Awards for Young Musicians

Giving talent a chance

AYM at the BBC Young Musician 2016

We are very proud that the ability and outstanding musical talent of AYM Awardees has been recognised, once again, at this most important National competition. This year no fewer than FIVE of our Award winners and Alumni reached the Category Finals: Ben (French Horn), Jess (Saxophone), Julian (Piano), Marie (flute), and Tom (percussion). Both Ben and Jess progressed to the Grand Final, where they played, accompanied by the BBC Symphony Orchestra, in the Barbican Concert Hall, London. As the icing on this particular cake, our own Martin James Bartlett, winner of the 2014 competition, played the first movement from Prokofiev’s 3rd piano concerto during the judging interval of the concert.

Many of our Awardees play in multiple genres: we are delighted that in March, another of our Alumni, seventeen year-old trumpeter Alexandra Ridout was crowned winner of the prestigious BBC Young Musician Jazz Award 2016.

Ben

Jess

Woodwind finalists enjoying a laugh at rehearsals. Jess and Marie on the left.