The Hallé is delighted to announce that BBC Radio 3 has selected Israeli pianist Tom Borrow as the latest winner of The Terence Judd-Hallé Award.

The remarkably talented pianist, Terence Judd, tragically passed away in 1979 at the age of just 22. A trust was subsequently established in his name and an award has been presented in association with the Hallé for over 40 years. Notable past recipients include Stephen Hough, Nikolai Lugansky, Elisabeth Brauss and last year’s beneficiary, Alexander Gadjiev.

2021 saw the formation of a new and exciting partnership with the BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists scheme, which provides opportunities for exceptional young musicians on the brink of an international career to reach their full potential. Each year, an outstanding young pianist approaching the end of the scheme is selected by the BBC to receive the prestigious Terence Judd-Hallé Award.

The award continues to help support the professional development of the winner and includes:

• at least one concerto performance with the Hallé
• a chamber recital with Hallé musicians at Hallé St Peter’s
• a solo recital as part of the Manchester Mid-Day Concert Series
• a cash prize of £7,000

Tom Borrow’s Hallé debut takes place on 21-25 February 2024 with five concerts in Manchester, Hanley and Sheffield. Tom has chosen to perform Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No.3 in a spectacular programme conducted by Maxime Pascal which also includes Brahms’s Tragic Overture and extracts from Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet Suite.

David Butcher, Chief Executive of the Hallé, said: “We are thrilled to welcome BBC New Generation Artist Tom Borrow as the latest recipient of the Terence Judd-Hallé Award which honours the memory of one of this country’s finest young pianists. The award is also a significant addition to our thriving broadcast partnership with BBC Radio 3”.

Tom Borrow said: "I am so thrilled and honoured to receive the Terence Judd-Hallé Award. All the more since this award is in memory of a truly distinguished pianist whose ideals I hope to live up to, and is given by an orchestra whose reputation for superb musicianship is known internationally. And what could be better than to have the opportunity to play with the Hallé at The Bridgewater Hall, in chamber music with its musicians, and even in a recital at the Manchester Mid-Day Concert Series? There could be nothing more encouraging to a young pianist than all of this, and I feel very thankful and, again, deeply honoured”.

Sam Jackson, Controller of BBC Radio 3 said: “Founded in 1999, and now with over 100 alumni, the BBC’s New Generation Artists scheme nurtures and promotes some of the world’s finest young instrumentalists, singers and ensembles at the start of their international careers, through broadcasts on BBC Radio 3. Every year, six or seven soloists are selected to join the scheme for a period of just over two years, during which time they make studio recordings, perform at some of the UK’s most prestigious venues and festivals, commission new work, and appear with orchestras across the UK. The BBC’s relationship with the Hallé is extremely important to us, and we’re absolutely delighted that our BBC New Generation Artist Tom Borrow is to be the next recipient of this prestigious award, taking up the baton from Alexander Gadjiev. It’s such a brilliant opportunity for our NGA pianists to perform with an orchestra of the Hallé’s stature, and form what we hope will be long-lasting and fruitful associations with audiences – not just in Manchester but around the UK.”

Tom, who has won every national piano competition in Israel, was called on in January 2019 to replace renowned pianist Khatia Buniatishvili in a series of 12 concerts with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra performing Ravel's Piano Concerto in G to sensational public and critical acclaim. Tom made his BBC Proms debut in 2022 with the BBC Symphony Orchestra and has been invited to perform with major orchestras around the world including Cleveland Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony, Santa Cecilia Orchestra, Berlin Konzerthaus Orchestra, Czech Philharmonic and São Paulo Symphony to name just a few.

LINKS FOR EDITORS
Tom Borrow www.tomborrow.com
Hallé main website www.halle.co.uk
Hallé latest biography www.halle.co.uk/who-we-are
BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007tb68