Brentwood International Music Competition

Colin Lawson is one of the world’s leading period clarinettists, recognised internationally for his performances, scholarship and leadership in historical performance. He has played principal clarinet with many of Britain’s foremost period orchestras, including The Hanover Band, The English Concert and the London Classical Players, touring and recording extensively.

Praised as ‘a brilliant, absolutely world-class player’ and ‘the doyen of period clarinettists’, he has appeared as a soloist in major international venues such as London’s leading concert halls and New York’s Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall.

His discography includes concertos by Mozart, Weber, Vivaldi, Telemann, Spohr, Fasch and others, as well as a wide range of chamber music. His recording of Mozart’s Clarinet Quintet with members of The Revolutionary Drawing Room reached the top 20 in the Classical Charts in 2012. He has also published widely on the history of the clarinet and historical performance, contributing scholarly works with Cambridge University Press.

Colin Lawson served as Director of the Royal College of Music from 2005 to 2024 and was appointed Vice President in 2024.

Ronan O’Hora has performed worldwide with leading orchestras including the London Philharmonic, Philharmonia, BBC Symphony, Royal Philharmonic, English Chamber Orchestra, Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields, Zurich Tonhalle and Indianapolis Symphony. His concert career has taken him across Europe, North America, Asia, Australia and South Africa, appearing at major festivals such as Salzburg, Gstaad, Ravinia, Montpellier, Bath and Harrogate.

His extensive discography of over thirty recordings on EMI, Virgin Classics, Hyperion, Tring International and Fone features concertos by Mozart, Grieg and Tchaikovsky, and solo and chamber works by composers from Beethoven and Schubert to Debussy and Fauré. The Gramophone magazine praised his Grieg Piano Concerto recording as a performance of ‘imagination and great delicacy.’

A distinguished teacher, Ronan O’Hora is Head of Keyboard Studies and Head of Advanced Performance Studies at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London. He regularly gives masterclasses around the world and serves on the juries of major international competitions. He is a Visiting Professor at Tokyo College of Music and Honorary Professor at the China Conservatory.

Gerard Le Feuvre is an outstanding British cellist, chamber musician, composer, and Director of the Kings Chamber Orchestra. He studied on scholarships at Charterhouse, the RAM (Florence Hooton), Banff (Canada), the US (Aldo Parisot), and in Finland with Arto Noras, as well as in masterclasses with Paul Tortelier. During his student years as principal cellist of the NYO, he was awarded the Lloyd’s Bank National Award for “outstanding musicianship and musical attainment,” gained first prize (CBS Records Award) in the Royal Society of Arts National Competition, and was awarded a public performance at the Lucerne Festival in Switzerland, where he was described in the international press as “a cellist of the highest class.”

Gerard went on, as a member of the English String Quartet led by Diana Cummings, to be Director of Education for the London Festival of Chamber Music, performing over several years the greatest chamber works with many of today’s leading chamber musicians. In 1985, Gerard founded the Kings Chamber Orchestra, and nearly 40 years later, he has directed over 800 of their concerts, pioneering new audiences in the UK and across the world. As a soloist, Gerard has given over 500 recitals with British pianist Nigel Clayton and performed concertos in Europe, the UK, and North America to critical acclaim.

His many compositions have been wonderfully received, and in 2007, his largest symphonic work The Rock, for a vast orchestra, choirs, and additional bands, was performed on his home island of Jersey to their largest-ever audience of 8,000. His works for narrator and orchestra have received scores of performances.

Gerard has a special interest in music for reconciliation and has initiated a number of projects for Ukraine, for Channel Island friendship with Germany after their occupation in WWII, and undertaken many other musical diplomatic missions for peace.

In 2000, Gerard was awarded an Honorary ARAM (Associate of the Royal Academy of Music) for his “outstanding contribution to the music profession.”

International press and reviews:
“A master of his instrument.”
“Outstanding musical, artistic, instrumental, and human qualities.”

Rosie’s vast experience as a performer, teacher, examiner and presenter, teamed with an innate love of music, underpins her unstoppable drive as a dedicated campaigner for music in education.

Her natural ability to captivate audiences and inspire young musicians to achieve their dreams stems from an unquestionable belief that music can change lives.

Rosie studied oboe with Michael Winfield at the Royal College of Music achieving an Exhibition Award in her first year. She went on to study at Durham University and gained a PGCE in 1996.

As an experienced adjudicator member of The British and International Federation of Festivals, Rosie is regularly called upon to adjudicate in the UK and abroad and has forged long-standing links with specialist music schools in Moldova, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Venezuela, Costa Rica,Dominican Republic, China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. Her positive, interactive adjudicating style inducing young musicians to participate, year on year.

As Director of Music at Whitgift School, Rosie devised numerous educational projects and regularly presented interactive concerts and masterclasses to thousands of primary school pupils.n Instrumental in developing the Whitgift International Music Competition in 2013, she continues to support and mentor young musicians hoping for a career in the profession. As an International Consultant, Rosie has worked with numerous families to assist them in finding the perfect UK school and applying for Music Scholarships and funding.

Rosie was appointed as Head of Junior Guildhall in January 2020.

Since his debut as a soloist with the National Chamber Orchestra of Moldova at the age of 15, Grig has performed as a soloist with orchestras including the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London, the King’s Chamber Orchestra, the National Chamber Orchestra, the National Philharmonic and the National Youth Orchestras of Moldova.

He has given recitals and chamber concerts across the UK, Russia, Europe, Central America and the Middle East and performed solo in halls including Cadogan Hall in London, Teatro Olimpico in Vicenza, Murmansk Philharmonic in Russia and Christ Church in the Old City of Jerusalem. Enthusiastic about humanitarian causes, Grig has been invited to perform in Israel and the West Bank as part of an initiative to bring reconciliation and dialogue to the region.

Besides performing as a violinist, Grig Cuciuc has appeared as a conductor with orchestras in the UK and Italy and regularly directs the Kings Chamber Orchestra. Other collaborations include recording and performing with Emmy-nominated experimental composer Robert Logan and recording solo violin for award-winning film director Alex Gibney.

Much in demand as an educator, Grig has given masterclasses in the UK and Central America and is currently the Artistic Director of Specialist Music at Brentwood School. Previously, he taught at Junior Guildhall and Whitgift School where he helped set up the Whitgift International Music Competition.

During his musical studies in London, Grig was awarded the Dip RAM prize for an outstanding final recital at the Royal Academy of Music, where he completed his MA with distinction on full scholarship, having previously earned his Bachelor’s degree with First Class Honours from the Royal College of Music. In his development, Grig has benefited from the Auer, Galamian, Ysaye and Yankelevich traditions learning from esteemed pedagogues such as Maciej Rakowski, Anne Shih, Clio Gould, Remus Azoitei, Taras Gabora and Tamara Kaftanat.

He is fluent in several European languages and plays on a fine Nicolo Gagliano violin, made in Naples in 1780.

Ivo is an acclaimed violinist and graduate of the Royal Academy of Music, where he studied with Erich Gruenberg and received chamber coaching from members of the Amadeus Quartet. He has appeared on major television networks and has been awarded the Silver Medal by the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Golden Sign Medal of King Simeon by the Bulgarian Ministry of Culture.

Now based in the UK, Ivo is a leading ambassador for Bulgarian culture. He founded the London Festival of Bulgarian Culture and has premiered works by composers such as Grammy-nominated Dobrinka Tabakova with the English Chamber Orchestra and the London Mozart Players. His solo career has taken him across Europe, the USA and South America, performing with orchestras such as the Camerata Royal Concertgebouw and the Sofia Philharmonic, and at major UK venues including the Royal Albert Hall, Barbican, Cadogan Hall, Bridgewater Hall, Wigmore Hall and the Southbank Centre.

His acclaimed recordings include Mendelssohn’s Double Concerto with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, praised for its “dazzling virtuosity” and a five-star album of Beethoven Violin Sonatas. A versatile artist, Ivo has collaborated with Sir Cliff Richard, Mark Knopfler, and the late Jóhann Jóhannsson, and has performed chamber music with the Chilingirian Quartet and leading soloists including Svetlin Roussev, Ashley Wass, Guy Johnston and Stefan Popov.

John Patrick Lionel, Baron Petre is the 18th Baron Petre, which was bestowed on his ancestor, Sir William Petre, Secretary of State to four Tudor Monarchs in 1540.

Educated at Eton and Trinity College, Oxford, he served as HM Lord Lieutenant for Essex for over 14 years and was awarded Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order.

Lord Petre manages his family’s 3,000-acre estate, including Ingatestone Hall, farmland, woodland and residential properties, and holds the title Lord of the Manor of 17 local manors.

Previously, he worked in management of a number of London theatres in a variety of capacities, including as General Manager of Hampstead Theatre Club.

He has held roles including Chairman of the St John Council, Essex, and Chairman of the Essex Branch of the Country Landowners and Business Association.

Martin James Bartlett (OB) is an internationally acclaimed pianist known for his fearless technique, musical maturity and elegant performances. Winner of BBC Young Musician of the Year 2014, he has performed at prestigious venues including Wigmore Hall, the Concertgebouw, Kennedy Center and major international festivals.

An exclusive artist with Warner Classics, Bartlett’s recordings have received five-star reviews and widespread critical acclaim. He has performed with leading orchestras across the UK, Europe and the USA, and continues to inspire audiences with his dynamic solo, concerto and chamber performances.

In 2022, he was the inaugural recipient of the Prix Serdang Swiss Piano Prize, recognising young pianists forging international careers.

Martin, a former Brentwood School student, went on to study at the Royal College of Music, graduating with top honours, and received the Queen Mother Rosebowl from HRH The Prince of Wales to honour his exceptional musical achievement.

Bartlett now serves as Assistant Professor of Piano at the Royal College of Music.

Chris Moore is a baritone singer and member of the Grammy-nominated internationally acclaimed vocal ensemble VOCES8. Touring globally, the group performs an extensive repertoire both in its a cappella concerts and in collaborations with leading orchestras, conductors and soloists.

Chris’ love of singing began at Brentwood School and as a chorister in his local church choir. Following Brentwood, Chris studied at the University of Cambridge, where he read music and sang in Trinity College Choir under Stephen Layton.

In addition to singing, Chris enjoys conducting and composing, and when not on stage, he can often be found exploring the outdoors, looking at trains or cooking.