CMF Artists (l-r) Emily Sun, Alexander Soares, Ariana Kashefi and Joseph Shiner perform Messiaen’s Quartet for the End of Time in St Paul’s Cathedral, London, in October 2020
CMF IMAGE MUSICARTA
Well, good riddance to 2021, the year we had hoped might spell the swift end of Covid woes but instead gave us fresh lockdowns and headlines such as ‘Musicians Are Abandoning the Industry for a Stabler Career’. Arguably it was especially difficult for young artists, when lost incomes were fledgling ones, and at a career stage when every opportunity for visibility was already precious. However, the period has also been one that’s seen a few young careers rocket despite the difficulties – and one in which international young artist schemes have been busier than ever before. So, as we head into 2022, when Covid will surely be less formidable, it seems like a good moment to look at how various young artist schemes responded to the crisis, and to ask whether the pandemic has reinforced or lessened the value of being associated with one, and whether it’s even worth attempting to pursue a musical performance career right now; and if it is, which are the young artists most likely to get themselves noticed?