Liverpool Philharmonic has selected four talented early-career musicians to join its Emerging Musicians Fellowship for the 2026/27 season.

The year-long, paid fellowship offers an immersive introduction to professional orchestral life, providing participants with opportunities to gain experience both on and off the concert platform.

Now entering its 5th year, the Emerging Musicians Fellowship forms part of Liverpool Philharmonic’s wider commitment to supporting musical development at every stage of a musician’s journey, helping to create clear pathways into the profession through accessible training, mentoring and performance opportunities. The programme helps to remove some of the barriers facing early-career orchestral musicians while creating opportunities to discover, support, and empower new talent.

Working alongside musicians from the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Fellowship musicians develop their understanding of the day-to-day realities of an orchestral career while building valuable professional skills and experience. Participants receive 7 hours of lessons from Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra musicians, mentoring, rehearsal experience, side-by-side performances at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall and participate in learning and community outreach programmes.

The musicians joining the programme for the 2026/27 season are:

• Kaylee Ramella – Violin
• Molly Bielecki – French Horn
• Stan Talman – Percussion
• Tom Donkin – Bassoon

Sameeta Gahir, Principal Piccolo with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and Lead Musician for the Emerging Musicians Fellowship, said: “Every year, the Fellowship attracts applications from an exceptional range of talented musicians from a diverse range of backgrounds, and this year was no exception. The standard was incredibly high, making the selection process both inspiring and challenging. We are excited to welcome Kaylee, Molly, Stan and Tom to the programme. Each brings their own strengths, musical insight and potential, and we look forward to supporting them as they gain first-hand experience of life within a professional orchestra over the coming season.”

About the Fellowship Musicians

Kaylee Ramella is an American violinist finishing her master’s degree at the Royal Northern College of Music. Kaylee is a member of the Voluta Quartet, winners of the RNCM Hirsch Prize and Weil Prize. The quartet, formed in the spring of 2025, presents high-quality, innovative, and entertaining programs to Greater Manchester. In other chamber experiences, Kaylee has been involved in the Manchester Music Festival, the Madeline Island Chamber Music Festival, and the Bowdoin International Music Festival.  

In the orchestral sphere, Kaylee was a contracted member of the Canton Symphony Orchestra for two years before moving to EnglandShe is also passionate about chamber orchestras, participating in both the Lexington Bach Festival in 2023 and the Chipping Campden Music Festival’s Academy Orchestra in 2025. She has also co-led the RNCM’s orchestra in side-by-side concerts with the Royal Northern Sinfonia, the Manchester Camerata, and the Hallé.  

Currently, Kaylee plays frequently with the Manchester Camerata and is on trial with Britten Sinfonia and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. She has also played with the Manchester Collective after taking part in their 2025-26 Studio in partnership with the RNCM.  

As a soloist, Kaylee has performed with the Tuscarawas Philharmonic, along with many solo recitals in the U.S. and the north of England, where she often plays with pianist Stanley Butcher.  

Kaylee lives in Warrington with her husband Sidney. Outside of music, she loves to knit, crochet, and read. Kaylee is looking forward to joining the Liverpool Philharmonic’s Emerging Musicians Fellowship Scheme for 2026-27. 

Molly Bielecki is a French Horn player originally from Sussex. She has recently completed a Master of Music in Performance at The Royal College of Music, where she studied with John Ryan, Alex Edmundson, Zoë Tweed, Jonathan Maloney, and Simon Rayner. Molly is extremely grateful to the Needley Family Scholarship, Help Musicians UK, and the Kathleen Trust for supporting her postgraduate studies. 

Prior to her studies at RCM, Molly completed the prestigious ‘Joint Course’ in Manchester, culminating in a First-Class Bachelor of Music (Hons) and an Upper Diploma (GRNCM) from the University of Manchester and Royal Northern College of Music respectively. In Manchester, Molly studied primarily with Lindsey Stoker and Timothy Jackson. 

Upon graduating from UoM, Molly was honoured to receive the Dean’s Award for Achievement, awarded to students of the Faculty of Humanities who achieved a final grade within the top 0.5% of the graduating body. 

Whilst at RNCM, Molly won places on both the Hallé Orchestra and BBC Philharmonic Orchestra Professional Experience Schemes and has since freelanced professionally with both orchestras. Since moving to London, Molly has also appeared with orchestras such as the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and British Sinfonietta. 

Molly is a keen chamber musician and has collaborated with a variety of ensembles, including most recently the Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective in a performance of Dohnányi’s Sextet, and with composers such as Huw Watkins in a workshop and performance of his Horn Trio. Within the spheres of outreach and teaching work, Molly has facilitated Wigmore Hall ‘Chamber Tots’ workshops, led a variety of projects for ENGAGE Brass, completed the Creative Musicians’ Residency with the charity Jessie’s Fund, mentored the RNCM Young Horns, and assisted in leading workshops for Young Sounds UK. 

Molly is thrilled to have been chosen for this year’s Emerging Musicians Fellowship and is excited to learn from and work alongside world-class musicians, gaining invaluable professional experience along the way. 

Stan Talman is a percussionist from Somerset whose musical journey began with his local brass band, where, despite starting on the tenor horn, he quickly developed a passion for percussion. He went on to perform with several prestigious youth ensembles, including the National Children’s and National Youth Orchestra, and earning a full scholarship to study at Wells Cathedral School. Stan was then awarded a full scholarship to continue his studies at the Royal College of Music, where he trained under David Hockings, Alex Neal, Chris Ridley, and Graham King. He received the James Holland Percussion Prize and won the Royal College of Music Percussion Competition. During his time at the College, he performed regularly with the RCM Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonic Orchestra, and a variety of other ensembles, appearing at leading venues including the Royal Albert Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, and Snape Maltings. In his fourth year, he was selected for the London Symphony Orchestra Pathways scheme. 

Since graduating, Stan has performed regularly with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, in recording sessions at Maida Vale Studios, and appearing in season concerts at the Barbican Centre, and performances at the BBC Proms in the Royal Albert Hall. He has also worked with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, performing at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall and the Usher Hall. 

Alongside his orchestral work, Stan is a passionate chamber musician. He performed extensively during his studies, presenting solo, duo, and percussion quartet programmes at the Royal College of Music. He continues to pursue chamber music through a percussion and trumpet duo, performing at festivals and venues across the UK, most recently at Smith Square Hall. 

Since graduating, Stan has built a diverse freelance career. Alongside regular performances with the BBC Symphony Orchestra and other leading ensembles, he works across theatre productions, outreach and educational projects, and has performed with many non-western classical groups like the 'Ayuob Sisters', reflecting his versatility as a percussionist and his enthusiasm for a broad spectrum of musical styles and performance experiences. 

Stan is delighted and honoured to have been selected for this year’s cohort of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra Fellowship and is looking forward to developing further as a musician with the support and guidance of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic team. 

Tom Donkin is a Scottish born bassoonist Tom Donkin and undergraduate student at the Royal Academy of Music, where he studies with Robin O’Neill, Jonathan Davies, and Fraser Gordon. Tom has performed in some of the most prestigious venues across the UK, including the Royal Albert Hall, St Paul’s Cathedral and the Royal Festival Hall. He has also performed internationally, including in Amman (Jordan), and toured Taiwan as part of the Taipei Music Academy and Festival Orchestra.  

As a freelance musician, Tom has performed with some of the UK’s leading orchestras, including the Philharmonia Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic, Ulster Orchestra, and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO). He is currently on trial for the position of Associate Principal (No. 2) Bassoon with the RSNO. 

Tom is a keen chamber musician and a founding member of the Dogoda Quintet (Tillett Debut Trust Artists 2026). The group has performed widely across England and Scotland and is actively involved in outreach work—an area Tom is particularly passionate about. He has taken part in a number of outreach projects, including the Philharmonia’s Learning and Engagement Project, the Odyssey Festival Orchestra Outreach Programme, and Poole Society for Young Musicians. 

Tom is delighted to have been selected for the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic’s Emerging Musicians Fellowship. He looks forward to the immersive orchestral experience and diverse training opportunities it offers, and is very grateful for the privilege of working and learning with the orchestra.