"It's very important to receive objective advice from someone who knows you well enough and that you can trust, even if your career has already taken off," says Romanian cellist Andrei Ionita - who has been dazzling audiences even before his Tchaikovsky Competition win.

Only 30 years old, Francesco Lecce-Chong is a rising star and already holds posts as Music Director of the Santa Rosa Symphony and the Eugene Symphony. "I will say that I strive for my performances to have a visceral impact on the audience and encourage taking risks for greater expression," he comments.

We are currently experiencing a Golden Age of violin players and Augustin Hadelich is among the best of the best - as evidenced by his being chosen Musical America's Instrumentalist of the Year 2018 and having received a Grammy in 2016 for Best Classical Instrumental Solo.

"I think it's extremely important to be the strongest, most pure and sincere version of yourself. We all go about this in different and often weird and wonderful ways," says world-class violinist Nicola Benedetti.