The competition was established in 1978 by Humphrey Burton , Walter Todds and Roy Tipping, former members of the BBC Television Music Department.[ 1] Michael Hext , a trombonist , was the inaugural winner. In 1994, the percussion category was added, alongside the existing keyboard, string, brass and woodwind categories.[ 1] The competition has five stages: regional auditions, category auditions, category finals, semi-finals and the final.[ 3] The biennial competition is managed and produced by BBC Cymru Wales .
To date, there have been 22 winners, the youngest being 12-year-old Peter Moore .[ 4] In 2014, the BBC Young Musician Jazz Award was introduced;[ 5] Alexander Bone , a saxophonist , was the inaugural winner.[ 6]
As a result of the success of the competition, the Eurovision Young Musicians competition was initiated in 1982 .[ 1] The first edition was broadcast live from Manchester's Free Trade Hall . The presenter was Humphrey Burton and the producer was Roy Tipping. The winner of BBC Young Musician often went on to represent the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Young Musicians .
For the tenth edition of the competition in 1996, a series of recitals given by past finalists were broadcast on BBC Two in a late-night timeslot. The competition celebrated its 30th anniversary in May 2008 with a documentary narrated by Gethin Jones on BBC Two [ 7] and with former participants speaking to 2006 winner Mark Simpson for Young Musicians Grown Old on BBC Radio 4 .[ 8] BBC Four's documentary BBC Young Musician: Forty Years Young was aired on 3 April 2018. To celebrate the 40th anniversary, the first BBC Young Musician Prom was held at the Royal Albert Hall and broadcast live on 15 July 2018. Presented by Clemency Burton-Hill , the concert featured performances from past winners and finalists alongside the BBC Concert Orchestra conducted by Andrew Gourlay .[ 9]
The 2020 competition was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic , after proceeding as normal up to and including the filming of the semi-final. The five category finals were broadcast in May and June 2020, with broadcast of the semi-final and recording of the final postponed, at first until the autumn, and then into 2021. The Jazz Award final was broadcast as planned on 22 November 2020, having been recorded at Cadogan Hall in the absence of an audience.[ 10] The grand final was recorded in April 2021[ 11] – also without an audience – and broadcast on 2 May, preceded on 30 April by the delayed broadcast of the semi-final.[ 12]
The 2022 competition was deferred from spring to early autumn and was broadcast in October; the semi-final stage of the competition (introduced in 2010) was discontinued for that year. For the 2024 competition, a new format was introduced: category finals were replaced by two quarter-finals each featuring six musicians. A total of six musicians progress to the semi-final, and then three to the grand final.[ 13]
Regional heats were televised in 1978; a round before the category final was aired until 1994, and again in 2002 and 2004. From 1978 to 1984, all programmes were broadcast on BBC One until it was moved to BBC Two in 1986; however from 2002 to 2012, the majority of the competition rounds were moved to BBC Four , with only a highlights/preview show (in 2002 and 2004) and the final aired on BBC Two. Previously, additional programmes were broadcast as part of each competition alongside coverage in some later years on BBC Radio 3 .
In 2010, highlights of the new semi-final stage were also broadcast on BBC Two. In 2014, all stages of the competition moved to BBC Four, and the category finals and the grand final were broadcast on BBC Radio 3. For the 2018 competition, Radio 3 broadcast a 30-minute concert starring each competitor in the week before their category final aired. For 2024, the grand final will be broadcast on BBC Two for the first time since 2012 in the form of highlights of the concerto performances, whilst the full concert programme is to be aired on BBC Four and BBC Radio 3.[ 13]
The following have hosted stages of the competition:[ 14]
Humphrey Burton (1978–1992)
Ernest Lush (1978)
1978 regional finals
Jane Glover (1986, 1988)
J Mervyn Williams (1990)
Edward Gregson (1990 final)
Paul Daniel (1992 final)
Sarah Greene (1994)
Christopher Warren-Green (1996)
Sarah Walker (1996)
Stephanie Hughes (1998–2004)
Iain Burnside (2002–2004)
Alistair Appleton (2004)
Howard Goodall (2006, 2010 final)
Gethin Jones (2008)
Aled Jones (2008)
Nicola Loud (2008)
Clemency Burton-Hill (2010–12, 2014 final, 2016, 2018 final)
Josie d'Arby (2012, 2016 final, 2018, 2020, 2022 final)
Alison Balsom (2014, 2016, 2018 final)
Miloš Karadaglić (2014)
Anna Lapwood (2020)
Jess Gillam (2020 final, 2022, 2024)
Alexis Ffrench (2022)
A competitive dance version, BBC Young Dancer , was launched in October 2014 and first awarded in May 2015.[ 15]
BBC Young Jazz Musician
edit
A separate competition for a Jazz Award was first held during the 2014 season, with the final broadcast on BBC Four in the week after the classical final.[ 6] In 2016, the Jazz Award final was episode 7 of the 8-part BBC Four series, broadcast two days before the classical final.[ 16] In 2018, the jazz competition had an upper age limit of 21[ 17] and the final was recorded for BBC Four in November as part of the London Jazz Festival ;[ 18] it was broadcast on 25 November, six months after the main final.[ 19]
Year
Name
Instrument
Place of study
Winning age
Notes
Finals venue
1978
Michael Hext
Trombone
Royal College of Music
17
Orchestra member at The Royal Opera House Covent Garden[ 20] and occasional solo performances[ 21]
RNCM Concert Hall , Manchester
1980
Nicholas Daniel
Oboe
Royal Academy of Music
18
International soloist and principal oboe of the Britten Sinfonia . Founder of the Britten Oboe Quartet and the Haffner Wind Ensemble. Has performed at numerous BBC Proms .[ 22]
1982
Anna Markland
Piano
Chethams School, University of Oxford , Royal Academy of Music
18
Has since developed a reputation as a teacher, adjudicator and singer as Anna Crookes [ 23]
Free Trade Hall , Manchester
1984
Emma Johnson
Clarinet
Sevenoaks School , Cambridge University
18
Solo clarinettist with a repertoire of over 40 concertos[ 24]
1986
Alan Brind
Violin
Royal Academy of Music
17
Has since led the European Union Youth Orchestra and won the Young Musician of the Year award[ 25]
1988
David Pyatt
Horn
Watford Grammar School for Boys
14
Youngest winner of the award at the time. Has performed at numerous BBC Proms.[ 26] Principal at London Philharmonic Orchestra .[ 27]
1990
Nicola Loud
Violin
Royal Academy of Music, Juilliard School
15
Has appeared in multiple British orchestras and several abroad[ 28]
St David's Hall , Cardiff
1992
Freddy Kempf
Piano
St Edmund's School, Canterbury, Royal Academy of Music, London University
14
Became the youngest person at the time to win the award. Has since released numerous recital discs.[ 29]
Royal Concert Hall , Glasgow
1994
Natalie Clein
Cello
Royal College of Music, Heinrich Schiff
15
Became the first British winner of the Eurovision Competition for Young Musicians . Has performed with several British orchestras.[ 30]
Barbican , London
1996
Rafal Zambrzycki Payne
Violin
Yehudi Menuhin School , Royal Northern College of Music , Herbert von Karajan Centre
18
Won second prize at the Luxemburg International Violin Competition. Performed in orchestras in Europe, the United States, South Africa, The Middle East and Zimbabwe .[ 31]
Symphony Hall , Birmingham
1998
Adrian Spillett
Percussion
Royal Northern College of Music
19
First percussionist to win the award. Has performed with an array of ensembles including the 4-MALITY Percussion Quartet. Principal Percussionist with the CBSO . Former Head of Percussion at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire [ 32]
Waterfront Hall , Belfast
2000
Guy Johnston
Cello
Chetham's School of Music , Eastman School of Music
18
A performance at the Royal Albert Hall made him the youngest soloist to appear on the first night of The Proms .[ 33]
Bridgewater Hall , Manchester
2002
Jennifer Pike
Violin
Chetham's School of Music, Guildhall School of Music & Drama
12
At the time, was the youngest ever winner of the award. Has appeared as a soloist with British orchestras and performed at other BBC events.[ 34]
Barbican , London
2004
Nicola Benedetti
Violin
Yehudi Menuhin School
16
Performed with the BBC concert orchestra and recorded her debut album with Daniel Harding and the London Symphony Orchestra [ 35]
Usher Hall , Edinburgh
2006
Mark Simpson
Clarinet
Royal College of Music , Oxford University, Guildhall School of Music & Drama
17
Was the Principal Clarinet of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain . Started studies at the Royal College of Music, but dropped out to go to the University of Oxford .[ 2]
The Sage , Gateshead
2008
Peter Moore
Trombone
Chetham's School of Music
12
Youngest winner of the award.[ 36] Co-principal at London Symphony Orchestra.
Wales Millennium Centre , Cardiff Bay
2010
Lara Ömeroğlu
Piano
Purcell School , Royal College of Music
16
Nowadays known by the name of Lara Melda
2012
Laura van der Heijden
Cello
Royal College of Music
15
Her debut album 1948 won the 2018 Edison Klassiek Award ; the following year she won BBC Music Magazine 's Newcomer of the Year Award.
The Sage , Gateshead
2014
Martin James Bartlett
Piano
Royal College of Music, Purcell School
17
He appeared in 2012 competition, at the age of 15, as a finalist in the keyboard category[ 37]
Usher Hall , Edinburgh
2016
Sheku Kanneh-Mason
Cello
Royal Academy of Music, Trinity Catholic Comprehensive School
17
He holds the ABRSM Junior Scholarship to The Royal Academy of Music. Has played in the Chineke! Orchestra , as well as the JRAM Symphony Orchestra, and played chamber music with the Kanneh-Mason Piano Trio and the Ash String Trio.[ 38]
Barbican , London
2018
Lauren Zhang
Piano
Birmingham Junior Conservatoire , King Edward VI High School for Girls
16
Played the fiendishly difficult Prokofiev Concerto no.2 and was commended for her 'inherent musical intelligence' and 'exceptional technical ability'. Won first prize at the 15th Ettlingen International Piano Competition in 2016. First Asian winner of the competition.[ 39] [ 40]
Symphony Hall , Birmingham
2020
Fang Zhang
Percussion
Chetham's School of Music
17
Member of the China Youth Percussion Orchestra and has won percussions competitions in China, New York and Tokyo.[ 41]
Bridgewater Hall , Manchester
2022
Jordan Ashman
Percussion
Royal Birmingham Conservatoire
17
He has played with the National Children's Orchestra, National Youth Orchestra and the National Youth Brass Band.[ 42]
2024
Ryan Wang
Piano
Collingwood School , Eton College
17
His performance of Rachmaninov's Second Piano Concerto in the Final was described by judge Alexis Ffrench as "world class".
Bristol Beacon
Key
†
Person won the competition of that year
Bold
Performer got through to the final
Italics
Performer was present at the semi-final stage
Name
Instrument/Category
Jeremy Atkin
Piano
Wissam Boustany
Flute
William Brewer
Horn
Paul Coker
Piano
Michael Collins
Clarinet
Caroline Dale
Cello
Barry Douglas
Piano
Michael Hext †
Trombone
Stephen Hough
Piano
Malcolm Martineau
Piano
David Melville
Trombone
Susie Meszaros
Viola
Lindsay Miller
Oboe
Kevin Morgan
Tuba
Rona Murray
Violin
Robin O'Neill
Bassoon
Jonathan Rees
Violin
Kenneth Rhind
Tuba
Gillian Tingay
Harp
Colin Twigg
Violin
Robin Williams
Oboe
Name
Instrument/Category
Niall Brown
Cello
Anna Carewe
Cello
Samuel Coles
Flute
Lorna Cook
Clarinet
Nicholas Daniel †
Oboe
Paul Galbraith
Guitar
John Bryan Henry
Piano
Jonathan Kowszun
Euphonium
Jacqueline Leveridge
Piano
David McClenaghan
Horn
Clare McFarlane
Violin
Bill Miller
Euphonium
Ronan O'Hora
Piano
Anthony Pike
Clarinet
Julie Price
Bassoon
Hilary Punshon
Piano
Robert Vanryne
Trumpet
Elaine Wolff
Cornet
Name
Instrument/Category
Alexander Allen
Clarinet
Michael Bland
Clarinet
Sam Coles
Flute
Steven Craven
Cornet
Anthony Cross
Cornet
Paul Galbraith
Guitar
Richard Henry
Bass Trombone
Karen Jones
Flute
Marie-Noelle Kendall
Piano
James Kirby
Piano
Tasmin Little
Violin
Anna Markland †
Piano
Carla Marta Rodrigues
Viola
Jagdish Mistry
Violin
Jeanette Murphy
Horn
Jean Owen
Bassoon
Wendy Picton
Euphonium
Paul Richardson
Piano
Simon Smith
Violin
Mary Wu
Piano
Name
Instrument/Category
Neyire Ashworth
Clarinet
Naomi Atherton
Horn
Brendan Ball
Trumpet
Nicola Bingham
Trumpet
Christopher Blake
Oboe
Jocelyn Boyer
Flute
Sarah Beth Briggs
Piano
Julian Cawdrey
Flute
Julian Dyson
Piano
Janice Graham
Violin
Andrew Harley
Piano
Emma Johnson †
Clarinet
Oren Marshall
Tuba
Robert Max
Cello
Richard May
Cello
Lucy Parham
Piano
Hannah Roberts
Cello
Ursula Smith
Cello
Julian Sperry
Flute
Louise Stopforth
Trombone
Simon Vidor
Piano
Abigail Young
Violin
Name
Instrument/Category
Alan Brind †
Violin
Francesca Fraser
Recorder
Sam Haywood
Piano
Fiona Howes
Flute
Anthony Hughes
Piano
Boris Kucharsky
Violin
David Le Page
Violin
Jacob Lund
Tuba
Robert Markham
Piano
Jeremy Meehan
Bassoon
Steven Miller
Piano
Rachel Nadin
Piano
Anthony Neal
Trombone
Rhys Owens
Trumpet
Julian Plummer
Horn
Anna Pyne
Flute
Julian Sperry
Flute
Eva Stewart
Flute
Stephen Stewart
Trumpet
Annelies Terry
Cello
Victoria Wardman
Viola
Name
Instrument/Category
Robert Agnew
Piano
Emily Beynon
Flute
Sarah Burnett
Bassoon
Rachel Clarke
Horn
David Horne
Piano
Boris Kucharsky
Violin
Jonathan Leathwood
Guitar
Ben Lees
Trumpet
Jonathan Middleton
Piano
Andrew Nicholson
Flute
Steven Osborne
Piano
Charles Owen
Piano
Craig Patterson
Trumpet
David Pyatt †
Horn
Katherine Spencer
Clarinet
Jennifer Sturgeon
Flute
Lucy Wakeford
Harp
Heather Wallington
Viola
Paul Watkins
Cello
David Whitehouse
Trombone
Name
Instrument/Category
Thomas Adès
Piano
Cathy Beynon
Harp
Ruth Bolister
Oboe
Thomas Carroll
Cello
Martyn Chambers
Trumpet
Amy Claricoates
Cello
Simon Cowen
Trombone
Gareth Davies
Flute
Martin Douglas
Tuba
Laura Jellicoe
Flute
Daniel Jemison
Bassoon
Simon Johnson
Trombone
Nicola Loud †
Violin
Zoe Mather
Piano
Leon McCawley
Piano
Richard Ormrod
Piano
Jeremy Pooley
Horn
Jonathan Rimmer
Flute
Kirsty Staines
Violin
Karen Twitchett
Piano
Name
Instrument/Category
Rachel Barnes
Bassoon
Thomas Carroll
Cello
Elaine Clark
Violin
Simon Cowen
Trombone
James Cuddeford
Violin
Robin Haggart
Tuba
Miranda Harding
Cello
Tim Horton
Piano
Freddy Kempf †
Piano
Michael Lynn
Clarinet
Louise McMahon
Flute
Heather McNaughton
Horn
Helen Moody
Oboe
Kevin Norbury
Tuba
Jason Ridgeway
Piano
Daniel Tong
Piano
Helen Vollam
Trombone
Jamie Walton
Cello
Maxine Willis
Flute
Rebecca Wood
Oboe
Anthony Zerpa-Falcon
Piano
Name
Instrument/Category
Claire Allen
Trumpet
James Arnold
Trumpet
Adrian Brendel
Cello
Emma Bullough
Oboe
Edward Cervenka
Percussion
Natalie Clein †
Cello
Colin Currie
Percussion
David Edmonds
Flute
Sam Elliott
Tuba
Andrea Hallam
Violin
Stuart King
Clarinet
Jack Liebeck
Violin
Joseph Long
Piano
Katherine Mackintosh
Oboe
Claire Madin
Piano
Ruth McGinley
Piano
Philip Moore
Piano
Matthew Myatt
Piano
Rafal Payne
Violin
Matthew Perry
Percussion
Tracey Redfern
Trumpet
Julie Stewart
Flute
David Thornton
Euphonium
Andrea Vogler
Percussion
Stephen Whibley
Percussion
Name
Instrument/Category
Juliette Bausor
Flute
Edward Cervenka
Percussion
Julien Cheriyan
Piano
Sam Elliot
Tuba
Alison Farr
Piano
Tim Gunnell
Percussion
Richard Harpham
Oboe
James Hart
Percussion
Ben Hudson
Bassoon
Mark Law
Trumpet
Rafal Zambrzycki Payne †
Violin
Katy Pryce
Trombone
Sally Pryce
Harp
David Quigley
Piano
Michael Rives
Percussion
Peter Roper-Curzon
Piano
Keith Slade
Clarinet
Daniel Smith
Piano
John Storey
Euphonium
Miriam Teppich
Violin
Sam Walton
Percussion
Adrian Wilson
Oboe
Helena Wood
Violin
Katharine Wood
Cello
Adam Wright
Trumpet
Name
Instrument/Category
Ron Abramski
Piano
Mark Almond
French horn
Alison Balsom
Trumpet
John Barker
Saxophone
Juliette Bausor
Flute
Emma Brodie
Percussion
Katherine Bryan
Flute
Calum Cook
Cello
Andrew Cottee
Percussion
Sam Elliott
Tuba
Benjamin Errington
Viola
Alison Farr
Piano
Tim Gibbs
Double bass
Charys Green
Clarinet
Nicholas Hagon
Piano
David Hilton
Trumpet
Magnus Johnston
Violin
Niall Keatley
Trumpet
Marie Macleod
Cello
Magnus Mehta
Percussion
Troy Miller
Percussion
Helen Reid
Piano
Adrian Spillett †
Percussion
Nathan Williamson
Piano
Adrian Wilsom
Oboe
Name
Instrument/Category
Angela Barnes
French horn
Katherine Bryan
Flute
David Childs
Euphonium
Simon Cosgrove
Saxophone
Elizabeth Couling
Oboe
Keith Forster
Percussion
Scott Foster
Percussion
Ashley Grote
Organ
Owen Gunnell
Percussion
Tom Hunter
Percussion
Guy Johnston †
Cello
Edward Jones
Trombone
Samantha Kerby
Recorder
Jack Liebeck
Violin
Katie Lockhart
Clarinet
Leo McFall
Piano
Kodo Osada
Piano
Christopher Parkes
French horn
Tom Poster
Piano
Nicholas Rimmer
Piano
Matthew Sadler
Trumpet
Rakhi Singh
Violin
Alexander Sitkovetsky
Violin
Helena Smart
Violin
Oliver Yates
Percussion
Name
Instrument/Category
Henry Baldwin
Percussion
Angela Barnes
Horn
Katherine Bryan
Flute
Benjamin Bryant
Percussion
Stephen Burke
Percussion
Rowena Calvert
Cello
George Corbett
Cello
Simon Cosgrove
Saxophone
Colin Davis
Piano
Scott Foster
Percussion
Matthew Gee
Trombone
Emma Hancock
Violin
Edward Jones
Trombone
Patrick King
Percussion
Laura Lucas
Flute
Michael McHale
Piano
Leslie Neish
Tuba
Timothy Orpen
Clarinet
Thomas Osborne
Trumpet
Jennifer Pike †
Violin
Robert Scamardella
Piano
Andrew Shirtliff
Piano
Sarah Tandy
Piano
Litsa Tunnah
Violin
Sarah Williamson
Clarinet
Finals for the 2004 competition took place on 2 May at the Usher Hall , Edinburgh and were televised on BBC Two . The trophy used for this year's competition was designed by John Rocha at Waterford Crystal .[ 46] [ a]
Name
Instrument/Category
Otis Beasley
Keyboard
Lucy Beeson
Percussion
Nicola Benedetti †
Violin
Elizabeth Chell
Horn
Sijie Chen
Violin
Adam Clifford
Percussion
Andrea Crossley
Percussion
Michal Cwizewicz[ 47]
Violin
Elizabath Drury
Saxophone
Richard Elsworth
Percussion
Ashley Fripp
Keyboard
Christopher Gomersall
Trombone
Benjamin Grosvenor
Keyboard
Daniel De Gruchy-Lambert
Trumpet
Eddy Hackett
Percussion
Clare Hammond
Keyboard
Toni James
Keyboard
Catriona Mackinnon
Oboe
Christopher Pannell
Tenor horn
Paul Skinner
Flute
Peter Smith
Tuba
Ellen Hydref Thomas
Harp
Suzanne Thorn
Oboe
Tamsin Waley-Cohen
Violin
Adam Walker
Flute
The 2006 finals were held at The Sage Gateshead on 20 May 2006.[ 2] The adjudicators for this competition were Marin Alsop , Carlos Bonell, Peter Sadlo, Thea King , Sergei Nakariakov , Angela Hewitt and Kathryn McDowell.[ 48]
Name
Instrument
Performance
Notes
Toby Kearney
Percussion
Veni, Veni, Emmanuel (MacMillan)
Now a member of the Royal Northern College of Music, his childhood environment encouraged him to be involved in music[ 48]
David Massey
Guitar
Fantasia para un Gentilhombre
Began guitar lesson at eight years old at the Mid Herts Music Centre, with current aspirations for a career involving music;[ 48] is currently studying at the Royal Academy of Music, London
Huw Morgan
Trumpet
Trumpet Concerto (Tomasi)
Principal trumpet of the National Youth Orchestra , began learning piano and other instruments at five years of age[ 48]
Mark Simpson †
Clarinet
Clarinet Concerto (Nielsen)
Winner of the 2006 competition, originally played the keyboard and recorder[ 2] [ 48]
Cordelia Williams
Piano
Saint-Saens Piano Concerto No. 2
Studied at Chetham's school for 7 years, and is currently studying at the Guildhall School in London.[ 48]
The semi-finalists that did not progress were, by category:[ 49]
Keyboard: Lydia Scadding, Kausikan Rajeshkumar, Melissa Gore and David Secchi
Percussion: Katy Hebditch, Oliver Lowe, David Elliott and Daniel Jones
Woodwind: Suzanne Thorn (oboe),Helen Wilson (flute), Emily Ross (oboe) and Harry Winstanley (flute)
Brass: Stephen Sykes (trombone), Sasha Koushk-Jalali (tuba), Aledander Edmundson (French Horn) and Ryan Gray (euphonium)
Strings: Meherban Gillett (double bass), Victoria Goldsmith (violin), Sarah Oliver (cello), David Massey (guitar) and Sophie Rosa (violin)
The 2008 finals took place at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff on 10 and 11 May 2008.[ 50] In celebration of thirty years of the competition broadcasting, the performances lasted for two days.[ 51] [ a]
Name
Hometown
Instrument
Notes
Anke Batty
Lyndhurst, Hampshire
Clarinet
Achieved Grade 8 distinction in Singing, Piano and Saxophone as well as playing the clarinet
Daniel Day
Hayfield
Percussion
Began playing percussion at the age of three after his father, a professional drummer bought him a drum set; currently studies at the Chetham's School of Music
Jadran Duncumb
Ski, Norway
Guitar
Two time winner of the Norwegian National Youth competition; began playing the Guitar at the age of ten
Alexander Edmundson
Lytham St Annes
French Horn
Began playing the French Horn at seven years of age after hearing Mozart's Horn Concert No 4.; he studies at Chetham's School of Music and is a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain
David Elliott
Bournemouth
Percussion
Began playing percussion at the age of three, and currently studies at the Trinity College of Music after studying at Chetham's School of Music for three years; he held the position of Co Principal in the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain percussion section
Michael Foyle
Troon
Piano
Began playing piano at the age of six, and is also a violinist, he has led the National Children's Orchestra of Scotland and the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain ; currently studying at Wellington School
Sam Law
Ballymena
Piano
Began playing piano at the age of six, and now studies at the Ballymena Academy and at the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin
Henry Lindsay
Amersham
Tuba
Currently studying at The Purcell School of Music, the Junior Department of the Royal Academy of Music and is a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain
Cecilia Sultana De Maria
Warminster
Harp
Began playing the Harp at the age of ten while also playing the Piano and Violin, currently studies at the Junior Department of the Royal College of Music
Erdem Misirlioğlu
Ipswich
Piano
Studying at the Northgate High School in Ipswich and the Junior Department at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Jim Molyneux
Littleborough, Greater Manchester
Percussion
Started playing percussion at the age of seven and is studying at the Chetham's School of Music
Peter Moore †
Stalybridge
Trombone
Started to play the trombone at the age of six. Held the position of Principal Trombone of the National Children's Band of Great Britain; he is the youngest musician in this year's competition
Kausikan Rajeshkumar
Harrow, London
Piano
Began playing the piano at seven years of age, and currently Studies at The Purcell School of Music; he has received awards for composing, such as Highly Commended at BBC Proms Composers' Competition 2006
Katherine Robb
Bushey
Violin
Started playing the Violin at eight after being offered free lessons in her school in Essex; she later became a student at The Purcell School of Music, and was the first violinist in the National Youth Orchestra for 2 years
Melanie Rothman
Carshalton
Oboe
Began playing the Oboe at the age of ten, and is studying at The Purcell School of Music, but also studies at the Junior Department of the Royal Academy of Music and is Principal Oboe of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain after joining just one year previously
Jun Sasaki
London
Cello
Began playing the Violin at the age of four, but switched to the Cello at five; he currently studies at Yehudi Menuhin School
Joseph Shiner
East Brent, Somerset
Clarinet
Began playing the Clarinet at eight years of age; he has since achieved Principal Clarinet of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain after two years of membership
David Smith
Fife
Flute
Began playing the Flute in 2004, his influence being when he heard Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun ; he studied at St Mary's Music School in Edinburgh until 2008. He also plays the Saxophone very well
Delia Stevens
Normanton on Soar
Percussion
Studies at Loughborough High School and was influenced to play percussion after seeing the school orchestra performance
Matthew White
Bolton
Euphonium
Studies at Chetham's School of Music , and was Principal Euphonium with the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain
Name
Instrument/Category
Finlay Bain
French Horn
Frederic Bager
Piano
Tom Berry
Trombone
Glain Dafydd
Harp
Anne Denholm
Harp
Sophie Dee
Piano
Anna Douglass
French Horn
Chloé Greenwood
Oboe
Emma Halnan
Flute
Alex Hamilton
French Horn
John Hewitt-Jones
Viola
Lucy Landymore
Percussion
James Larter
Percussion
Sam Moffitt
Trumpet
HuiWai Nok
Percussion
Joe Norris
Clarinet
Lara Ömeroğlu †
Piano
Oliver Pooley
Percussion
Lavinia Redman
Oboe
Seán Morgan-Rooney
Piano
Katy Smith
Violin
Callum Smart
Violin
Delia Stevens
Percussion
Ben Westlake
Clarinet
Yuanfan Yang
Piano
Name
Instrument/Category
Adam Boeker
Piano
Alexander Kelly
Bass Trombone
Charlotte Barbour-Condini
Recorder
Charlotte Cox
Bassoon
Christopher Dunn
Tuba
Cristian Grajner-De-Sa
Violin
Dominic Degavino
Piano
Elizabeth Tocknell
French Horn
Elzbieta Young
Trumpet
Hyun-gi Lee
Percussion
James Larter
Percussion
Joel Sandelson
Cello
Jonathan Bates
E flat Tenor Horn
Jordan Black
Clarinet
Julia Hwang
Violin
Juliette Roos
Violin
Laura Van Der Heijden †
Cello
Lucinda Dunne
Saxophone
Luke O'Toole
Flute
Martin James Bartlett
Piano
Molly Lopresti
Percussion
Peter Rayner
Percussion
Richard Rayner
Percussion
Victor Lim
Piano
Yuanfan Yang
Piano
Name
Instrument/Category
Daniel Shao
Flute
Dogyung Anna Im
Violin
Elizaveta Tyun
Violin
Ellena Newton
Trombone
Elliott Gaston-Ross
Percussion
Hannah Foster
Flute
Hayley Parkes
Piano
Isata Kanneh-Mason
Piano
Isobel Daws
Trombone
Jess Gillam
Saxophone
Jess Wood
Percussion
Julian Trevelyan
Piano
Juliana Myslov
Harp
Lewis Bettles
Trombone
Martin James Bartlett †
Piano
Matilda Lloyd
Trumpet
Matthew Farthing
Percussion
Nick Seymour
Saxophone
Ning Hui See
Keyboard
Roberto Ruisi
Violin
Sophie Westbrooke
Recorder
Stefan Beckett
Percussion
Tom Highnam
Percussion
Will Thomas
Trumpet/Flugelhorn
William Dutton
Violin
Name
Instrument/Category
Alexander Bone †
Saxophone
Freddie Jensen
Double bass
Jake Labazzi
Trumpet
Sean Payne
Saxophone
Tom Smith
Saxophone
Name
Instrument/Category
Andrew Woolcock
Percussion
Ben Goldscheider
Horn
Charlie Lovell-Jones
Violin
Gemma Riley
Trombone
Harvey Lin
Piano
Hristiyan Hristov
Percussion
Jackie Campbell
Piano
Jess Gillam
Saxophone
Joanne Lee
Flute
Joe Parks
Percussion
Joe Pritchard
Cello
Julian Trevelyan
Piano
Louisa Staples
Violin
Lucy Driver
Flute
Marie Sato
Flute
Matthew Brett
Percussion
Polly Bartlett
Recorder
Sam Dye
Trombone
Sheku Kanneh-Mason †
Cello
Stephanie Childress
Violin
Tom Pritchard
Percussion
Tomoka Kan
Piano
Yuanfan Yang
Piano
Zak Eastop
Trumpet
Zoe Perkins
Trumpet
Name
Instrument/Category
Alexandra Ridout †
Trumpet
Tom Ridout
Saxophone and Recorder
Tom Smith
Saxophone
Noah Stoneman
Piano
Elliott Sansom
Piano
The 2018 finals were held at the Symphony Hall, Birmingham , on 13 May 2018. The judges were Kerry Andrew (chair), Alpesh Chauhan , Natalie Clein , John Harle and Sunwook Kim .[ 40]
Name
Instrument/Category
Adam Heron
Keyboard
Alexander Pullen
Percussion
Annemarie Federle
French Horn/Brass
Elias Ackerley
Keyboard
Eliza Haskins
Recorder/Woodwind
Elodie Chousmer-Howelles
Violin/Strings
Francis Bushell
Bassoon/Woodwind
Isobel Daws
Trombone/Brass
Jeneba Kanneh-Mason
Keyboard
Lauren Zhang †
Keyboard
Mariam Loladze-Meredith
Keyboard
Marie Sato
Flute/Woodwind
Matthew Brett
Percussion
Maxim Calver
Cello/Strings
Meadow Brooks
Percussion
Michaias Berlouis
Bass Trombone/Brass
Robert Burton
Saxophone/Woodwind
Sam Dye
Trombone/Brass
Stephanie Childress
Violin/Strings
Tom Hall
Percussion
Tom Myles
Clarinet/Woodwind
Toril Azzalini-Machecler
Percussion
Torrin Williams
Guitar/Strings
Will Duerden
Double Bass/Strings
Will Thomas
Trumpet+Flugelhorn/Brass
Name
Instrument/Category
Xhosa Cole †
Saxophone
Reuben Goldmark
Piano
Fergus McCreadie
Piano
James Owston
Bass
Seth Tackaberry
Bass
Name
Instrument/Category
Alexander Pullen
Percussion
Alice Gore
Woodwind – Bassoon
Annemarie Federle
Brass – French Horn
Bridget Yee
Keyboard
Coco Tomita
Strings – Violin
Daisy Noton
Woodwind – Flute
Eliza Haskins
Woodwind – Recorder
Ellen Baumring-Gledhill
Strings – Cello
Ewan Millar
Woodwind – Oboe
Fang Zhang †
Percussion
Harvey Lin
Keyboard
Huw Boucher
Strings – Harp
Ilai Avni
Strings – Violin
Isaac Harari
Percussion
Jacky Zhang
Keyboard
Joseph Longstaff
Brass – French Horn
Lewis Kentaro Isaacs
Percussion
Marian Bozhidarov
Woodwind – Clarinet
Meggie Murphy
Brass – Trombone
Mio Takahashi
Strings – Violin
Rhydian Tiddy
Brass – Trombone
Sejin Yoon
Keyboard
Thomas Luke
Keyboard
Toril Azzalini-Machecler
Percussion
William Burton
Brass – Tuba
Name
Instrument/Category
Deschanel Gordon †
Piano
Alex Clarke
Saxophone
Kielan Sheard
Bass
Matt Carmichael
Saxophone
Ralph Porrett
Guitar
Name
Instrument/Category
Aki Blendis
Strings - Violin
Alex Buckley
Woodwind - Clarinet
Clara-Sophia Wernig
Strings - Violin
Daniel Hibbert
Brass - French Horn
Dawid Kasprzak
Strings - Violin
Dida Condria
Keyboard
Duru Erdogan
Keyboard
Edward Walton
Strings - Violin
Eric Zhang
Percussion
Ethan Loch
Keyboard
Firoze Madon
Keyboard
Florence Wilson-Toy
Brass - Trumpet
George Garnett
Percussion
Imogen Moorsom
Brass - French Horn
Isaac Skey
Woodwind - Flute
Jacky Zhang
Keyboard
Jaren Ziegler
Strings - Viola
Jordan Ashman †
Percussion
Joshua Gearing
Percussion
Lucas Dick
Woodwind - Clarinet
Phoebe Mallinson
Brass - Trumpet
Sasha Canter
Brass - Trumpet
Sofía Patterson-Gutiérrez
Woodwind - Flute
Sophie Warner
Percussion
Thomas Priestley
Woodwind - Saxophone
Name
Instrument/Category
Ewan Hastie †
Double bass
Luke Bacchus
Piano
Nick Manz
Piano
Ralph Porrett
Guitar
Emma Rawicz
Saxophone
Judging every televised round of this year’s competition are trumpeter Alison Balsom , pianist and composer Alexis Ffrench , and multi-instrumentalist and broadcaster Hannah Catherine Jones . The two quarter finals were won by Jamaal Kashim and Shlomi Shahaf respectively, with Hugo Svedberg, Jacky Zhang and Ryan Wang advancing to the semi-final as "wildcards". Zang, Wang and Shahaf were announced as the finalists.[ 52]
Name
Instrument/Category
Alasdair Cottee
Woodwind
Alicia Li-Yan-Hui
Woodwind
Defne Anar
Strings
Finn Anderson-Hendra
Strings
Hugo Svedberg
Strings
Jacky Zhang
Keyboard
Jamaal Kashim
Strings
Kaelyn Soh
Strings
Maya Broman Crawford-Phillips
Strings
Rose Gosney
Strings
Ryan Wang †
Keyboard
Shlomi Shahaf
Strings
^ a b Extended information used where available.
General
Specific
^ a b c d "History. How it all started" . British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). Archived from the original on 7 April 2008. Retrieved 6 March 2008 .
^ a b c d "BBC Young Musician of the Year" . BBC. Archived from the original on 16 June 2004. Retrieved 4 March 2008 .
^ "Stages of the Competition" . BBC. Archived from the original on 11 October 2007. Retrieved 3 March 2008 .
^ Hodgson, Martin (12 May 2008). "Trombonist, 12, sets BBC Young Musician record" . The Guardian . UK. Retrieved 4 April 2009 .
^ "BBC Young Musician 2014 launches new Jazz Award" . BBC . 20 May 2013. Archived from the original on 7 January 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2014 .
^ a b c "First BBC Young Musician jazz award won by saxophonist" . BBC News . 9 March 2014. Archived from the original on 1 July 2018. Retrieved 21 June 2018 .
^ "BBC Young Musician of the Year – 30 Years – BBC Two England – 4 May 2008 – BBC Genome" . genome.ch.bbc.co.uk . 4 May 2008. Archived from the original on 16 July 2018. Retrieved 15 July 2018 .
^ "BBC Radio 4 - Young Musicians Grown Old: BBC Young Musician at 30" . BBC . Retrieved 15 October 2024 .
^ "Prom 3: BBC Young Musician 40th Anniversary, 2018, BBC Proms – BBC Radio 3" . BBC . Archived from the original on 3 September 2018. Retrieved 15 July 2018 .
^ "Jazz Final 2020" . BBC Four . 22 November 2020. Archived from the original on 21 November 2020. Retrieved 4 May 2021 .
^ "When is the BBC Young Musician 2020 semi-final?" . Classical Music . 3 March 2021. Archived from the original on 28 November 2020. Retrieved 4 May 2021 .
^ "BBC Young Musician: Episodes" . BBC Four . Archived from the original on 12 May 2012. Retrieved 4 May 2021 .
^ a b Pearce, Michael (28 November 2023). "BBC Young Musician replaces instrument categories with regions" . Music Teacher . Retrieved 15 June 2024 .
^ "Young Musician of the Year" . UKGameshows.com. Archived from the original on 19 October 2014. Retrieved 14 October 2014 .
^ "BBC launches contest to find future dance stars" . BBC News . 2 October 2014. Archived from the original on 15 January 2015. Retrieved 15 January 2015 .
^ "BBC Four - BBC Young Musician, 2016, Jazz Award Final" . BBC . Archived from the original on 25 July 2022. Retrieved 18 July 2022 .
^ "BBC Young Jazz Musician 2018: Entry Brochure" (PDF) . BBC . March 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 July 2018. Retrieved 16 July 2018 .
^ "BBC Young Jazz Musician 2018" . BBC . Archived from the original on 11 July 2018. Retrieved 16 July 2018 .
^ "BBC Four - BBC Young Musician, 2018, Jazz Final" . BBC . Archived from the original on 25 July 2022. Retrieved 18 July 2022 .
^ "Artists – Royal Opera House" . www.roh.org.uk . Archived from the original on 6 December 2017. Retrieved 5 December 2017 .
^ "1978 Michael Hext — Trombone" . BBC. Archived from the original on 28 October 2011. Retrieved 3 March 2008 .
^ "1980 Nicholas Daniel — Oboe" . BBC. Archived from the original on 28 October 2011. Retrieved 3 March 2008 .
^ "1982 Anna Markland — Piano" . BBC. Archived from the original on 28 October 2011. Retrieved 3 March 2008 .
^ "1984 Emma Johnson — Clarinet" . BBC. Archived from the original on 28 October 2011. Retrieved 3 March 2008 .
^ "1986 Alan Brind — Violin" . BBC. Archived from the original on 28 October 2011. Retrieved 3 March 2008 .
^ "1988 David Pyatt — Horn" . BBC. Archived from the original on 28 October 2011. Retrieved 3 March 2008 .
^ "1988 David Pyatt — Horn" . LPO. Archived from the original on 5 May 2016. Retrieved 29 April 2016 .
^ "1990 Nicola Loud — Violin" . BBC. Archived from the original on 28 October 2011. Retrieved 3 March 2008 .
^ "1992 Frederick Kempf — Piano" . BBC. Archived from the original on 28 October 2011. Retrieved 3 March 2008 .
^ "1994 Natalie Clein — Cello" . BBC. Archived from the original on 28 October 2011. Retrieved 3 March 2008 .
^ "1996 Rafal Zambrzycki Payne — Violin" . BBC. Archived from the original on 28 October 2011. Retrieved 4 March 2008 .
^ "1998 Adrian Spillett — Percussion" . BBC. Archived from the original on 28 October 2011. Retrieved 4 March 2008 .
^ "2000 Guy Johnston — Cello" . BBC. Archived from the original on 28 October 2011. Retrieved 4 March 2008 .
^ "2002 Jennifer Pike — Violin" . BBC. Archived from the original on 28 October 2011. Retrieved 4 March 2008 .
^ "2004 Nicola Benedetti — Violin" . BBC. Archived from the original on 28 October 2011. Retrieved 4 March 2008 .
^ "2008 Peter Moore — Trombone" . BBC. 11 May 2008. Archived from the original on 14 May 2008. Retrieved 12 May 2008 .
^ "Pianist Martin James Bartlett wins BBC Young Musician" . BBC . 18 May 2014. Archived from the original on 16 June 2018. Retrieved 19 May 2014 .
^ "Nottingham's Sheku Kanneh-Mason wins BBC Young Musician 2016" . Nottingham Post . Retrieved 15 May 2016 .[permanent dead link ]
^ Mark Savage (13 May 2018). "BBC Young Musician: Teenage pianist Lauren Zhang wins 2018 title" . BBC. Archived from the original on 14 May 2018. Retrieved 13 May 2018 .
^ a b Imogen Tilden (13 May 2018). "Pianist Lauren Zhang wins BBC Young Musician" . The Guardian . Retrieved 13 May 2018 .
^ "BBC Young Musician: Percussionist Fang Zhang wins" . BBC News . 2 May 2021. Archived from the original on 2 May 2021. Retrieved 2 May 2021 .
^ "Percussionist Jordan Ashman wins BBC Young Musician 2022" . www.bbc.co.uk . 9 October 2022. Archived from the original on 9 October 2022. Retrieved 9 October 2022 .
^ "Seventeen-year-old Alexandra Ridout wins BBC Young Musician Jazz Award" . BBC Media Centre. 13 March 2016. Archived from the original on 2 June 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2016 .
^ "BBC – BBC Young Jazz Musician 2018 winner announced – Media Centre" . www.bbc.co.uk . Archived from the original on 26 November 2018. Retrieved 26 November 2018 .
^ "Xhosa Cole: Saxophonist wins BBC Young Jazz Musician 2018" . iPaper . 26 November 2018. Archived from the original on 26 November 2018. Retrieved 26 November 2018 .
^ "BBC Young Musician of the Year" . BBC. Archived from the original on 16 June 2004. Retrieved 19 March 2008 .
^ "Home" . Michal Cwizewicz . Archived from the original on 15 July 2018. Retrieved 15 July 2018 .
^ a b c d e f "Stage 5: Finals. 20 May 2006: The Sage Gateshead" . BBC. Archived from the original on 5 January 2008. Retrieved 8 March 2008 .
^ "BBC - Press Office - BBC Young Musician of the Year 2006 semi-finals" . www.bbc.co.uk . Retrieved 15 October 2024 .
^ Western Mail (17 December 2007). "Wales adds BBC Young Musician of Year contest to its repertoire" . WalesOnline. Archived from the original on 5 October 2012. Retrieved 4 April 2009 .
^ "BBC Young Musician of the Year 2008" . BBC. Archived from the original on 11 October 2007. Retrieved 14 March 2008 .
^ "BBC Young Musician 2024 Finalists announced" . www.bbc.co.uk . Retrieved 15 October 2024 .