Davison Foundation Recital Prize Competition, Saturday 17 May 2025
New College are hosting auditions for the Davison Young Musician Foundation Recital Prize. The Recital Prize will be £500, generously endowed by the Foundation. The winner will also be given the opportunity to perform a recital in The New Space. The Award series was established in 2021 by Tom and Peter Davison to support aspiring young musicians with their studies and provide opportunities for them to showcase their talent.
The opportunity is open to all music undergraduates (soloists and ensembles). If you would like to sign up to take part in the competition, please complete the linked form by Sunday 27th April. There are limited spaces available, which will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis.
Please note that participants are expected to organise their own accompanists and page-turners. Please send an email to concerts@new.ox.ac.uk if you need any assistance with this, or if you have any questions about the competition in general.
Anyone is welcome to watch the auditions.
DYMF ADJUDICATING PANEL
Tamas is Professor of trumpet and brass at the Franz Liszt Music Academy & Budapest University. He is a prolific virtuoso trumpet player, professional recording artist and a creator of the brass quintet “In Medias Brass.” Tamas works with Tom Davison on audition award programs for the Lizst Academy Series in Budapest and the Hungarian National University competition for music students.
Cristian is a prolific virtuoso violinist, named a ‘Young Classical Star’ by Classic FM. Cristian embarked on his career with a European recital debut at the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, and concerto debut with the Gulbenkian Orchestra, Lisbon, and has since been invited to perform in many of Europe’s prestigious halls. He has played chamber music alongside Renaud Capuçon, Maxim Vengerov and has been broadcast on BBC Radio 3, France Musique, RTP Portugal, Scala Radio and contributes to The Strad Magazine and BBC Radio 4. Cristian studied with Maurice Hasson, Tasmin Little and Pierre Amoyal at the Royal Academy of Music & Mozarteum University.
Felix Kirkby
Felix Kirkby is a conductor and keyboard player currently working in the UK and Europe. He grew up as a concert pianist, giving his first recitals at the age of 12. He subsequently served as Organ Scholar at Christ Church, Oxford. While founding his own symphony orchestra, he graduated top of his year in both undergraduate and masters’ degrees. He has served four years with the Davison Young Music Foundation, disbursing grants and scholarships to talented young musicians who are otherwise unable to afford the education and equipment needed.
Tom is the Founder of the DYMA and the DYMF. He studied classical music, trumpet and choral. At 16 he was the first winner of the Ruth Dyson Musicians Award while achieving ABRSM Grade 8 distinction and continued to study music performance at Roehampton College and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. He went on to work as a session musician for Strawberry and DJM Music Studios. Tom emigrated to Australia in 2001. While running a business, he played in the Strathfield Symphony Orchestra. In 2014 he returned to the UK. Since 2021 he has dedicated his time and resources to helping young musicians through the DYMF awards programme.
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