Double bassist Eduard Marcu wins Junior Guildhall Lutine Prize 2026

We are delighted to announce that double bassist Eduard Marcu has been awarded First Prize at the final of Junior Guildhall’s most prestigious award: The Lutine Prize. Cellist Yoko Afi was awarded the James Wilson Prize for second place.

The competition took place on Saturday 20 June in Milton Court Concert Hall. Eduard Marcu performed a winning recital of Adolf Mišek's Legende and Giovanni Bottesini's Grande Allegro di Concerto ‘alla Mendelssohn’.

The other finalists were: Nahuel Angius-Thomas (bassoon), Mayukhjit Chakraborty (flute), Evie Cooper (violin) and Emma Sandford (horn).

The adjudicators this year were Emma Bloxham, BBC Radio 3 Commissioning Editor, Live Music; Matthew Jones, Head of Chamber Music at Guildhall School of Music & Drama; and Lieutenant Colonel Lauren Petritz-Watts, Principal Director of Music (Army) within the Royal Corps of Army Music. The certificates were presented by Rosie Whitfield, Head of Junior Guildhall.

2015 Lutine Prize Winner Dan-Iulian Drutac performed with pianist Louisa Lam during the panel’s deliberations.

Eduard Marcu says: "I am so delighted and grateful to have won the Lutine Prize 2026! Being the first ever double bassist to win is so special to me and I hope that this will help highlight what can be achieved on this incredible instrument outside of orchestral playing."

Rosie Whitfield says: "This was a truly memorable evening, showcasing the exceptional depth and diversity of talent at Junior Guildhall. We are immensely proud of all those who took part and particularly delighted that we have our first-ever double bassist winner of the Lutine Prize in Eduard Marcu.

Eduard’s performance was a powerful reminder of the remarkable expressive range of the double bass. Combining virtuosity, warmth and artistry, he demonstrated not only the instrument’s technical capabilities but also its extraordinary ability to sing with lyricism and emotional depth. His performance showcased the very best qualities of this magnificent instrument and was a worthy winner of this year’s prize."

About the Lutine Prize

The Lutine Prize is Junior Guildhall’s equivalent of the senior school’s annual Gold Medal competition. Six students were selected by adjudicators Jonathan Lipton and Evan Rothstein from the preliminary round to perform in the final, where they presented a 20-minute solo recital. The First Prize winner is awarded the opportunity to perform a concerto with one of the Junior Guildhall ensembles, in addition to a cash prize.

James served with distinction on the Junior Guildhall Administration Team for many years and was admired for his exceptional professionalism, generosity, warmth and unwavering support of students, colleagues and families. An accomplished musician himself, he brought insight, care and enthusiasm to every aspect of his work and was a devoted supporter of Junior Guildhall performances and events.

The Lutine Prize held a special place in James's heart. As the competition's official page turner, he was a familiar and reassuring presence throughout rehearsals and performances, carrying out the role with characteristic humility, kindness and meticulous attention to detail. It is therefore with great pride and affection that Junior Guildhall commemorates his life and contribution through the establishment of the James Wilson Prize. We hope that this award will serve as a lasting tribute to a much-missed colleague, friend and member of the Junior Guildhall family, whose memory continues to inspire all who knew him.

About Eduard

Eduard Marcu is an 18-year-old double bassist from London whose musical journey began in primary school, where he first took up the double bass and met his teacher, Elizabeth Hosford, with whom he continues to study today.  

Since joining Junior Guildhall in 2018, he has developed into a committed and accomplished young musician, gaining extensive experience as both an orchestral and chamber performer. For the past two years, he has also been a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain. 

Eduard aspires to pursue a professional career as a classical double bassist. While he greatly values orchestral performance, his particular ambition is to further establish the double bass as a solo instrument, championing its rich and expressive repertoire and bringing greater prominence to the instrument on the concert platform. Through his studies and performances, he continues to explore opportunities to expand the visibility of the double bass within the classical music world.

Congratulations to Eduard and all our finalists!