The school has named its Ensemble in Association, Junior Fellows in Chamber Music and the RNCM String Quartet Studio members
Manchester’s Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) has announced the artists that will take up the roles of Ensemble in Association and Junior Fellows in Chamber Music, as well as the new members of the RNCM String Quartet Studio.
The Novo Quartet returns as RNCM’s Ensemble in Association for 2026–27. Since coming into the role in 2025, the group has combined performances with coaching and collaborative projects. Formed in 2018, the quartet performs more than 100 concerts each year, including in venues such as Wigmore Hall and Laeiszhalle. The group won top prizes at the Geneva, Heidelberg, Carl Nielsen and Trondheim competitions, and was selected as BBC New Generation Artists for 2025–27.
Trio Havisham and Dutch–American violinist Amarins Wierdsma were confirmed as RNCM’s Junior Fellows in Chamber Music.
Trio Havisham is on the Countess of Munster Recital Scheme, was recently invited to the 2025 IMS Prussia Cove Masterclasses, and was the 2025 Ensemble en Résidence at La Roque d’Anthéron International Piano Festival. The group won second prize at the Concours International de Musique de Chambre de Lyon and first prize at the Cavatina Intercollegiate Chamber Music Competition.
Violinist Amarins Wierdsma studied with Coosje Wijzenbeek at the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague, Vera Beths at the Conservatory of Amsterdam, and David Takeno at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama. During her studies she won the Royal Philharmonic Society’s Emily Anderson Prize and the Dutch Young Music Talent of the Year Award, and as the first violinist of the Barbican Quartet, won first prize at the ARD International String Quartet Competition.
Four ensembles will also join the RNCM String Quartet Studio. They are: Talland Quartet, Voluta Quartet, Agogo Quartet and Osian Ensemble.
The intensive year-long programme is designed to create a clear pathway into the profession. Each ensemble receives access to dedicated daily rehearsal space; weekly coaching sessions with RNCM School of Strings professors, chosen by the ensemble; lessons and masterclasses with visiting artists; and performance opportunities, including internal recitals and external concerts arranged through the RNCM Artist Agency.
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