Presented by the Royal Academy of Music
Born in Viana do Castelo, Portugal, Joao Lima began his studies at the age of nine, learning guitar in the local music school until he came to the Royal Academy of Music in 2012. Finishing his undergraduate course in 2016, he decided to remain at the same institution for his Masters degree.
Besides performing with his classical guitar as a solo artist and taking part in chamber ensembles, he often sides with non-classical artists and groups to play other genres of music. Furthermore, he holds a deep interest in composition.
Putting himself to the test, he has taken part in both national and international competitions, obtaining prizes in all of them. Additionally, he's had the honour of taking part in masterclasses with renowed guitarist's such as David Russell, Fabio Zanon, Margarita Escarpa, among others.
Charlotte Kaslin was born in Paris in 1993, and started the cello at 5 years old with Carlos Beyris.She grew up surrounded with the artistic influence of her father, a pianist and her mother, a painter.
Charlotte studied in the Conservatory of Paris (Rue de Madrid) with Raphael Pidoux and Xavier Gagnepain until 2014 when she transferred to the Royal Academy of Music to complete her undergraduate degree. Charlotte was awarded the Thompson Family Charitable Trust Award to aid her to pursue her Postgraduate studies at the Academy under the tutelage of Josephine Knight. Past competition wins include Bellan, Vatelot-Rampal and Ufam.
Charlotte has taken part in a variety of festivals, and performed around the world (China, Italy, Germany, France, UK...) as soloist (Ile de Ré festival where she performed Camille St Saens Concerto under the baton of Nicholas Simon), as well as in chamber music (Bolchoi festival, the Russian Trios Serie), and in orchestra with conductors such as Christian Thielemann, Trevor Pinnock, Pascal Rophé, Paolo Olmi, Robin Ticciati, Edgar Gardner...
She has also taken part in masterclasses with Steven Isserlis, Jean-Guihen Queyras (in Wigmore Hall) Sung Won Yang, Steven Doane, Troles Svane, Colin Carr, Jerome Pernoo, Mario Brunello...
She also recently performed Brahms's piano quintet in F minor with Maxim Vengerov and other selected students from the Royal Academy. Charlotte is currently playing a cello Franck Ravatin of the Royal Academy of Music museum, generously lent for her studies.