This year, the Young Musician of the Year Competition began with a week of tough and competitive heats. A range of instruments, clarinets and violins to electric guitars and singers, competed for their place in the coveted final. After many heated lunchtime debates, the Music Department had selected the performers who would compete in the finals on Thursday 3 March.
The finals were divided into two groups, the Lower Grades and Higher Grades. The first group performed in the afternoon and, after some outstanding performances, the musicians and audience had refreshments outside of the Corinthian Room whilst the judges were discussing the results. The Music Department were delighted to welcome conductor Christopher Stark who, along with Mr Fox, judged and gave valuable feedback on all the performances.
The winner of the Lower Grades final was pianist Serafina (Second Form, Queen Anne). Following a delicious formal dinner laid on by way of an intermission in the Dining Hall, the Higher Grades final began in the evening. All of the musicians were excellent and should be congratulated, but the winner was Yichao (Lower Sixth, Vanbrugh), with an outstanding performance on his acoustic guitar.
