In February 2025, ten past and present Young Classical Artists Trust (YCAT) musicians set off on a special 40th Anniversary European Tour, celebrating four decades of our work nurturing the best young performing talent.

Beyond celebrating YCAT’s legacy at some of Europe’s most important venues, the tour provided a unique opportunity for members of the ensemble, all at different stages of their careers, to collaborate, learn from one another, and reflect on the role YCAT has played - and continues to play - in shaping their professional journeys.

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Double bassist Dominic Seldis, a YCAT artist from 1994 to 1996 and the self-described “elder statesman” of the group, reflected on the experience:

“...It’s made me feel really useful, energetic and inspired. It’s all the good things about YCAT coming together in one place. It is so important to be a musician, not just a performer, but a musician right the way through your life…I can tell you that you learn how to do that during those YCAT years. And so they [the other musicians] are blessed to have YCAT, I was certainly blessed to have YCAT, and it is such an essential part of musical life, to enable musicians to develop and express themselves. Who knows what they might bring to the musical world?” 

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For bassoonist Amy Harman, a YCAT artist from 2014 to 2019, the shared history among the musicians created something truly special:

“YCAT has really bonded us together. There’s something about the combination of this group and everyone having been through the same experience…we really have a shared sense of enjoyment and love of what we’re doing. It’s been such a creative and brilliant experience.”

The artists first came together to rehearse at the idyllic Schloss Elmau in the heart of the Bavarian Alps, where they also then gave their first performance, preceded by an inspiring opening concert with former YCAT artist Ian Bostridge CBE. The Tour proper then commenced, visiting prestigious venues  including the Tauberphilharmonie, Kölner Philharmonie, Wigmore Hall, Concertgebouw, and Pierre Boulez Saal. Each and every performance was met with a wonderful response from audiences, all of whom were left enthused and inspired by the energy and artistry of what YCAT has come to represent over the decades. 

A particular highlight was the world premiere of a brand-new work by James B. Wilson, one of YCAT’s inaugural Composer Fellows - a testament to the extraordinary emerging talent currently at work in the industry, and our ongoing commitment to expanding YCAT’s impact on the classical music landscape. James travelled with the musicians to witness the first outings of his new piece, and commented:

“Being on tour with YCAT to present Microcosm was such a wonderful experience. It was really magic hearing everything in my head finally out loud, and with such bold and committed playing. It is rare that we, as composers, get to travel on tour after a premiere and present the music to so many audiences night after night, so I feel incredibly lucky to have shared the experience with the team. Thanks to YCAT for the commission and allowing me to play a part in the celebrations, it's been a joy.”

.For YCAT Artistic Director and CEO Alasdair Tait, witnessing the extraordinary performances reaffirmed YCAT’s vital role in shaping the lives of young performers:: 

"We knew from the outset that this tour was bringing together a veritable ‘dream team’ of performers and from the first note this was palpable. But even more inspiring and affirming for me was witnessing just how quickly everyone instinctively found each other and recognised how they all shared a unique, intuitive musical connection, truly all part of the YCAT family. I couldn’t have ever imagined such a joyous and energising celebration of everything YCAT has come to represent within classical music."

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The mid-week celebration concert at London’s Wigmore Hall offered friends and supporters of YCAT a chance to witness firsthand the remarkable impact of its work. It was also an opportunity to launch a confidently ambitious £1 million anniversary fundraising campaign, designed to ensure YCAT remains agile and responsive to the evolving needs of extraordinary young artists over the years ahead.

Ultimately, YCAT’s 40th Anniversary Tour served as both a tribute to its past and an inspiring vision for the future. 

To learn more about how you can support the campaign and help nurture the next generation of exceptional classical musicians, contact Jenny Mercer, our Head of Development, at [email protected].

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Photography © Sven-Kristian Wolf and © Ting-Ru Lai

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