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Alison Balsom: 11 Important Dates in Her Life

Abstract:

We proudly present Trumpet Magazine’s Featured Artist for our August issue: Alison Balsom.

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ISSN: 2792-8349

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International Journal of Music

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  • 1991: Began her studies at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, and subsequently at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and at the Conservatoire de Paris with Håkan Hardenberger.
  • 1998: Alison reached the concerto final of the BBC Young Musician of the Year, returning as a presenter in 2014 and 2016.
  • 2001: Shortly before Alison graduated from Guildhall, she became the first brass player to be taken on by the Young Concert Artists’ Trust and joined BBC Radio 3’s New Generation Artists scheme.
  • 2002: Released her debut album, Music for Trumpet and Organ (EMI Classics), followed by her internationally acclaimed disc, Bach Works for Trumpet (Warner Classics, 2005).
  • 2009: She performed as a soloist at the Last Night of the Proms with the BBC Symphony Orchestra.
  • 2012: Alison marked 10 years in the classical music industry by heading back into the studio, to record her 10-year compilation album, The Sound of Alison Balsom (2013).
  • 2013: Made her radio presenting debut on Classic FM with Lucy Coward, and took to the stage at the Latitude Festival for the Sunday afternoon slot. Besides, Alison was awarded Artist of the Year at the Gramophone Awards and the PPL Classical Award by musical charity Nordoff Robbins (she also holds three Classic BRIT Awards — 2006, 2009, 2011 — and three German Echo Awards — 2007, 2009, 2012).
  • 2015: Passionate about pushing the boundaries of her instrument, Alison has had numerous concertos written for and commissioned by her. She gave the world premiere of Guy Barker’s Lanterne of Light at the 2015 BBC Proms. But she also commissioned and performed the world premiere of Thea Musgrave’s award-winning Trumpet Concerto (2019), and includes Bramwell Tovey’s Songs of the Paradise Saloon and Qigang-Chen’s Joie Eternelle amongst her repertoire.
  • 2016: Was appointed an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the Birthday Honours for services to music, as well as an Honorary Fellow of the Guildhall School of Music & Drama.
  • 2018: Was named Artistic Director of the 75th Cheltenham Music Festival.
  • 2022: Alison has a rich recording catalogue for Warner Classics (formerly EMI Classics), with 13 solo albums, and 2 compilation albums. The next collection of recordings, beginning with the latest — entitled Quiet City, has been released on the Warner Classics label in August 2022.

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