Proudly supporting the careers of young musicians and artists in the Commonwealth, Europe and USA, The Royal Over-Seas League (ROSL) hosts an annual programme of competitions, scholarships, residencies, concerts and events, including the ROSL Annual Music Competition which is now in its 74th year.

Following the success of Academy musicians at The Singers Section Final on 17 February, the Academy are delighted to have been represented once again at the Keyboard Section Final 2026, which took place at ROSL on 24 February. Academy alum Gabrielė Sutkutė was awarded first prize for her performance of Beethoven and Szymanowski and will compete for the ROSL Gold Medal at Wigmore Hall in May.

Following her studies at the Academy, pianist Gabrielė Sutkutė has performed as a soloist and alongside notable chamber ensembles and symphony orchestras at prestigious music venues across Europe. A recipient of the Mills Williams Junior Fellowship (2022/23), Gabrielė was recently announced as a Kirckman Concerts Artist for 2026/2027. Gabrielė has seen success at 20 international piano competitions and has received numerous special awards, including being awarded the Lithuanian Republic Presidents’ Certificate of Appreciation six times.

Winning 1st Prize at the ROSL competition was a dream come true! I was incredibly grateful for the opportunity to share music that is so close to my heart throughout the semi-final and final rounds. I am deeply thankful to my mentor, Gabriela Montero, for her invaluable guidance in preparing for this competition. I am also very grateful to my former piano professors: Christopher Elton, with whom I studied at the Royal Academy of Music, as well as Vanessa Latarche and Birutė Kumpikienė, for their unwavering encouragement and belief in me.

Gabrielė Sutkutė

Gabrielė was also joined at the Keyboard Section Final by fellow Academy alum Nicholas Ventura. Nicholas is an award-winning pianist who currently specialises at the prestigious Lake Como Piano Academy and regularly performs at renowned music venues and festivals across Europe. Nicholas has shared the stage with orchestras such as the Orchestra Sinfonica di Chioggia, the Philharmonic Orchestra of Bacau and the Danube Symphony Orchestra and will release his first commercial album with Delphian Records in 2026.

The Academy offers congratulations to Gabrielė and Nicholas for their success, and wishes Gabrielė luck at the Gold Medal final this Summer.