Crash Ensemble Competitors

Founded in 1842, the New York Philharmonic plays a leading cultural role in New York City, the United States, and the world. Each season the Orchestra connects with millions of music lovers through live concerts in New York and beyond, as well as broadcasts, recordings, and education programs. Gustavo Dudamel becomes the New York Philharmonic’s Oscar L. Tang and H.M. Agnes Hsu-Tang Music & Artistic Director in September 2026, having served as Music & Artistic Director Designate in 2025–26. The Orchestra’s 2026–27 season, which marks the beginning of Dudamel’s tenure, ushers in a dynamic new era of artistic growth, groundbreaking collaboration, forward-thinking programming, and deeper community engagement.

The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) is an internationally celebrated symphony orchestra, at home in Birmingham. A family of incredible musicians, led by Music Director Kazuki Yamada, proud to make exciting musical experiences that matter to the people of Birmingham, the West Midlands and beyond. Resident at Symphony Hall, the orchestra’s musicians perform over 150 concerts each year in Birmingham, the UK and around the world, with music that ranges from classics to contemporary, soundtracks to symphonies, and everything in between. With a far-reaching community and education programme, a ground-breaking partnership with Shireland Collegiate Academy Trust, and a family of choruses and youth ensembles, it is involved in every aspect of music-making in the Midlands – and has been for more than 100 years. This longstanding tradition started with the orchestra’s very first symphonic concert in 1920 – conducted by Sir Edward Elgar. Ever since then, through war, recessions, social change and civic renewal, the CBSO has been proudly ‘Birmingham’s orchestra’. Under principal conductors including Adrian Boult, George Weldon, Andrzej Panufnik and Louis Frémaux, the CBSO won an artistic reputation that spread far beyond the Midlands. But it was when it discovered the young British conductor Simon Rattle in 1980 that the CBSO became internationally famous – and showed how the arts can help give a new sense of direction to a whole city. Rattle’s successors, Sakari Oramo, Andris Nelsons and Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla, helped cement that global reputation and continued to build on the CBSO’s tradition of flying the flag for Birmingham. Under the dynamic leadership of Music Director Kazuki Yamada and Chief Executive Emma Stenning, the orchestra continues to celebrate the joy of music and of Birmingham through creating unmissable and unforgettable musical experiences for all. The CBSO is supported by its principal funders Arts Council England and SCC.

Ireland's Music Conservatoire since 1848 The RIAM offers junior, pre-college, undergraduate and postgraduate musical training of the highest standards. RIAM Exams assess and support the learning and development of young musicians and their committed teachers throughout the island of Ireland. To celebrate its 175th year, the RIAM will deliver a World-Class Music Conservatoire for Ireland through the opening of a new €25m campus. The new campus will double the number of teaching and practice rooms, provide new and enhanced facilities, and create a space for collaboration to flourish. Pre-school, second and third-level music education, professional training and development, research, and exceptional performance will work in harmony together in one dynamic and creative space.