Tannaz Beigi (harp), Nikita Demidenko (piano), Lin Deng (piano), Alexander Doronin (piano), Emil Hartikainen (violin), Kasparas Mikužis (piano), Olwen Miles (violin), Alise Siliņa (accordion), Elfida Su Turan (violin) and Alix Vaillot Szwarc (violin) are the latest musicians to join the LSO’s prestigious programme, which each year welcomes a new cohort of ten students from the world’s top conservatoires.
The LSO Conservatoire Scholarship, created in partnership with Alex and Elena Gerko, aims to ensure that outstanding postgraduate musicians from all backgrounds can access conservatoire training. The sizeable grants of up to £15,000 per academic year contribute to living and maintenance costs and allow recipients to focus fully on their studies at a critical stage in their education. Scholars also receive personalised mentorship from LSO musicians as well as performance opportunities, introductions to key people in the sector and the chance to connect with each other.
A global group, the 2025/26 Scholars hail from Iran, Russia, China, Finland, Lithuania, Latvia, Turkey, France, Italy and Britain. All the students face financial difficulties of some kind with some coming from countries in economic crisis and others experiencing challenges at home.
They join 20 exceptional postgraduate musicians already on the scheme including Classic FM Rising Stars Deniz Sensoy (violin) and Strahinja Mitrović (double bass), member of the prolific prize-winning Fibonacci Quartet Elliot Kempton (viola), and Will Duerden (double bass), whose recent Wigmore Hall performance was acclaimed as ‘simply superb, exquisite’ by Seen and Heard.
The ground-breaking LSO Conservatoire Scholarships programme was created in partnership with renowned philanthropists and music-lovers Alex and Elena Gerko, who were inspired by the experiences of outstanding participants in the London Symphony Orchestra’s Discovery programme who faced financial barriers to post-graduate study.
Alex and Elena said ‘As music lovers and longstanding LSO supporters, we were struck by the challenges facing those taking the final steps in their study to become professional musicians. We were keen to work with the London Symphony Orchestra to launch this programme to ensure that the very best emerging instrumentalists are able to fully commit to their studies, while benefitting from the support & coaching of LSO members, including insights and guidance on how to excel in a career in music. We hope the programme will act as an inspiration to others hoping to study music at the highest level’
Scholar Kasparas Mikužis, currently studying piano at the Royal Academy of Music, said:
‘I feel extremely grateful to have been selected as one of the LSO Conservatoire Scholars. This support will allow me to dedicate myself fully to music-making. To be in a position where my only limits are time and self-motivation is truly inspiring, and I am very excited about the opportunities ahead.’
Scholar Tannaz Beigi, currently studying harp at the Royal College of Music, said:
‘Coming from Iran, where the music industry is underdeveloped and opportunities for the harp are rare, my path has been defined by determination. This scholarship is transformative: it gives me the chance to grow within one of the world’s most inspiring communities and share my music on an international stage.’
The scholarship programme is part of the Emerging Artists strand of LSO Discovery, the LSO’s learning and community programme, which provides a wide range of inspiring and inclusive opportunities for performers, creators and participants from all backgrounds.
To find out more about the Scholarship and sign up to the mailing list, visit lso.co.uk/scholarships.
Media Enquiries
Christopher Millard (he/him), London Symphony Orchestra
chris.millard@lso.co.uk | +44 (0)7545 502226
Notes to Editors
The LSO Conservatoire Scholarships programmes, launched in 2023 and made possible by Alex and Elena Gerko, is open to postgraduate instrumentalists of any age or nationality who are facing financial barriers, have been awarded a scholarship place for a postgraduate course at one of the world’s leading conservatoires focused on classical study of an orchestra instrument, and have previously studied at undergraduate level at a UK conservatoire or university. Recipients receive up to £15,000 per academic year to enable them to focus fully on their studies, whilst benefiting from personalised support and mentoring from LSO musicians.
2025/26 LSO Conservatoire Scholars
Download complete biographies and photos here
Tannaz Beigi, 22, Iran | Harp, Royal College of Music
Tannaz Beigi is an award-winning Iranian harpist. At age 15, she made history performing Boieldieu’s Harp Concerto with the Tehran Symphony Orchestra, the first such performance in Iran since the revolution.
Nikita Demidenko, 22, Russia | Piano, Royal College of Music
Nikita Demidenko is a Russian-born pianist whose competition wins include Grand Prix at the Golden Piano Talents in London (Most Promising Pianist), First Prize at the Orbetello Piano Competition and First Prize at the Anatolia International Music Competition 2024.
Lin Deng, 22, China | Piano, Royal College of Music
Lin Deng, originally from China, has been passionately engaged in music since the age of four. Achievements include winning the Gold Award in the solo piano competition at the 2017 British International Festival in Cardiff.
Alexander Doronin, 22, Russia | Piano, Royal College of Music
Russian pianist Alexander Doronin is currently pursuing a Master’s at the Royal College of Music under the guidance of Professor Dmitri Alexeev. Competition successes include First Prize at the Moscow Piano Open International Competition (2019).
Emil Hartikainen, 22, Finland | Violin, Royal Academy of Music
A graduate of Espoo Music Institute and the Sibelius Academy, violinist Emil Hartikainen has played with the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. He is founder and first violin of the Bålder Quartet, winners of the 2018 Florida Keys International Chamber Music Competition.
Kasparas Mikužis, 23, Lithuania | Piano, Royal Academy of Music
Named as one of Classic FM’s ‘Rising Stars’ for 2025, Kasparas Mikužis has given recitals at the Concertgebouw, Bridgewater Hall and Wigmore Hall, and appeared as a soloist with the Lithuanian National Philharmonic.
Olwen Miles, 22, Italy/Britain | Violin, Royal Academy of Music
Violinist Olwen Miles is currently pursuing a Master’s degree under the guidance of So-Ock Kim. She is a member of the Regency Quartet, winners of the 2025 Royal Over-Seas League String Ensembles Prize, and a graduate of the LSO String Experience Scheme.
Alise Siliņa, 24, Latvia | Accordion, Royal Academy of Music
Alise Siliņa is passionate about raising awareness of classical accordion. She engages with broad audiences with newly written works and multi-art form performances incorporating spoken word, dance and innovative staging. Collaborators include Alexis Ffrench.
Elfida Su Turan, 22, Turkey | Violin, Royal Academy of Music
Born in Istanbul in 2002, Elfida Su Turan began studying the violin at Istanbul University State Conservatory with Veniamin Varsavsky. She has been performing as an orchestral soloist since the age of 10 and is a former Yehudi Menuhin School pupil.
Alix Vaillot Szwarc, 22, France | Violin, Royal College of Music
Born in Montpellier in 2002, Alix Vaillot Szwarc began studying the violin aged four. A laureate of competitions including Valsesia, Malta International and Léopold Bellan, she has participated in masterclasses with Maxim Vengerov and Dora Schwarzberg.
Past Press Releases
Press Announcement: Dame Kathryn McDowell steps down as Managing Director in July 2026
Dame Kathryn McDowell has decided to step down as Managing Director of the London Symphony Orchestra in July 2026 at the end of the 2025/26 season.
Press Release: The LSO announces its 2025/26 season
The London Symphony Orchestra today announces its 2025/26 season at London’s Barbican Centre and LSO St Luke’s.
