The Arts Club-Karl Jenkins Classical Music Award, as it is now known, launched by the Arts Club in 2013 to celebrate the best performer in the UK.

Jenkins, the world’s most performed living classical composer, will be joined by a judging panel consisting of internationally renowned soloists Emma Johnson (clarinet) and Julian Lloyd-Webber (cello), Carol Barratt (eminent composer of educational music), Kathryn Enticott (Senior Vice President & Managing Director at IMG Artist Management) and Sam Jackson (Managing Editor, Classic FM).

Jenkins said he was launching the prize to fill a gap in music education left by the government: “For some time now, it has been my intention to launch an annual music award to help young instrumentalists in the pursuit of their careers.