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Soloists
Sofia Demetriades (Violin)
Mendelssohn - violin Concerto, 1st mvt - 2nd March 2025
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Sofia, born in 2008, is the laureate and top prize winner of several international violin competitions including Lipinski-Wieniawski in Lublin (1st Prize in Junior Category, 2021, and 1st Prize in Senior Category, 2024), the Nutcracker in Moscow (1st Prize, the “Golden Nutcracker”, 2021), Sondeckis in Siauliai (Grand Prix 2022) and Piccolo Violino Magico in San Vito (2nd Prize 2022). Sofia performed as a soloist with several orchestras and appeared as one of five “Mini Violini” in showcase concerts during the opening of the Concours Musical International de Montreal (April 2023).
Sofia is a keen chamber musician and regularly performs with her quartet and trio. Sofia studies with Prof Zakhar Bron at the Interlaken Academy in Switzerland and with Prof So-Ock Kim by private arrangement. Sofia attends the Junior Academy at the Royal Academy of Music in London. Sofia plays on 1893 Stefano Scarampella violin on loan from J&A Beares.
Jamaal Kashim (Harp)
Claude Debussy - Danse Sacrée et Danse Profane - 2nd March 2025
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Jamaal Kashim studies harp at the Royal College of Music Junior Department with Professor Daphne Boden. He is equally accomplished in both recital and orchestral settings and isdelighted to be performing with the London International Concert Orchestra.
Jamaal’s concert engagements include performances with Windsor & Maidenhead
Symphony Orchestra, Reading Symphony Orchestra, Chorleywood Orchestra and the
Waverley Ensemble, in addition to a solo recital in the Royal Albert Hall’s Elgar Room. His
virtuosity has been recognised in many competitions including as a semi-finalist in BBC
Young Musician 2024 having been unanimously awarded winner of the quarter final. He was
awarded first prize in both Rickmansworth and Reading Symphony Orchestra Young
Musicians’ Competition 2024 and is thrice winner of RCMJD’s Gordon Turner Harp
Competition.
Jamaal served as Principal Harp of the Royal Concertgebouw’s ‘Young’ Orchestra 2023,
RCMJD Symphony Orchestra, National Children’s Orchestra, Chineke! Junior Orchestra and
London Schools Symphony Orchestra, with whom he was a Scholar of the Countess of
Munster Trust. He was a London Philharmonic Orchestra Junior Artist 2023/2024 and has
performed at venues including the Berlin Konzerthaus, Concertgebouw, Royal Albert Hall
and Barbican.
As a composition student of Dr Pitkin at RCMJD, Jamaal was highly commended in BBC
Young Composer 2023 and was a finalist in the National Centre for Early Music Young
Composers’ Award 2024. His work has featured on BBC Radio 3, Google Arts & Culture
and with English Heritage. Jamaal is grateful to the Estate of Humphrey Searle for their
support in his ongoing composition studies.
Jamaal was home-educated for most of his life and intends to further his music education at
university.
Ella MacKinnon ('Cello)
Elgar Cello Concerto 4th mvt. - 2nd March 2025
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Ella was born in London in 2007 and studied at the renowned Yehudi Menuhin School in Cobham on a scholarship from the Music & Dance Scheme, and later with Oleg Kogan, a former professor at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. She is now taught by Professor Jo Cole at the Royal Academy of Music.
Ella has participated in masterclasses with Josephine Knight, Ben Hong and the late Luca Simoncini amongst others. In 2024, the year that saw her enter her first national competitions, she was awarded a Distinction at the North London Festival, and 2nd Prize for her year group in the String Category at the New Talent Festival.
Ella attends the Junior Department of the Royal Academy of Music and has performed in several chamber music workshops and festivals, including Borromeo Music Festival, MusicWorks and Sacile International Music Meetings. She is also a pianist and outside of music, loves throwing pottery and bouldering.
Anxo Garcia (Piano
Beethoven piano concerto No. 1 in C maj 1st mvt - 2nd March 2025
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Anxo Garcia was born in 2008 and started learning the piano at the age of five. He also plays the violin, the flute and the organ.
He currently attends Royal Russell School in Croydon as well as the Royal Academy of Music Junior Department on Saturdays, where he studies the piano with Mark Nixon. Anxo performs regularly in concerts at his school, at the Academy and further afield.
In addition to taking part in masterclasses with teachers such as Stephen Devine and Katya Apekisheva, he has received various prizes in music festivals such as the Penny Bazire Memorial Cup at Woking, the Dorothy Allen Recital Cup at Sutton and the Jill Jones Trophy at Coulsdon and Purley. In December 2023, Anxo passed his DipABRSM with distinction.
He had his first concerto experience shortly before this, performing Mozart’s Piano Concerto No 21, K467 with his school’s orchestra. He also took part in the ArtePiano Festival in Italy last summer.
Anna Nemchuk (Violin)
Sibelius 1st mvt - 2nd March 2025
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Anna Nemchuk (17) began studying violin at the age of 5 at Stolyarsky Music School in Odesa, under the guidance of Kateryna Skripak. After moving to the UK, in May 2022, she was accepted into the Guildhall Junior Department, where she studied with Itamar Rashkovsky.
Anna has taken part in a number of music courses, including the New Virtuosi master course and Pro Corda, and has participated in many national as well as international competitions, such as International Festival-Competition "Chords of Khortytsia", Evgeny Stankovich International Competition, Hedwig Prize and others.
Anna has been a member of several orchestras, among which are the Thames Valley Youth Orchestra and the Guildhall Youth Symphony Orchestra. She also regularly performs as a soloist and chamber music player.
Since September 2023, Anna has been studying at the Yehudi Menuhin School, where she continues her violin studies in the class of Sebastian Muller. She is focused on furthering her technical and musical development as she continues to pursue a career in music.
Chaminade concertino op 107
Erika Khederian (Flute)
Chaminade concertino op 107 - 2nd March 2025
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Erika is a 17 year old flautist from North London, currently studying in her last year at The
Latymer School. She began learning the flute at the age of 8. On Saturdays, she attends the
Royal Academy of Music Junior Department, where she studies flute with her teacher, Anna
Pope.
She attended the William Bennett Summer School in 2018 & 2019, where she had the
opportunity to have masterclasses with him. She also has had piccolo lessons with Pat
Morris. Erika has been a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain for three
consecutive years (2023/24/25).
She has participated in various competitions and concerts;
she won the Premier challenge Prize Woodwind Competition at the North London Music
Festival in 2022, The Young Woodwind Player of the Year at the Gregynog Young Musician
Competition in 2023, and 2 nd prize at the British Flute Society Competition in 2024.
Melanie Hau (Harp)
Handel Harp Concerto in B flat maj op 4 no. 6 Andante - 2nd March 2025
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Melanie Hau is an 11-year-old harpist who began learning at age 3 and now studies with Ms. Clara Gatti Comini. She earned distinction in her Grade 7 ABRSM harp exam and has been selected as a harpist with the National Children’s Orchestra for three consecutive years. Melanie has achieved 1st prize in the Junior Advanced Solo class at the Richmond Thames Performing Arts Festival 2023 and awards in other competitions, including the North London Harp Competition and Poppy Harp Festival.
Melanie has had the privilege of attending masterclasses with renowned harpists, including Fabrice Pierre, Gabriella Dall’Olio, and Sylvain Blassel. She was also invited to perform for Arts Richmond, in front of notable guests like the Mayor of Richmond. In addition to the harp, Melanie plays the piano and passed her Grade 8 ABRSM piano exam. She also enjoys netball and crocheting. Together with her older sister, Melanie shares her music performances on their YouTube channel, mmharpists.
Zarema Sitshayeva (Violin)
Lalo Symphonies Espagnole 1st mvt- 2nd March 2025
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Zarema Sitshayeva, born in 2011 in Crimea, Ukraine, is an accomplished young violinist. She currently attends The Purcell School for Young Musicians and studies at the Junior Department of the Royal Academy of Music.
Zarema began playing the violin at the age of five in Kyiv and has since earned over 100 awards in both national and international competitions, including the prestigious Royal Academy of Music Prize of New Talent Festival 2024 and Grand Prix titles in competitions such as the International Violin Competition Prime Violin (Slovakia) and the Music Academy Forte Solo Performance Competition (Belgium). Zarema has performed extensively in solo and chamber music settings, as well as with the Royal Academy Sinfonia Orchestra.
She has received guidance from celebrated violinists such as James Ehnes, Dmitry Sitkovetsky, and Dora Schwarzberg through masterclasses, and has participated in esteemed festivals like the Violin Festival in Münster, Germany. She won first prizes at the Amadeus International Music Awards 2024 and BTHVN Wien Music Competition 2024. Zarema's passion and dedication to music continue to drive her promising music journey.
Tracy Zhao (Violin)
Wienawski No.2 3rd mvt - 2nd March 2025
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Tracy Zhao is a 14 years old violinist from Melbourne, Australia. She began her musical journey at the age of five. In 2022,
Tracy was awarded a place at the Yehudi Menuhin School, where she studied under the guidance of the renowned violinist Sebastian Mueller. Prior to this, she had studied and attended masterclasses with several acclaimed musicians, including Peter Wang (AU), Mark Mogilevski (AU) and Joel Smirnoff (USA). As an active participant in music scenes and events, Tracy has won several international and local competitions.
In 2021, she won the Sydney Eisteddfod Violin Section (11 years) and in 2020, she achieved First Place and Judges Distinction Award at the American Protégé International Piano & Strings Competition. Additionally, Tracy won the Crowd Favourite Performance award at the 2020 Sydney Eisteddfod. She has also been recognized on the international stage, with her receiving the Brilliant Talent Discovery Award at the 5th Singapore International Music Competition.