Latest News from Beare's Society Artists

Performances, recordings and more

New Society artist

Camille Thomas

Franco-Belgian cellist Camille Thomas has been loaned 1717 Tecchler cello through the Society by a generous benefactor.

Camille is one of the leading cellists currently performing on the world stage, with a career that has seen her work with conductors Paavo Järvi, Kent Nagano and Stéphane Denève, and with orchestras including the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, Academia Santa Cecilia, and Staatsorchester Hamburg.

Following numerous competition and prize wins, including the title of Revelation, Instrumental soloist, at the Victoires de la musique classique, and the CHOC prize from Classica and an ECHO Klassik PREIS for her second album, she signed an exclusive recording contract with Deutsche Grammophon in 2017. Her second release with DG, Voice of Hope, was the first-ever classical album too be released in partnership with UNICEF, reflecting Camille’s desire to help others through her music.

New Society artist

Aida Ribon

A multiple prizewinner in international competitions, Aida Ribon has made a name for herself across Japan’s classical music scene.

She won the first prize at the 6th Romania International Music Competition in the Strings Category, and the 81st Japan Music Competition in the Violin Category. Aida has performed as a soloist as Tokyo Spring Music Festival, Beppu Argerich Music Festival, Miyazaki International Music Festival, among others, and was concertmaster of Ozawa International Chamber Academy from 2011 until 2021 under Seiji Ozawa. As well as her solo career, she is also a Special Guest Concertmaster of City of Kyoto Symphony Orchestra since April 2020, and is Concertmaster of Sapporo Symphony Orchestra since April 2022.

Aida plays a c. 1735 Sanctus Seraphin violin kindly loaned to her through the Beare’s Society by Firmament Capital Limited.

New Recording

Timothy Ridout

In his latest release, Timothy Ridout turns to an exploration of the wonderful sounds of a solo viola. This album showcases unaccompanied masterpieces for his instrument from Telemann, Bach, Britten and Caroline Shaw.

Timothy Ridout plays a fine viola by Peregrino di Zanetto from c.1565-75, kindly loaned to him through the Society.

Album cover of Timothy Ridout's recording of Telemann, Bach, Britten and Shaw

New Society artist

Shlomi Shahaf

We are delighted to welcome a new rising talent to the Society. Violinist Shlomi Shahaf was a finalist in the 2024 BBC Young Musician of the Year competition and is emerging as an artist to watch.

He first studied in Kyiv’s Lysenko Specialized Music School, before joining Purcell School following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In his career to date, he has won competitions in Poland, the UK, Romania and France. Shlomi has been loaned a very fine Giovanni Francesco Pressenda violin kindly provided to him by Irene R. Miler through the Beare’s Society.

New Recording

Esther Abrami

Our longstanding Beare’s International Violin Society artist Esther Abrami has embarked on a new recording project telling the story of women in music throughout history. The new album, out on 25 April, is a journey through centuries of music, told through the voices of women who composed, fought, lived, and created despite the odds.

Esther plays plays a Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume violin kindly loaned to her through the Society.

Album cover of Esther Abrami's recording 'Women'

New Society artist

Julia Majewska

Julia is a talented emerging violinist currently studying at the Purcell School.

Aged 17, in her career to date she has received the Polish Ministry Of Culture and National Heritage Scholarship Award and participated in the Morningside Music Bridge programme, as well as winning prizes at a number of competitions across Poland. She is supported by the Julian Cochran Foundation.

Julia plays a very fine Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume violin kindly loaned to her through the Beare’s Society.