The Gold Medal 2024

The final of Guildhall School's most prestigious music prize returns with a concert at Barbican Hall, offering the chance to enjoy three concertos by outstanding Guildhall instrumentalists: Heather Brooks, Kosuke Shirai and Strahinja Mitrović.

Guildhall School’s premier music prize was founded in 1915 and since the 1950s it has been open to singers and instrumentalists in alternate years. Previous winners of the Gold Medal include Jacqueline du Pré OBE (1960), Tasmin Little CBE (1986), Sir Bryn Terfel CBE (1989) and, most recently, mezzo soprano Alexandra Achillea Pouta (2023).

This year is the turn of the instrumentalists who will perform concertos with the Guildhall Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Jonathan Bloxham. The evening closes with the adjudication by the panel of leading experts from the classical music industry and announcement of the winner.

This year's esteemed jury comprises Armin Zanner, Guildhall School's Vice-Principal & Director of Music, Britten Pears Arts Chief Executive Roger Wright CBE, Director of Maestro Arts Emma Sweetland and Helen Wallace, Head of Music at Barbican.

2024 Finalists:

Heather Brooks harp
Performing Ginastera's Harp Concerto

Kosuke Shirai clarinet
Performing Copland's Clarinet Concerto

Strahinja Mitrović double bass
Performing Rota's Divertimento Concertante for Double Bass