The Beatrice Huntington Award for Cellists
The Beatrice Huntington Award for Cellists 2027 will be open soon.
The annual Beatrice Huntington Award was established by William Syson (1930-2019) in memory of his great friend, Beatrice Huntington (1889-1988).
We will shortly invite applications from young cellists who can demonstrate talent, promise and a need for support. There are two categories: Junior Award (age 12-17) and the Senior Award (age 18-22). The winner in each category will receive £5,000 and runners up will receive £2,500. The judges reserve the right to split prizes into smaller denominations if there is not a clear winner.
Candidates should be resident or in full time study in Scotland and must be aged from 12 to 22 years on 1 February 2027. Prize winners of previous top awards (£5,000) are not eligible to apply, but applications may be submitted by the runners up.
The Application Process
The deadline for making an application is Friday 1 February 2027 at 5pm. The judges will then consider applications and will let you know whether you have been selected by 5pm on Monday 8 February. The shortlist will then be invited to audition in either Glasgow or Edinburgh (venues and dates to be confirmed, though likely the week commencing 22 March 2027).
We will ask for a reference from your cello teacher if you are selected for audition which we must receive before the audition day so please remember to tell your teacher that you are applying!
If you have additional support needs, the Trustees will consider receiving an application in an alternative format. Please contact us if this is the case for you: hello@williamsysonfoundation.org.uk (please note if contacting us; the office will be closed from 18 December 2026 - 11 January 2027).
Please make your application on the form below (will be appended in November), please don’t send any other information to us, it is not necessary and will not be considered. When your has application has been successfully submitted you will receive an automated confirmation email.
The Audition
You will be asked to play a piece or pieces of your choice (max duration 15 mins) and the judges will ask some simple questions. If you are invited to audition we will ask about any additional support you may need on the day of the audition, we also pay standard class rail travel expenses to auditions for applicants, plus guardians (for those under 18). For those who do not live within one day’s travel distance by rail, we will assist with either fuel costs or overnight accommodation.
Privacy Statement
The William Syson Foundation is committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. The data you have provided will be used solely for the purpose of assessing applications for the 2027 Beatrice Huntington Awards for Cellists. It will not be shared with any organisation or any individuals outside the Foundation.
Your data will be retained for as long as is necessary to fulfil the purpose for which it was collected and processed, and then securely destroyed/permanently erased from our IT system. Personal information from applicants not invited for interview and audition will be destroyed/deleted at the end of that year’s Award process. Our full Privacy Notice can be viewed this website.
Safeguarding Statement
All applicants invited to interview and audition are welcome to have an accompanist (which we ask you to arrange yourself). If applicants choose not to have an accompanist, they can bring a companion. All applicants for the Junior Award (aged 12 to 17) invited to interview and audition must be accompanied by a person over the age of 18, preferably a parent, guardian or teacher. Our full Safeguarding policy can be read on this website.
2026 Beatrice Huntington Award Winners
Senior Award Winner
Noah Chee
Noah Chee is a Korean American cellist currently studying under the tutelage of Dr. Alison Wells at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
He began his formal training in Los Angeles at the Colburn School of Music, studying with Marek Szpakiewicz and the principal cellist of the Cleveland Orchestra, Richard Weiss. During his time at Colburn, Noah received many awards and distinctions, including the Presidential Award in Musical Excellence, Southern California Bach Festival 1st prize, and top honours at the California state competition, Vocé. An active orchestral and chamber musician, he has participated in a range of international summer festivals, including programmes in Vienna, Turin and the Dolomites. He also served as principal cellist of the Interlochen World Youth Symphony Orchestra under the batons of JoAnn Falletta and Cristian Măcelaru. At the RCS, Noah was awarded the Louis Carus Duo Prize, performing Rachmaninov’s Cello Sonata as part of the ‘Mondays at One’ concert series. He continues to develop a versatile career as both a soloist and collaborative artist.
Senior Award Joint Runner Up
Ellamay Mantie
Ellamay Mantie is a Canadian cellist and avid chamber musician, recently sharing the stage with renowned artists such as Noah Bendix-Balgley, Remi Pelletier, Jeffrey Meyers, and Andrew Wan. She has performed with the Orchestra Symphonique de Montreal, and completed a mentorship scheme with the BBC Scottish Symphony. In the 2026-27 season, she will participate in the Scottish Ensemble’s Emerging Artist programme. Currently pursuing her Master’s degree at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland with Alison Wells, she previously studied at McGill University under the instruction of Brian Manker.
During her time at McGill she performed as a member of the Lyra Quartet, founded in 2023. In Scotland, she formed the Antar Quartet, which won top prize in the 2026 Mabel Glover Award for String Quartet and the RCS’s Chamber Music Competition.
Ellamay enjoys a frequent partnership with Canadian composer Fiona Marchetto, for whom she has premiered several works. Other creative activities have included studio recording for short films and album demos. Ellamay frequently attends prominent music festivals during the summer to enhance her studies. In 2025 she was a fellow at Toronto Summer Music.
Senior Award Joint Runner Up
Johnny Gray
Johnny has been a Cellist for 10 years now and is studying at the Royal Conservatoire under Martin Storey, following 4 years at the Music School of Douglas Academy. He won the Douglas Academy Concerto Competition in 2023 and 2025 and the WSSSO Concerto Competition 2025.
Johnny was appointed principal Cello at the RCS Junior Conservatoire and at Juniors he has taken part in the Nan Christie memorial award which he won last year. In 2025 Johnny won the Rotary Young Musician of the Year and the Ailie Cullen Memorial prize at the Glasgow Music Festival.
Johnny loves Rostropovich’s message about the Cello, where he wants to bring the Cello up to the popularity of the violin or the piano. Johnny hopes he can inspire others to learn the Cello as well.
Junior Award Winner
Patrick Fourie
Patrick Fourie started cello lessons at the age of 5 with Marie Connell, and soon thereafter joined the Sistema Scotland orchestral project. Patrick was then awarded a fully funded place at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Junior Department through the Transitions programme and is now attending St. Mary’s Music School in Edinburgh on a fully funded boarding place through the Scottish Government’s Aided Places scheme. He is studying cello with the esteemed pedagogue Ruth Beauchamp, as well as harpsichord studies with Dr John Kitchen. Patrick has attended masterclasses with some of the UK’s foremost cellists including Hannah Roberts, Rebecca Gilliver, Alice Neary, Alison Wells and Martin Storey.
Patrick is a keen chamber musician and orchestral cellist, having performed extensively with the RCS ensembles, National Youth Orchestra of Scotland as well as Great Britain, and in Europe as a member of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra Young. This has led to performances in some wonderful halls including the Elbphilharmonie, Concertgebouw and the Royal Albert Hall for the BBC Proms.
Junior Runner Up
Marcel Zak
Marcel started his music journey when he was 11 years old, originally learning the violin until he heard the cello and knew he had to switch instrument. Self taught for 6 months until attending Secondary School where he benefitted from his cello teacher. Since then, Marcel has played with a local orchestra, Fiddlesticks, with whom he has entered several competitions and performed solos. In January 2026 he won the young musician of the year junior category for his school and participated in the Edinburgh Music Competition Festival. He is determined to become a professional cellist and to play with the big orchestras! The cellists that inspire him are Sol Gabetta, Anastasia Kobekina, Gautier Capuçon and his Cello teacher, Amy Sims.
Junior Award
Dorothy Lok Yan Fong
Dorothy Lok Yan Fong is a 16-year-old cellist who has been playing for the past nine years. She currently studies at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Juniors with Betsy Taylor. Her hard work and progress were recently recognized with the prestigious Junior Beatrice Huntington Award. An active ensemble player, Dorothy performs with the Edinburgh Secondary Schools Orchestra and the RCS Symphony Orchestra. She is also a frequent participant in the local music scene, including the Edinburgh Music Competition Festival. Beyond classical music, Dorothy is interested in the cello’s modern potential. She is passionate about exploring a fusion of classical, folk, and jazz, and is eager to start digital content creation to document her journey and share the instrument's range with a wider audience.
Junior Award
Freddy Beeston
Freddy is a 17-year-old cellist from Edinburgh, currently studying at St Mary’s Music School with Kim Vaughan. A dedicated and enthusiastic chamber musician, whose passion for ensemble playing has been recognised with the school’s Chamber Music Prize and led to invitations to perform with the Edinburgh Bach Orchestra and the Afton String Ensemble. Recent highlights include performing Ravel’s String Quartet at the RSNO Showcase in the Usher Hall, touring with the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland, and appearing on the front desk of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra alongside Philip Higham through the SCO Academy Scheme. Freddy is also an active soloist and has competed in the ECF 15-Minute Recital, the Lord Clyde Concerto Competition, and the ECF Concerto Competition, where he was awarded Highly Commended. From September 2026, Freddy will begin undergraduate study at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland with Martin Storey.
Junior Award
Alexandra Casson
Alexandra is a 16yr old cellist from Edinburgh. She began playing cello when she was eight and received a music award and scholarship from ESMS School (Mary Erskine). Alexandra loves to play in orchestras and ensembles and is keen to develop her repertoire and learn to play in contrasting styles.
Junior Award
Saisharan Dahal
Saisharan is sixteen years old and picked up the cello unexpectedly when he was called to learn the instrument in primary school. As a music scholar at the Edinburgh Academy, Saisharan is a prominent figure in the school’s musical life. He is a dedicated member of the school orchestra, and other chamber music quartets. Alongside his ensemble work, he has a particular passion for solo performance, and has taken his playing to several solo competitions, events and online platforms. He enjoys playing Baroque and Romantic-era compositions the most, as he appreciates their dramatism and lyrical depth. In addition to his instrumental performances, he also enjoys singing and acting in school musicals. Over the years, Saisharan has developed into a well-rounded Cellist who hopes to inspire others to pursue their own musical passions through his playing.
Previous Beatrice Huntington Award Winners
2025 Award Winners
Senior Award Winner - Sarah Baker
Senior First Runner Up - Noah Chee
Senior Second Runner Up - Emily Brockett
Joint Junior Award Winners - Johnny Gray & Magnus Holden
Junior First Runner Up - Patrick Fourie
Junior Second Runner Up - Nicholas Cheung
Junior Third Runner Up - Rowan Elizabeth Maclean
Junior Fourth Runner Up - Oliver Byrom
2024 Award Winners
Senior Award Winner - Jae in Kim Kang
Senior Runner Up - Sarah Baker
No Junior Winner, 6 Award given:
Junior Award - Mika Wereszczynska
Junior Award - Aldyth Tierney-Hynes
Junior Award - Hannah Swinney
Junior Award - Emily Savage
Junior Award - Danny Urquhart
Junior Award - Luca Sant Angelo
2023 Award Winners
Senior Award Winner - Shakira Segalla-Humbert
Joint Junior Award Winner - Roshni Bhaumik
Joint Junior Award Winner - Anna Sciarretta
2022 Award Winners
Award Winner - Will Archibald
Award Winner - Jaylayne Mitchell
2021 Award Winners
Joint Senior Award Winner - Madelyn Kowalski
Joint Senior Award Winner - Hugo Eeadle
Junior Award Winner - Layla Ballard
2020 Award Winners
Award Winner - Rhona Pryce
Award Winner - Finn Mannion