The Stoller Hall announces its Emerging Artists for 2023
Supporting emerging talent is a huge part of our mission here at The Stoller Hall, and is a fundamental part of our live music programme.
Our recently launched Emerging Artists Scheme supports early career artists from a range of genres and backgrounds. Over the next 12 months, we’ll be presenting events featuring diverse mix of musical genres, including classical, jazz and folk.
Along the way, we’ll provide an invaluable platform for these artists to perform, develop audiences, capture video and audio footage, and develop marketing, fundraising and management skills to support their career development.
We are delighted to announce that this year’s musicians include:
Asaka Quartet
Asaka Quartet is a prizewinning string quartet formed in 2021 at the Royal Academy of Music in London where they are currently Chamber Music Fellows for 2022/23. Yielding from China, Hong Kong and Scotland, the Asaka’s each bring with them their own identities. They pride themselves on communicating their enjoyment of making music together and sharing this with their audiences, with a keen interest in music by underrepresented composers.
In October 2021, after playing for only a week, they were selected for the prestigious Frost Trust Advanced Specialist Strings Ensemble Training Scheme (A.S.S.E.T.) at the Academy where they were mentored by Martin Outram from the renowned Maggini Quartet. Violinist Ioan McDonald is a former Chetham’s student, and we are looking forward to welcoming her back to Manchester alongside fellow quartet members Eriol Guo Yu, Susie Xin He and Jonathan Ho Man Fong.
Asaka Quartet will be performing live at The Stoller Hall on Thursday 18 January 2024.
Ensemble Renard
Ensemble Renard are a wind quintet who are passionate about bringing a huge variety of music to audiences of a variety of different backgrounds. Since 2021, they have been Fellows of the Royal Academy of Music, Tunnell Trust Award winners, Britten-Pears Young Artists and have appeared on BBC Radio 3. Ensemble Renard is Ellie Blamiers (flute), Francesca Cox (oboe), Patrick Bolton (bassoon), George Strivens (horn) and Holly Isherwood (clarinet).
Ensemble Renard will be performing live at The Stoller Hall on Tuesday 7 November 2023.
Helena Ricci
Forging her own path as a visionary classical musician, Helena Ricci is a trailblazing harpist praised for her expressive, dynamic playing and captivating stage presence. Through her MUSILUX project she merges classical music with visual arts for mesmerising concerts. She has played for HM The King Charles III, appeared live on radio for Resonance FM as part of “Sounds Promising”. After the success of her single release which was featured in Spotify “New Classical Music” playlist, she is now working on her first full solo album.
Helena Ricci will be performing live at The Stoller Hall on Wednesday 13 March 2024.
Phoebe Rayner
Mezzo-soprano Phoebe Rayner is a H R Taylor Charitable Trust Scholar studying at the Royal College of Music with Amanda Roocroft. She is a 2022-23 Britten Pears Young Artist specialising in contemporary music and the development of new works. She has a passion for contemporary vocal repertoire, premiering works by Professor Rachel Beckles Willson, Philip Grange, Cee Haines, and various student composers within the past year.
Phoebe Rayner will be performing live at The Stoller Hall on Wednesday 13 September 2023.
Smorgaschord Collective
Smorgaschord Collective is a group of ambitious musicians who come together to collaborate and create, with a strong emphasis on the new and the unusual. Their aim is to try to cut away from ‘normal’ formalities of musical experiences, and establish a fresh, energetic environment. The Collective features another Chethams’s alumni, Sebastian Black.
Smorgaschord will be performing live at The Stoller Hall on Tuesday 6 February 2024.
Our Emerging Artists Scheme is generously supported by The Haworth Trust.
