Last but by no means least, we introduce Australian pianist Joseph Havlat, who will be one of four soloists competing for the Gold Medal and first prize of £15,000 at next week's Annual Music Competition Final, at the Queen Elizabeth Hall on 30 May.

Joseph was born in Hobart, Australia, and studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London under Joanna MacGregor from 2012 to 2018. Joseph has performed in major concert venues around the UK and in Europe, America, Japan and Australia as a soloist and as part of chamber groups and orchestras.

He is a keen chamber musician, performing frequently with multiple groups including Tritium (clarinet) trio, Trio Derazey, Duo Ex Libris as well as the LSO percussion ensemble, with whom he toured Japan in 2018 giving the premiere of a work by John Adams.

Joseph is passionate about contemporary music. He is a founding member and artistic director of contemporary music collective Ensemble x.y and is also an avid composer, having written for the aforementioned ensembles, among others. Having now graduated from the Royal Academy of Music, he is currently serving as a piano fellow for 2018-19, having also been a chamber music fellow for the previous year.

With less than a week to go until the Gold Medal Final, Joseph, along with Kris Garfitt, Roberto Ruisi, and William Thomas, will all be busy preparing their repertoire and practicing for the big night. To find out who will take home the top prize, book your tickets here.

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