ECHO Rising Stars Festival
- Jump to →
- Who you'll hear
- What they're playing
Fresh. Bright. The stars of tomorrow.
Who’s on stage
Four of the best young classical musicians around, chosen by the European Concert Hall Organisation (ECHO) as their Rising Stars of 2026: Ava Bahari (violin), Camila Mandillo (soprano), Petar Pejčić (cello) and Javus Quartett (string quartet).
Past ECHO Rising Stars to play in our festival include Jess Gillam, Isata Kanneh-Mason and Sean Shibe – all have since come back to play solo gigs, with Royal Northern Sinfonia and at BBC Proms.
What they’re playing
Our four Rising Stars are all performing a mix of traditional and contemporary classical music chosen to showcase their incredible talents. Each programme includes a new work commissioned by ECHO for the Rising Stars tour. As well as the main recitals, there’ll be mini-concerts on the Concourse throughout the day and a Q&A with the performers.
Need to know
Timing: enjoy four recitals, four Concourse performances and a Q&A across the day.
Age: under 14s must be accompanied by an adult.
Who you'll hear
Ava Bahari
Described by The Strad as “a notable emerging talent”, Ava Bahari is a highly accomplished Swedish violinist with a refreshing appetite for unique repertoire. Currently Artist in Residence with Gothenburg Symphony and selected as an ECHO Rising Star for 2026/27, she has received numerous awards, including top prizes at the Premio Paganini Competition in Genova (2021), Concours International Tibor Varga in Sion (2021) and Aurora Music Competition in Stockholm (2019).
Camila Mandillo
Soprano Camila Mandillo is currently an artist in residence at the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel (Belgium), under the guidance of Sophie Koch and Stéphane Degout. Recognized as a prominent voice in contemporary music, Camila performs regularly in chamber music recitals, Lied, opera, and contemporary repertoire, distinguished by her versatility and expressive range across genres.
Petar Pejčić
Hailed as “…a wonderful musician with a compelling sense of storytelling…” (Le Soir, 2022), Petar Pejčić was a winner at the 2025 YCAT International Auditions at Wigmore Hall. Recent seasons have included included several major concert appearances for Petar, including his UK debut with BBC Symphony Orchestra and his South Korean debut with the Korean Chamber Orchestra at the Seoul Arts Center.
Javus Quartet
The Javus Quartet, based in Salzburg, is comprised of violinists Marie-Therese Schwöllinger and Alexandra Moser, violist Marvin Stark, and cellist Oscar Hagen. Formed in 2016, they draw artistic inspiration from leading figures in the international chamber music scene including Eberhard Feltz, Hatto Beyerle, Gerhard Schulz, Valentin Erben, Veronika Hagen, Rainer Schmidt, and Thomas Adès.
1 - 2pm | Sage Two
Eugène Ysaÿe Violin Sonata No. 4, Op. 27
Anders Hillborg new commission for ECHO Rising Stars
Kaija Saariaho “Frises” for violin and electronics
Ava Bahari violin
3.15 - 4.15pm | Northern Rock Foundation Hall
Programme to be confirmed
Camila Mandillo soprano
João Casimiro piano
6 - 7pm | Sage Two
Oscar Jockel New commission for ECHO Rising Stars
Constanze Geiger Ein Volkswalzer Op. 22
Hans Gál String Quartet No. 1
