Current winners

Paddington Trio (UK)

www.paddingtontrio.com

Tuulia Hero, violin; Patrick Moriarty, cello; Stephanie Tang, piano

Seen as the one of the most exciting chamber ensembles of their generation, the Paddington Trio has been recognized in international competitions and live performances for their fresh interpretations and exuberant energy. As did the famous bear, Finnish violinist Tuulia Hero, Irish cellist Patrick Moriarty and American pianist Stephanie Tang have made London their home and emerged as an ensemble of an entirely unique and lasting entity. The trio is celebrated for its close and energetic communication, insightful and imaginative programming as well as its highly refined ensemble playing. The trio’s grand mission is to bridge the gap between new listeners and serious classical music enthusiasts by welcoming everyone into their living room of musical discovery and shared love of chamber music. 

Having started their first adventure together at Paddington Station in 2020, a year after they met, the trio won First Prize in the 70th Royal Over-Seas League Competition for Strings & Piano Ensemble. Firmly committed to promoting new music, education and outreach in chamber music, they were also honoured with the First Prize of the NEW FORMATS Project Prize 2022 in Graz, Austria, and First Prize at the Clara Schumann International Competition. In April 2023, they were the winners of the prestigious Parkhouse Award held in Wigmore Hall, and they are currently generously supported by the City Music Foundation and the Kirckman Concert Society. In the summer of 2023, the trio completed an Artist Fellowship programme at their alma mater, the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London, and into 2024/5 continues to teach and inspire young ensembles through the Chamber Fellowship programme at the Royal Northern College of Music. 

In March 2023, the Paddington Trio made its concerto debut performing the Beethoven Triple Concerto with Jan Söderblom and the Jyväskylä Symphony Orchestra in Finland. They have appeared in prominent halls and series, such as Wigmore Hall, LSO St. Luke’s, Holywell Music Room, St. George’s Bristol and Bridgewater Hall. Their most recent debuts saw them at the TivoliVredenburg and the Schiermonnikoog Festival (NL), Festival Flanders Ghent, Internacional Festival Cervantino (MX) Buxton International and Brighton and Oxford Chamber Music Festivals, Lake District Summer Music and the North York Moors Chamber Music Festival. The trio has appeared on Klara (BE), RTÉ lyric fm (IE) YLE Radio (FI), and BBC Radio 3 In Tune.

Tuulia, Patrick and Stephanie have had the privilege to work closely with internationally renowned musicians, such as Eberhard Feltz, Marc Danel, Gary Hoffman, Levon Chilingirian, Robert Levin, Johannes Meissl, David Dolan and members of the Ébène, Takács, Endellion and Meta4 quartets. They are ensemble-in-residence at the Reina Sofia International Institute of Chamber Music and ECMA Ensemble from 2024.   They also receive mentorship from ChamberStudio and the Netherlands String Quartet Academy. The trio studied under Thomas Adès at the IMS Prussia Cove’s 50th anniversary masterclasses and have enjoyed collaborating with Sam Perkin, composer of ‘Freakshow’ (see below)

Upcoming engagements in 2025 include another Wigmore Hall performance in January (ECMA), King’s Place performances in January and February, Chipping Campden Music Festival, and return festival appearances in West Cork and Kuhmo festivals in the summer. They will tour the U.S. and China in the autumn season.

Tuulia plays on a 1707 Stradivarius violin, generously on loan from the Sibelius Academy, University of the Arts Helsinki.

Sam Perkin – Composer

Based between France and Ireland, Cork-born Sam Perkin composes music for leading musicians and ensembles in Ireland and abroad. In the space between classical and experimental music, his artistic work has a particular focus on the exploration of awe.

He has had fruitful collaborations with a vast array of performing artists and festivals from The Irish Chamber Orchestra and Vanbrugh Quartet to Musica Nova Helsinki and Network For New Music Philadelphia.

“More Beautiful Than It Has To Be” was premièred by experimental violist Nathan Sherman in June 2024 at Hošek Contemporary, Berlin. In July 2024, the stunning Will Duerden premièred “Washing Away The Sorrow” for Solo Double Bass and Piano at Buxton International Festival. Notably, Perkin’s work “Visualization” was performed by Dejana Sekulič at the opening launch concert of the 33rd Music Biennale Zagreb.

Sam holds degrees in Composition from CIT Cork School of Music, Ireland, and an Artist Diploma from Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Lyon, France, where he was awarded the Prix Salabert for Composition.

www.samperkincomposer.com