Guildhall Scholl of Music Gold Medal
30th April 2026Barbican Theatre
Courtesy of Senior Warden Jacqueline Burrows
Members of our Company were guests last night at one of the highlights of the Guildhall School of Music & Drama’s academic year: the final of its prestigious Gold Medal competition, held in the comfortable concert hall at the Barbican Centre. Our Benevolent Fund is one of the long-term Benefactors of the GSMD and we celebrated sixty years of support during Henry Tuck’s year as Master.
The School’s most coveted prize, the Gold Medal is awarded to an outstanding student who demonstrates exceptional artistry, technical command and individuality. This year’s final was for instrumentalists, and brought together three of the School’s most talented musicians, who each gave performances of remarkable poise and calibre before an audience of invited guests, including many members of other Livery Companies.
It was difficult to see how the three judges (the Master of the King’s Music; the Director of the BBC Symphony Orchestra; one of the country’s leading talent managers) could choose a winner, but American violinist Caroline Durham triumphed, playing Bela Bartok’s violin concerto No 2 (112), in front of the GSMD’s Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Jonathan Bloxham. Caroline’s performance stood out for its poise, musical insight and assured technique. She captured the drama and nuance of this challenging piece and definitely earned the cheers and applause from the audience! The other two performers (Milen Earath on the piano and Cyrus Yuen playing a 1750 Caressi violin) were equally brilliant.
Many previous winners of the Gold Medal, established in 1915, have gone on to significant international careers, including Bryn Terfel, Jacqueline du Pre and Tasmin Little . Caroline Durham’s success marks her as a musician to watch in the years ahead.
If you haven’t had the opportunity to get to a Gold Medal final, make a note to look out for your invitation in 2027, when the prize will be awarded to one of three singers