Concert Artists Guild and Young Classical Artists Trust
Announce 2026 Shared Artists

May 14, 2026 – Concert Artists Guild (CAG) and the Young Classical Artists Trust (YCAT) are delighted to announce two shared artists for 2026. Joshua Brown (violin) and Willard Carter (cello) will join the rosters of both organizations, as the CAG-YCAT partnership enters its seventh year.

Through this unique transatlantic partnership, both artists will benefit from comprehensive management and career development support across Europe and North America - including concert bookings, professional mentorship, and representation at the highest levels of the international classical music industry.

The Artists

Joshua Brown

Violinist

Violinist Joshua Brown has been praised by audiences and critics worldwide for his “richness of sound, elegance of reading...commitment of every moment at the service of the work...” (La Libre). Joshua was awarded a 2025 Avery Fisher Career Grant, and gained international attention after winning the 2nd Prize and both Audience Awards at the 2024 Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels. 

 
Cellist

Willard Carter

Willard began cello lessons at the age of four and is currently studying with Antje Weithaas in Berlin. He has played recitals at the Gstaad Menuhin Festival, Radio Classique Festival in Saint-Malo, Solsberg Festival and has performed on stages such as The Wigmore Hall, Buckingham Palace and Berlin Konzerthaus. Willard has performed and curated concerts at the Heidelberger Frühling Festival, Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival, and the Gstaad New Year Festival. In November 2025 Willard won the VP Opus Bank Award in Liechtenstein.

Tanya Bannister, President of Concert Artists Guild, and Alasdair Tait, CEO & Artistic Director, YCAT comment:

“It is incredibly meaningful to support Joshua Brown and Willard Carter at such a formative moment in their careers, particularly as they begin to build a presence across both the UK and the U.S. Mentorship, networks, and early opportunities are essential in helping these artists gain their footing and shape sustainable, impactful careers.”

About Concert Artists Guild:

Concert Artists Guild (CAG) empowers extraordinary emerging musicians to launch sustainable, impactful careers. The nation’s leading nonprofit artist management and development organization, CAG identifies exceptional young soloists, ensembles, conductors, and composers and provides them with comprehensive management support, performance opportunities, and curated mentorship essential to building lasting careers. CAG believes in music as a force for connection and change, preparing artists to engage meaningfully with the communities they serve and to lead with purpose both on and beyond the stage.

For more information, contact us at info@concertartists.org.

About YCAT:

For over 40 years, the Young Classical Artists Trust (YCAT) has been dedicated to empowering and championing the next generation of classical musicians, supporting their transition from outstanding students to successful, impactful performers. In a world where launching a career in music is more challenging than ever, YCAT offers a vital bridge - developing sustainable, fulfilling career pathways for exceptional young artists to learn, grow and thrive.

YCAT is a UK-based charity registered in England and Wales, No. 326490.

More information about YCAT - https://www.ycat.co.uk