Season’s soloists

Julian Chan

Recognised for the “sheer beauty and timbral variety” (International Piano Magazine) of his playing, Julian Chan is rapidly developing a reputation as one of the most innovative pianists of his generation. Performing music by a particularly diverse range of composers, he has given alluring recitals featuring works by figures from Sweelinck to Messiaen, from Alkan to Rzewski, unifying these various styles in a captivating manner.

  • He has performed at a range of prestigious venues across Europe and Asia, including Wigmore Hall, Southbank Centre, Nanjing Poly Theatre, the Sheldonian Theatre, and Palau de la Música Catalana. Julian has given performances with numerous artists of international renown, including Anthony Marwood, Richard Lester, John Myerscough, Dénes Várjon, Natasha Brofsky, Dale Barltrop, and Charlie Lovell-Jones; distinguished conductors with whom he has performed include Jessica Cottis, Dominic Grier, Ryan Wigglesworth, Ben Glassberg, Jonathan Berman, and John Gibbons. In recent years, Julian has been awarded First Prize and Sonata Prize at the Nanyang International Music Competition, Singapore, Second Prize at the Jazeps Vitols International Piano Competition, Latvia, the Royal Over-Seas League Collaborative Piano Award, First Prize at the Norah Sande Award, and First Prize at the Coulsdon and Purley Festival with his performance of Rachmaninoff’s Third Piano Concerto. Julian’s debut solo album – exploring the vibrant Java Suite by Leopold Godowsky and its rich textures and tapestries – was released with Linn Records in December 2025 to international acclaim: it garnered the titles of Album of the Week (NPO Klassiek) and Classical Record of the Day (Radio France), with Julian hailed as “every inch the colourist and tone painter” (International Piano Magazine). A passionate composer and performer of new music, Julian has collaborated with eminent composers such as Hans Abrahamsen, Anna Thorvaldsdottir, Jörg Widmann, Deborah Pritchard, Elena Langer, and Peter Seabourne. Julian had his first book of compositions published at age 6, earning him the title of Malaysia’s Youngest Composer. In 2024–25, Julian was recipient of the Aud Jebsen Fellowship at the Royal Academy of Music, where he previously studied with Ian Fountain and Michael Dussek. He is graciously supported by the Royal Over-Seas League and the Keyboard Charitable Trust.

Matthew Wilsher

Matthew Wilsher is a highly versatile clarinettist and creative. He works with a vast range of ensembles and organisations to engage audiences with music and reimagine how performance can connect, challenge and inspire. A graduate and double fellow of the Royal Academy of Music, Matthew has performed with orchestras including the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the London Contemporary Orchestra and the Philharmonia, appearing in leading venues such as Wigmore Hall, the Royal Festival Hall and the Royal Albert Hall..

  • Equally at home in the opera pit, on stage, or in community settings, Matthew is passionate about shaping opera in innovative and accessible ways. He is principal clarinet of Dorset Opera Festival, Devon Opera and Waterperry Opera, and works regularly with English Touring Opera, Birmingham Opera and Tête à Tête. As a founding member of the Arts Council–funded charity Hold the Drama, he performs non-verbal musical shows across the UK, and collaborates widely on education and outreach projects with English National Opera, The Mozartists and the London Sinfonietta.