A host of classical musicians are competing to be crowned Artist of the Year at the Gramophone Classical Music Awards 2013. Alison Balsom, Kristian Bezuidenhout, Michael Collins, Sir John Eliot Gardiner, Janine Jansen, Jerusalem Quartet, Jonas Kaufmann,Marc-André Hamelin, Andris Nelsons and Esa-Pekka Salonen are the ten shortlisted artists up for the award, which will be chosen by public vote.

Gramophone editor-in-chief, James Jolly, described the award as a ‘genuinely global accolade’, and promised this year’s event would be more exciting than ever. “Much more than just an (albeit wonderfully enjoyable!) ceremony, the Gramophone Classical Music Awards are a major celebration of the buoyancy of classical music which is more alive and vibrant than ever,” he said.

As well as the Artist of the Year Award, the Gramophone Classical Music Awards also comprise of eleven recording categories including Baroque Instrumental, Baroque vocal, Chamber, Choral, Concerto, Contemporary, Early, Instrumental, Opera, Orchestral and Vocal, the winners of which will be announced on August 27. The Artist of the Year winner will be announced at a ceremony at LSO St Luke’s, London, on 17 September.