YCAT is proud to welcome an outstanding new group of artists to our renowned roster of young musicians, selected at the Public Final Auditions held at Wigmore Hall on Thursday 7th May 2026.

Each year, YCAT's open audition process draws applications from young musicians across the world. This year saw a record number of applications - a 26% increase on 2025 - reflecting both the growing demand for YCAT’s support and the breadth of emerging talent. From that remarkable pool, a group of exceptional finalists was invited to perform before a distinguished jury at Wigmore Hall, following live semi-final auditions at the Royal Academy of Music in London and the Casals Forum in Kronberg, Germany.

After a day of incredible performances, the jury selected the following artists to join the YCAT family:

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The YCAT Anniversary Artist

This year, one of the newly selected artists has additionally been named as the second YCAT Anniversary Artist. This special award, launched as part of the charity’s 40th Anniversary celebrations, offers the selected artist an enhanced package of support (including a CD recording with Delphian Records and targeted  international debuts) during their first year on the YCAT roster.  

YCAT is delighted to name Willard Carter as the 2026 YCAT Anniversary Artist.

YCAT extends its sincere thanks to Mikhail Bakhtiarov & Svetlana Besfamilynaya for their generous support of the Anniversary Artist award, which makes this additional investment in an emerging artist's career possible.

The Jury

The final auditions were chaired by Alasdair Tait, Chief Executive and Artistic Director of YCAT, alongside a distinguished jury drawn from across the international music profession.

Artists were assessed not only for technical command and musical insight, but primarily for the individuality of their artistic voice, their storytelling and ability to communicate with audiences, and their readiness to embark on a demanding international career.

The panel included Tanya Bannister (President, Concert Artists Guild, New York), Caro Barnfield (Director of Music Programme, Britten Pears Arts), Jon Carvell (General Manager, Wigmore Hall), Etta Dainty (Senior Artist Manager, YCAT), Guido Gärtner (Bayerisches Staatsorchester / Bayerische Staatsoper), Johannes Pfeuffer (Artist Manager – Europe, YCAT), and Rachel van Walsum (Executive Chair, Maestro Arts).

What Being a YCAT Artist Means

Joining the YCAT roster marks the beginning of a sustained, collaborative partnership. Each new artist receives three to five years of dedicated developmental management - not simply a concert diary, but a holistic investment in every aspect of their career. This encompasses strategic planning of worldwide engagements, targeted marketing to over 5,000 promoters and concert halls, professional photography and video assets, comprehensive social media and digital support, and live recordings of recitals at Wigmore Hall.

Major debut opportunities are central to the YCAT experience. New artists can expect performances at some of the world's most significant venues, including Wigmore Hall in London and the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, alongside carefully curated appearances at festivals and series across the UK and internationally.

YCAT's approach has always been one of genuine partnership: working closely with each artist to understand their individual strengths, ambitions and musical identity, and building a career plan that reflects that.

As these artists prepare to embark on the next stage of their careers, Chief Executive and Artistic Director Alasdair Tait reflects on this year’s selection:

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