BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists scheme (also known as the NGA scheme) was devised by BBC Radio 3 Editor Adam Gatehouse and launched in 1999. It exists as part of the BBC's commitment to nurture young musical talent.[1] Every autumn six to seven young artists who are beginning to make a mark on the national and international music scene are invited to join the scheme for a two year period. Since 2006 a jazz artist has also been invited every other year. The artists are given opportunities to develop their talents and exposure. These include special Radio 3 studio recordings, appearances and recordings with the BBC Orchestras and appearances at several music festivals, including the City of London Festival, Cheltenham International Festival and the BBC Proms. They also regularly appear at the Edinburgh Festival, Aldeburgh Festival, East Neuk Festival, Gregynog Festival, Lufthansa Festival of Baroque Music and the York Early Music Festival.
As part of the scheme Radio 3 has also collaborated with record companies, including nine co-production CDs with EMI Debut series, three of which (Belcea Quartet, Simon Trpceski and Jonathan Lemalu) have won Gramophone Awards for the best Debut CD of the year.[2] There have also been co-productions with Harmonia Mundi, Decca, BIS, Sony Classical and Basho Music, while a number of New Generation Artists have also featured on BBC Music Magazine cover CDs.[3]
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In 2006 Welsh pianist Gwilym Simcock was invited as the first jazz artist to join the New Generation Artists scheme. This continues every other year with jazz trumpeter Tom Arthurs joining in 2008 and jazz reeds player Shabaka Hutchings in 2010.
In 2008 Iranian harpsichordist Mahan Esfahani joined as the scheme's first early music specialist, though he made a serious mark as an interpreter of 20th century music and newly-commissioned compositions. Like another New Generation Artist, Maxim Rysanov, he has also started to gain attention as a conductor.
To celebrate the tenth anniversary of the New Generation Artists scheme, over fifty New Generation Artists past and present performed 12 concerts during the bank holiday weekend Saturday 29th - Monday 31st August at the Cadogan Hall in London, as part of the 2009 BBC Proms.