Royal Conservatoire Alumnus Yussif Barakat has been awarded a place as violone player at the prestigious London Festival of Baroque Music Academy 2020, directed by Margaret Faultless.

The Academy is directed by professor Maggie Faultless, Co-Leader of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and is open to high-level music students from across Europe specialising in historical performance. It takes place between 11-13 May 2020 culminating in a performance at St. John’s Smith Square in London.

Margaret Faultless is an internationally renowned specialist in historical performance practice, both as a violinist and a director. Performing music from Monteverdi to the present day, she is now best known as an interpreter of eighteenth-century repertoire. Her continued interest in eighteenth-century performance practice led her towards exploring the possibilities of performance on historical instruments. She became a principal player in several established orchestra's and worked with esteemed conductors including Roger Norrington and Ton Koopman. Since becoming co-leader of The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment in 1989, she has frequently directed the orchestra and plays a significant role in their education programme for young professionals.

Yussif completed his masters in Violone in June 2019 at the Royal Conservatoire. "I'm very grateful to have the chance to play next year at the LFBMA 2020, thanks to master Maggie Urquhart for the support and mentorship for the past 6 years at the Royal Conservatoir."

Read more information on the LFBMA website here.