June Emerson Wind Music Launchpad Prize

We're absolutely delighted to announce that the 2025 Launchpad Prize has been awarded to...

HIRAETH WINDS
(Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama)
Hiraeth Winds is an ensemble formed of dedicated and adventurous musicians studying at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. With a wide range of performance and outreach experience between us, our members have formed the core of a number of RWCMD Chamber Winds projects including performances in Leominster, as well as principal roles in RWCMD Symphony Orchestra and Opera Orchestra projects. Our members have residencies at established venues throughout the country, including the Hay Castle Trust, cementing our role as an enterprising chamber group. We are keen to overcome the challenges of forming professional careers in the modern-day chamber music industry and, more than anything, love playing music with each other.

CARDINAL WIND QUINTET
(Royal Northern College of Music)
The Cardinal Quintet is a Manchester-based wind quintet, made up of fourth year undergraduate students at the Royal Northern College of Music. They all met as first years in 2022, hailing from various different corners of the world. The group was officially formed in June 2024, and, since then, have enjoyed playing in various concerts and venues. They are winners of the 2025 RNCM Fewkes Chamber Music Prize, the 2025 June Emerson Launchpad Prize and the 2025 RNCM Brodsky Chamber Music Prize. They were also finalists in the 2025 RNCM Chris Rowland Chamber Music Prize.
The Cardinal Quintet is passionate about wind repertoire, both old and new, and enjoys working with living composers on expanding on the existing canon. They’ve previously worked with Kámea Nemeth for an RNCM Spotlight Concert, and are currently working with Kuba Williams, RNCM 2025 Gold Medal Composition Finalist, on a new work for wind quintet and piano. They also enjoy collaborating with other musicians; past projects include the Francis Poulenc Sextet (for wind quintet and piano). Most of all, they love the collaborative energy of chamber music, and getting to share that joy with audience members.

RISOLUTO QUARTET
(Royal College of Music)
The Risoluto Quartet formed in January 2025, composed of four students from the Royal College of Music. The quartet have delved into a huge variety of music, including Desenclos' “Quatuor pour saxophones”, Maslanka's “Recitation Book”, Michael Nyman's “Songs for Tony” and Singelée's “Premier Quatuor”. The group gave a performance of the latter in March 2025 to open the RCM's Saxophone Quartet Concert as part of the annual Chamber Festival. The Risoluto Quartet then went on to compete in the RCM Woodwind Ensemble Competition where they were awarded the 2025 June Emerson Launchpad Prize.

For news, performances and updates, go to the Launchpad Prize Facebook Page

About the Prize

The June Emerson Wind Music Launchpad Prize was an idea that began as a desire to help young musicians in some significant way. With our limited financial resources it was difficult to come up with something that would make enough of a difference to make it worthwhile. The idea of sponsoring a prize at one of the UK music colleges was something we just couldn't afford, and we also felt that we'd like to offer something to more that just one college and be a little more 'hands on'. We eventually decided that we would assist one young (predominantly) final year wind ensemble from some of the major UK music colleges to launch themselves onto the professional circuit.

First awarded in 2009, the Launchpad Prize consists of practical help, including: a substantial JEWM music voucher, dedicated space on the JEWM website, publicity at any time through our social media channels, editorial coverage wherever possible, unlimited free paper advertising inserted into music orders, exclusive access to the JEWM shop with use of all music and facilities, complimentary copies of all current and future Emerson Edition publications which fit their instrumental line-up and anything else we can think of!

A Message from Rachel

'It has been an absolute joy to have played a very small part of the musical journeys of the ensembles that have participated in the Launchpad Prize over the years, particularly those who have gone on to professional success. I would also like to acknowledge the incredible support and enthusiasm of our colleagues at the various colleges who have delivered the Launchpad Prize on our behalf. I have been very lucky to have made some very special friendships along the way.' - Rachel Emerson