Cellist Gabriel Francis-Dehqani wins Keith Harvey Memorial Award for 2026

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The award of £2,500 will fund the cellist’s solo album later this year

Photo: Foppe Schut

Cellist Gabriel Francis-Dehqani

The British Cello Society has named Gabriel Francis-Dehqani as the recipient of its 2026 Keith Harvey Memorial Award. The award is endowed with £2,500, which Francis-Dehqani intends to use to fund his first solo album later this year.

Francis-Dehqani works for the chamber music department at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London as a Hans Keller Fellow with his ensemble, the Elmore Quartet. The quartet was awarded first prize at the 74th Royal Overseas League International Chamber Music Competition in 2026 and third prize at the 2024 Premio Paolo Borciani International String Quartet Competition in Reggio Emilia, Italy.

He read Music at Durham University where he performed extensively as a soloist and chamber musician, graduating in 2021 with the Eve Myra Kisch Prize for musical excellence. Francis-Dehqani was awarded First Prize at the Muriel Taylor Cello Competition and the Irish Heritage UK competition, held at Wigmore Hall.

The Keith Harvey Memorial Award commemorates Harvey, a co-founder of the London Cello Society (now the British Cello Society). He began his career at the age of 20 as the principal cellist of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, and became a founding member of the Gabrieli Quartet.

This marks the second award to be given out since Harvey’s death in 2017. The inaugural award was given to Ben Michaels in 2022.