Between 31 May and 2 June 2025, EMCY proudly presented the Young Hearts Music Tour 2025, featuring three outstanding EMCY Prize Winners: András Lakatos (piano, Hungary), Rokas Diržys (violin, Lithuania) and Syon Najman (cello, Belgium).
The tour took the young musicians to Eggenfelden (Germany), Seefeld (Germany) and Uster (Switzerland), offering audiences an inspiring programme that combined solo virtuosity with chamber music at the highest artistic level.
Chamber music played a central role throughout the tour, allowing the artists to explore musical dialogue, shared interpretation and ensemble sound alongside their solo performances.
Reflecting on the experience, pianist András Lakatos shared:
“As someone who enjoys playing chamber music, it was such a wonderful opportunity to be able to perform the pieces with Rokas and Syon next to the solo works. Working and rehearsing together was always very fun and we received greatly inspiring guidance from Irena Gulzarova and Justas Dvarionas. To make sure that we could really focus on making just music, we had the amazing hospitality and assistance of Patrick, to whom we are all very grateful! The whole tour was a truly memorable experience for me, it was wonderful to perform in three different cities and I hope to have the chance to play with the others very soon again! Thank you very much to EMCY for making it happen!”
The artists
András Lakatos (Piano, Hungary)
Born in 2004, András Lakatos has already established himself as one of the most promising young pianists of his generation. A student in Stuttgart and Paris, he is the winner of numerous international competitions, including the International Robert Schumann Piano Competition in Düsseldorf, where he received the 1st Prize, Schumann Prize, EMCY Prize and Audience Prize. He has performed in leading concert halls across Europe and appears on this tour as an EMCY Prize Winner.
Rokas Diržys (Violin, Lithuania)
Born in 2008, Rokas Diržys studies at the National M. K. Čiurlionis School of Arts in Vilnius and is a scholarship recipient of the M. Rostropovich Charity and Support Foundation. He is a laureate of many national and international competitions, including the International Balys Dvarionas Competition, where he received the EMCY Prize. Despite his young age, Rokas regularly performs as a soloist with orchestras and is widely recognised for his musical maturity and expressive playing.
Syon Najman (Cello, Belgium)
Born in 2002 in Antwerp, Syon Najman studies at the Berlin University of the Arts and has won first prizes at numerous international competitions, including Concertino Praha and the Karl Davidov International Cello Competition. An active soloist and chamber musician, he has performed across Europe and made his debut at the Berlin Philharmonie in 2024. Syon appears on this tour as an EMCY Prize Winner of the Antonín Dvořák International Radio Competition – Concertino Praga.
Supporting young excellence
The Young Hearts Music Tour is part of EMCY’s commitment to supporting outstanding young musicians beyond competitions, offering them international concert experience, artistic exchange and the opportunity to develop long-term musical collaborations.
