Last night saw the completion of a journey for five talented young musicians that began back in March when they competed in music classes at the Mid Somerset Festival. They were selected to take part in the evening’s Bath Young Musician of the Year, which was held in the glorious Pump Room.

Taking part were Tamsin Ireland, 16, who played a selection of pieces by Bach, Chopin and Debussy on the piano. She was followed by 17year old Tom Babbage who sang four songs, ranging in style from Massenet to Sondheim. The first half was completed by some particularly spirited Trumpet playing by Joseph Barron-Snowdon, another 17 year old, which included the 2^nd and 3^rd movements of the Hummel Trumpet Concerto in Eb.

Following the interval, the youngest competitor of the evening, Lana Trimmer who is only 15, played three varied violin pieces, ending with the haunting Apres un Reve by Faure. The concert closed with an exuberant performance by 17 year old Oliver Sourbut on both the French and tenor horns. His interpretation of Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto was a delight.

While the three distinguished adjudicators, Shean Bowers, Michael Cockerham and Charles Wiffen retired to deliberate, the audience was beautifully entertained by Ruth Knight, the 2010 winner of the competition. Ruth is a flute player and is now a scholarship student at the Royal College of Music. She played the 2^nd movement of the Sonata for Flute and Piano by Martinu and Fantasy by Georges Hue.

After an agonising wait, the winner was announced and Lana Trimmer was presented with a silver trophy and a cheque by His Right Worshipful the Mayor of Bath, Bryan Chalker.

The evening was a fabulous celebration of glorious music and exceptional young talent. Lana is a deserving winner of the accolade, but in March the search will begin all over again for her successor.