Liverpool Philharmonic is delighted to announce the appointment of four musicians into the fourth annual Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra Emerging Musicians Fellowship.  

The Emerging Musicians Fellowship offers early-career musicians a paid, immersive professional orchestral experience, both on and off the stage over the course of a year.  They have the opportunity to learn from musicians from Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra about orchestral life and gain experience within an orchestral setting to help support them in their careers. The Emerging Musicians programme is designed for early career musicians who are aged 18+,  it has no upper age limit and has around 300 musicians apply each year. 

This programme is just one of Liverpool Philharmonics many initiatives designed to provide a clear pipeline where opportunities for music and skills development are available for all at any age or stage in their career. The

We are pleased to announce that the four musicians appointed as Fellowship Musicians for the 2025/26 season are:  

• Nia Williams (Cello)
• Sam Willsmore (Cor Anglais with Oboe)
• Emily Crook (Clarinet)
• Ramon Branch Biescas (Tuba)

Ian Fair, Viola player from the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and Lead Musician for the Emerging Musicians Fellowship, said: “It’s great to be welcoming back another group of musicians into the Emerging Musicians Fellowship. Each year we are overwhelmed by the sheer number of exceptional applications from talented musicians nationwide. The level of skill and dedication displayed by all the applicants was truly remarkable, and we extend our heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of them for their commitment and effort in presenting themselves. It is with great excitement that we announce the newest Fellowship Musicians. Their exceptional musical abilities and unique talents have stood out among the many outstanding candidates, and we are delighted to have them on board for this upcoming season.” 

About the Fellowship Musicians 

Nia Williams is a cellist from Crynant, in South Wales. She recently completed her postgraduate studies at Guildhall School of Music. During her time at Guildhall, Nia performed extensively with the Guildhall Symphony Orchestra and was also principal of the Chamber Orchestra and Opera Orchestra. She also participated in side-by-side projects with the London Symphony Orchestra and was selected to be part of a Guildhall collaboration with the London Mozart Players, performing a narrated piece about the Great Fire of London to an audience of primary school-age children. A keen chamber musician, Nia has performed in the Guildhall School Chamber Music Festival.

Sam Willsmore is an Oboist originally from Southend-on-Sea. He is an alumnus of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. He was awarded the Ernest and Doris Haigh Memorial Award in association with the Musicians’ Union. 

Having many opportunities through the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and Welsh National Opera placement schemes, Sam has continued his relationship with the two Welsh orchestras, freelancing with both.. Also a keen chamber musician, Sam is a founding member of the multi-award-winning Bute Wind Quintet in which he heads the development of programmes, balancing the promotion of less well known works by composers from all walks of life with the standard repertoire for the Wind Quintet.

Emily Crook is a British Clarinettist who is currently studying for a Masters at the Royal College of Music as a Leverhulme Arts Scholar. Emily is currently on trial for Principal Clarinet of Manchester Camerata and has also been on trial for Sub-Principal Clarinet of the Welsh National Opera.

Emily has performed in 1901 Arts Club as part of the Hattori Foundation Recital Series, and in the Cerne Abbas Music Festival . Emily adores chamber music and has appeared at Wigmore Hall collaborating with Ensemble 360, as well as with other chamber groups in venues such as The Gardens of Highgrove House, Garsington Opera, 11 Downing Street, Champs Hill, Dorchester Arts, and will appear at Whitstable this Autumn performing Mozart’s Gran Partita.

Ramon Branch Biescas is a tuba player originally from Tarragona, Spain. He recently completed a Master’s degree at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama
Ramon has performed with a number of orchestras, including the London Symphony Orchestra, Fidelio Orchestra, and Jove Orquestra Nacional de Catalunya. As a soloist, he has appeared with the Sutton Philharmonic Orchestra and the Guildford Symphony Orchestra, performing the Vaughan Williams’s Tuba Concerto. He is also an active member of the Heron Brass Quintet and continues to pursue his interests in singing and organ. As a singer, he holds a choral scholarship at St Mary’s Church in Hendon.