Martin James Bartlett’s early public success was as the winner of the BBC Young Musician of the Year in 2014. This led to engagements with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as recitals across the country.
He made his BBC Proms debut in 2015 performing Gershwin Rhapsody in Blue with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. He also performed the piece with the Ulster Orchestra at the BBC Proms “Last Night” celebrations which was broadcast live from Belfast on BBC Four and BBC Radio Ulster. In the following year, he performed at Her Majesty The Queen’s 90th Birthday thanksgiving service, which was broadcast live on BBC One from St. Paul’s Cathedral. During this period he received support from the Young Classical Artists Trust (YCAT).
In 2017, whilst still an undergraduate at the Royal College of Music, where he has studied with Professor Vanessa Latarche, Bartlett was a quarter finalist in The Van Cliburn Competition, held in Fort Worth, Texas, attracting a considerable following both live in the hall and online on Medici TV. In 2021 he graduated with a first class bachelors degree, masters degree and an artists diploma from the Royal College of Music, having been also awarded the Queen Mother Rosebowl by Prince Charles.
In the 2021/22 season, Bartlett will embark upon a European tour with the LGT Young Soloists, performing Philip Glass’s ‘Tirol’ piano concerto at the Berlin Konzerthaus, Vienna Musikverein and Hamburg Elbphilharmonie culminating in a gala performance for the Prince and Princess of Liechtenstein in London. He will also play recitals at the International Chopin Piano Festival at Duszniki Zdrój, Wigmore Hall, the Concertgebouw, and Alte Oper Frankfurt. In the Spring of 2022 Bartlett will join the Britten-Shostakovich Festival Orchestra on a tour in Russia. Martin James Bartlett will make his New York debut in the Young Concert Artists Series this season, as well as recitals in Arizona, Missouri, and Washington DC.
During the past season, Bartlett was invited to play recitals across the UK, including Wigmore Hall and the Belfast International Arts Festival, as well as internationally, including recitals at the Concertgebouw, Salle Cortot, the Elbphilharmonie, the Wiener Konzerthaus, and Muziekcentrum De Bijloke Gent. Bartlett was also invited to play with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, and for his debut with the NDR Radiophilharmonie Hannover and Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. In this season Bartlett was also awarded 1st prize at the inaugural Cleveland international Virtualoso competition.
For details of all our concerts please visit the London Musical Arts website.