Comprising violin, five-string cello piccolo and cello, Ayres Extemporae scooped the top prize package including cash, a recording contract, plus future professional engagements
The winners of the York International Young Artists Competition were announced on Saturday 13 July 2024, as a finale to the ten-day York Early Music Festival.
Eight international ensembles from across Europe presented an informal recital in the preceding two days at the National Centre for Early Music in York and were judged by an international jury.
Belgium-based trio Ayres Extemporae were awarded first prize, receiving a professional recording contract from Linn Records, a £1,000 cash prize, a future paid engagement with the York Early Music Festival, and recording opportunities with BBC Radio 3.
Comprising Moldovan-Spanish violinist Xenia Gogu, Spanish cellist Víctor García García on a five-string cello piccolo and Portuguese cellist Teresa Madeira, Ayres Extemporae played works by Biber and J.S. Bach in its winning performance.
In 2022, the group were awarded the First Prize and the Audience Prize at the Semana de Música Antigua de Estella-Lizarra, which led to participation at the 2023 edition of the festival. In the same year, the ensemble also won the Second Prize at the Biagio Marini International Early Music Competition in Germany.
UK based Apollo’s Cabinet scooped the Friends of York Early Music Festival award, a cash prize of £1,000. Ensemble Bastion from Switzerland won a cash prize of £1,000 endowed by the EUBO Development Trust, for the Most Promising Young Artist/s specialising in the Baroque repertoire. German ensemble [hanse] Pfeyfferey took the Cambridge Early Music prize, which includes a paid performance in Cambridge.
The other competing artists were the Friedrichs Nebelmeer Ensemble (Switzerland), Pseudonym (Switzerland), Rubens Rosa (Switzerland) and Trio Altizans (The Netherlands).
The 2024 Competition was presented by Steven Devine, harpsichordist, fortepianist, conductor and director of orchestral, choral and opera repertoire, and former artistic advisor of the York Early Music Festival. The jury comprised Bart Demuyt, Director of AMUZ/Alamire; Philip Hobbs from Linn Records; lutenist Elizabeth Kenny; Lionel Meunier, director of Vox Luminis; and Emily Worthington clarinettist and lecturer at the University of York.
At the end of the competition Philip Hobbs, from Linn Records, who chaired the judging panel said: ’This competition is definitely one of the musical highlights of the year and Linn Records is very proud to continue this important relationship with the York Early Music Festival and with the National Centre for Early Music. Today’s concert illustrated an array of extraordinarily inventive musical talent, and I would like to congratulate all eight ensembles who performed.’
’We’re absolutely delighted and honoured to receive this amazing prize and would like to thank everyone who has supported us – our time in York has been a wonderful experience and everyone has been super friendly,’ commented Ayres Extemporae.
’We’d like to thank all the other ensembles for their encouragement, friendship and brilliant musicianship, it’s been a real pleasure spending time with the other musicians. We’re really looking forward to returning to York and recording with Linn Records.’
Read: Sentimental Work: Bach’s Sonatas and Partitas on the violoncello piccolo
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