Liverpool Philharmonic Announces 2026/27 Emerging Musicians Fellowship Cohort

From the storied halls of Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, a new cohort of rising stars has been selected to step onto the professional stage. The RLP has named four musicians for its 2026/27 Emerging Musicians Fellowship, a year‑long, paid program that will launch with the start of the 2026/27 season.

The Fellowship, now in its fifth year, is part of RLP’s broader strategy to support early‑career musicians. According to the organisation’s website, the scheme offers “accessible training, mentoring and performance opportunities” that help remove barriers to professional orchestral work. Fellows receive seven hours of lessons from RLP musicians each week, participate in rehearsal work, and perform in concerts at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall. The program also includes outreach and community projects.

Fellowship musicians will begin with a two‑day induction in Liverpool on 11–12 June 2026. The RLP has confirmed that all selected artists must be available for those dates.

The 2026/27 cohort consists of:

Kaylee Ramella – violin Molly Bielecki – French horn Stan Talman – percussion Tom Donkin – bassoon

Sameeta Gahir, Principal Piccolo with the RLP and Lead Musician for the Fellowship, said: “Every year, the Fellowship attracts applications from an exceptional range of talented musicians from a diverse range of backgrounds, and this year was no exception. The standard was incredibly high, making the selection process both inspiring and challenging. We are excited to welcome Kaylee, Molly, Stan and Tom to the programme. Each brings their own strengths, musical insight and potential, and we look forward to supporting them as they gain first‑hand experience of life within a professional orchestra over the coming season.”

Kaylee Ramella is an American violinist completing a master’s degree at the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM). She is a member of the Voluta Quartet, which won the RNCM Hirsch Prize and Weil Prize. Ramella has performed with the Manchester Camerata, the Canton Symphony Orchestra, and has appeared in chamber festivals such as the Manchester Music Festival and the Bowdoin International Music Festival. She is currently on trial with Britten Sinfonia and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.

Molly Bielecki is a French horn player from Sussex who earned a Master of Music in Performance at the Royal College of Music (RCM). She studied with John Ryan, Alex Edmundson, Zoë Tweed, Jonathan Maloney and Simon Rayner. Bielecki holds a First‑Class Bachelor of Music (Hons) and an Upper Diploma (GRNCM) from the University of Manchester and RNCM. She has participated in the Hallé Orchestra and BBC Philharmonic Professional Experience Schemes, and has freelanced with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and British Sinfonietta. Bielecki has also worked on outreach projects for ENGAGE Brass and the Jessie’s Fund.

Stan Talman is a percussionist from Somerset who began his musical journey in a local brass band. He studied at Wells Cathedral School and later at the Royal College of Music, where he won the James Holland Percussion Prize and the Royal College of Music Percussion Competition. Talman has performed with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and the London Symphony Orchestra Pathways scheme. He continues to work as a freelance percussionist, performing with theatre productions, outreach projects and non‑western classical groups.

Tom Donkin is a Scottish bassoonist and undergraduate at the Royal Academy of Music. He has performed in venues such as the Royal Albert Hall, St Paul’s Cathedral and the Royal Festival Hall, and has toured internationally with the Taipei Music Academy and Festival Orchestra. Donkin has worked with the Philharmonia Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic, Ulster Orchestra and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, where he is on trial for Associate Principal Bassoon. He is a founding member of the Dogoda Quintet and has participated in outreach programmes with the Philharmonia and the Odyssey Festival Orchestra.

The Fellowship offers a stipend of £2,000 per year and includes a fee of £2,500 for the program. Participants will be paired with mentors from the RLP Orchestra and will gain experience in both the rehearsal room and on stage. The scheme is open to musicians of all ages and has no upper age limit.

The RLP’s commitment to nurturing emerging talent aligns with its broader educational mission, which includes the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir, the Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Company and community outreach initiatives. By providing structured, paid experience, the Fellowship aims to create clear pathways into professional orchestral careers.

The four selected musicians will begin their induction in June 2026 and will join the RLP Orchestra for the 2026/27 season, where they will work alongside professional musicians and contribute to the orchestra’s concert programme.