The European Concert Hall Organisation (ECHO) is pleased to introduce the exceptional artists selected for its 2026-27 ECHO Rising Stars season.

• Amelio Trio – nominated by Kölner Philharmonie, Barbican Centre, Elbphilharmonie Hamburg and Philharmonie du Luxembourg
• Camila Mandillo, soprano – nominated by Gulbenkian Foundation Lisbon, Bozar Brussels and Casa da Música Porto
• Ava Bahari, violin – nominated by Konserthuset Stockholm, Cité de la musique - Philharmonie de Paris and NOSPR Katowice
• Petar Pejčić, cello – nominated by Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, Konzerthaus Dortmund and Palau de la Música Catalana
• Elionor Martínez, soprano – nominated by Palau de la Música Catalana, Festspielhaus Baden-Baden and L'Auditori Barcelona
• Javus Quartett – nominated by Wiener Konzerthaus, Musikverein Wien and Elbphilharmonie Hamburg

As part of the ECHO Rising Stars programme, these artists will perform on the stages of leading concert halls across Europe throughout the 2026–27 concert season. In addition to their concert tours, they will take part in Education, Learning and Participation (ELP) activities, commission a new work by a composer of their choice, and engage in customised workshops and mentoring opportunities designed to support their artistic and professional growth.

Since its launch in the 1995/96 season, the ECHO Rising Stars programme has supported over 150 outstanding young artists. Alumni of the programme include celebrated names such as Patricia Kopatchinskaja, Jörg Widmann, Janine Jansen, Igor Levit, Renaud Capuçon, Khatia Buniatishvili, Benjamin Appl, Kian Soltani, Quarteto Casals, Belcea Quartet, and Modigliani Quartet.

Artists are nominated by the artistic teams of ECHO member halls, who identify musicians already making waves in their national scenes and ready to reach a broader European audience. The selection process is coordinated by the ECHO office and based on in-depth discussions during the annual artistic meeting, which this year took place in Lisbon, hosted by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation from March 26–28, 2025.

The current ECHO Rising Stars for the 2025–26 season include Álfheiður Erla Guðmundsdóttir (soprano), Áron Horváth (cimbalom), Giorgi Gigashvili (piano), Maat Saxophone Quartet, Trio Chagall, and Valerie Fritz (cello) See them perform in the Jennifer Blackwell Space at Symphony Hall as part of the Birmingham Classical 2025/26 Season. These charming afternoon concerts are just £15 and include a hot drink and slice of cake in the ticket price.