Guildhall School of Music & Drama announces 2026 Gold Medal Finalists

Thursday 30 April at 7pm, Barbican Hall

Guildhall School of Music & Drama is pleased to announce the finalists for its most prestigious prize for musicians: the Gold Medal. The prize is awarded to instrumentalists and singers in alternate years. In 2026, the instrumentalists take centre stage, and the finalists are: pianist Milen Earath, and violinists Cyrus Yuen and Caroline Durham.

On Thursday 30 April, each finalist will perform a concerto with the Guildhall Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Jonathan Bloxham in front of an audience at Barbican Hall.

This year’s judges will include composer and Master of the King’s Music, Errollyn Wallen CBE, Joint Head of Artist Management for Intermusica New York, Aimee Chow, Director of the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, Bill Chandler and Guildhall School’s Vice-Principal & Director of Music Armin Zanner.

The finalists have chosen a variety of repertoire for the final, including Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No 2 in G minor performed by Milen Earath; Shostakovich’s Violin Concerto No 1 in A Minor performed by Cyrus Yuen; and Bartók’s Violin Concerto No 2 performed by Caroline Durham. 

The Gold Medal award was founded and endowed by Sir H. Dixon Kimber in 1915. Since 1950 it has been open to singers and instrumentalists in alternate years. Previous winners include Jacqueline du Pré OBE (1960), Tasmin Little CBE (1986), Sir Bryn Terfel (1989), Anna Stéphany (2005), Anna-Liisa Bezrodny (2006) and Natalya Romaniw (2011).

Recent Gold Medal winners are forging impressive careers. Winner of the Gold Medal in 2024, Strahinja Mitrović – the first double bassist to win the Gold Medal – continues his studies at Guildhall School, alongside his performing career. Strahinja has performed as part of Patrick McDowell’s show at London Fashion Week, a celebration of chamber music and ballet at the Royal Ballet and Opera, and gives his Wigmore Hall solo debut in 2026 as winner of the Guildhall Wigmore Recital Prize. Mezzo-soprano Alexandra Achillea, winner of Gold Medal in 2023, continues to perform with the Idrîsî ensemble, as well as having been supported as a Samling Young Artist in 2024. Her voice has been featured in film and media projects, including British Film Institute funded documentary Our Land by Orban Wallace with music by Daniel Inzani, and Audible’s Original audiobook The Mysterious Affair at Styles with a score by Johnny Flynn. 

Last year’s winner, soprano Seohyun Go continues her studies at Guildhall School, alongside her performing career. Since her winning performance, she has gone on to claim first prize at Bampton Classical Opera’s Young Singers’ Competition, has led performances of Poulenc’s Gloria with Exeter Philharmonic Choir and takes on the role of Mrs Coyle in Guildhall’s spring production of Owen Wingrave. In 2026 she joins Glyndebourne as a Jerwood Young Artist, receiving coaching and performance opportunities.

Milen Earath is supported in his studies by the Guildhall Scholarship. 

Cyrus Yuen is supported in his studies by the Louise Thompson Licht Scholarship and the Frederic William Trevena Award. Cyrus currently performs on a fine 1923 Pierre Hel violin, generously loaned to him by the Harrison-Frank Family Foundation in London.

Caroline Durham is supported in her studies by the Leverhulme Arts Scholarship.

The Gold Medal Final takes place on Thursday 30 April 7pm in Barbican Hall. Tickets are £14–£25 (£12 concessions) available from the Barbican Box Office. Priority booking for Guildhall Patrons & Circle members opens at 10am on Thursday 5 March. General booking opens at 10am on Tuesday 10 March.