Aisha is an award-winning harpist, who has performed across the United Kingdom. A passionate orchestral player, Aisha has performed with Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and Birmingham Contemporary Music Group, with conductors Gianandrea Noseda and Kazuki Yamada. She was awarded the MMSF Philharmonia Fellowship in recognition of her commitment.

Piano, Royal College of Music

Born in Alexandria, Southern Romania, Radu-Gabriel Stoica started studying the piano at the age of seven. He is a C Bechstein scholar, supported by Mr Lewis, studying Masters in Performance at the Royal College of Music in London, under the tutelage of Ian Jones, Dmitry Alexeev, and Dorian Leljak.

Violin, Royal College of Music

Turkish violinist Deniz Sensoy has achieved notable recognition for her talent. She has been named one of Classic FM’s Rising Stars for 2024,  awarded a 2024/25 LSO Conservatoire Scholarship, recognised as a Britten Pears Young Artist, received the ‘Future’s Women Stars’ Prize from the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts and earned the ‘Glowing Star of the Year’ title by İş Bank.

Violin, Royal College of Music

Lithuanian violinist Ugnė Liepa Žuklytė made her solo debut with orchestra at the age of eight and her concerto debut with the Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra at the age of twelve, performing Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E minor at the Lithuanian National Philharmonic. She has won numerous national and international violin competitions and has been awarded the Medal of Queen Morta for her achievements.

Piano, Royal College of Music

Born and raised in Bucharest, pianist and educator Cristiana Achim is one of the most sought-after musicians of her generation. After graduating from the Royal College of Music with First Class Honours in 2022, Cristiana is currently pursuing her Masters under the tutelage of Nigel Clayton at the Royal College of Music. She is generously supported by numerous scholarships in addition to her LSO Conservatoire Scholarship, such as the C Bechstein Scholarship, Help Musicians Postgraduate Awards and Talent Unlimited Music Charity.

Piano, Royal College of Music

Mykyta (Nikita) was born into a family of musicians in Donetsk, Ukraine. He began playing the piano at the age of seven, studying under Professor Nataliya Chesnokova. In 2008 he joined a special music school for gifted children in Donetsk, and in 2015 received a full scholarship to Wells Cathedral School, studying under John Byrne.

Double Bass, Royal College of Music

Will Duerden began playing the double bass at the age of seven, and two years later was awarded a full scholarship to the Yehudi Menuhin School. As a keen chamber musician, he has worked with artists including Lawrence Power, the Sitkovetsky Trio and the Echea Quartet. Will is also a member of the LGT Young Soloists and the prestigious Young Classical Artists Trust’s roster.

Tuba, Royal College of Music

Born in Bolton, Connor picked up the tuba at the age of eleven. He is currently a Micheal Quinn Scholarship holder studying at the Royal College of Music, under Peter Smith, Daniel Trodden and James Buckle. He has worked with professional orchestras throughout the UK.

Viola, Guildhall School

Equally in demand as a violinist and violist, Elliot Kempton regular performs as a soloist and chamber musician across Europe; recent appearances include Wigmore Hall (London), Auditorio Sony (Madrid), Museo del Violino (Cremona), and the Palacio de Festivales, (Santander).

Cello, Royal Academy of Music

Scottish cellist Hugh Mackay is a versatile young artist whose work spans a range of styles, repertoire and collaborations. He has performed in some of the world’s leading venues, including the Royal Festival Hall and Konzerthaus Dortmund.

Violin, Royal College of Music

British violinist Joel David Munday performs internationally as a soloist and chamber musician. He has given concerts in Europe, America and Asia, and has recently had debut performances in Holland, Spain, Bulgaria, Serbia and Germany. While his extensive repertoire incorporates all of the major violin works, he has a particular interest in exploring lesser known and contemporary music.

Trombone, Royal College of Music

Meggie is currently studying a Master’s degree at the Royal College of Music in London where she is studying under Lindsay Shilling, Byron Fulcher, Matthew Knight, Becky Smith and Amos Miller. Meggie was a former Elton John scholarship holder at the Royal Academy of Music, where she did her undergraduate degree and studied under Matthew Gee, Peter Moore, and Ian Bousfield.

Harp, Royal Academy of Music

Aisha is an emerging young harpist who has performed across the UK in venues such as Cadogan Hall, the Queen Elizabeth Hall, the BBC Hoddinott Hall and the House of Lords. A passionate orchestral player, Aisha has performed with a variety of orchestras including Odyssey Orchestra, London City Philharmonic, Folkestone Symphony Orchestra and the Hastings Sinfonia, working with the conductors Ryan Wigglesworth, Timothy Weiss and John Wilson.

Clarinet, Royal Academy of Music

Ivan Rogachev is a clarinetist, balancing his diverse practice between solo, orchestral and chamber music. As an orchestral musician, Ivan won a position at the Britten-Shostakovich Festival Orchestra in 2019 and a solo clarinet position at London Sinfonietta Academy in 2020. In 2021, he won a principal position in the Russian National Youth Orchestra. He has performed with professional orchestras including the Southbank Sinfonia, London Sinfonietta, St Petersburg State Symphony Orchestra and Tolyatti Philharmonic Orchestra.

Trombone, Royal College of Music

From a musical family, Jamie began playing trombone at the age of seven, taught by Alan Hutt. He was awarded a scholarship place at Wells Cathedral School in 2008, and after his studies at Wells with Alan, and later Andy Fawbert and Emily White, he moved to London, and to the Royal Academy of Music, studying under Mark Templeton, Mattew Gee, Dudley Bright and Ian Bousfield.