The annual Bath Young Musician of the year Contest will take place on Tuesday 9 November 2010 in the Pump Room at Bath.

On a smaller scale but similar in concept to the BBC’s “Young Musician of the Year”, this event encourages musical excellence of the very highest order. The level of achievement of these young people taking part is often quite outstanding. In order to take part in the contest, young musicians have to do very well in their classes in the March Mid-Somerset Festival. Five are then invited to compete for the title in the following autumn. Competitors must be under 21 and live or study in Bath or within a 15 mile radius of the city. The contest is judged by a panel of three experienced adjudicators. The winner receives a handsome trophy, presented to us several years ago by a former mayor, and also a cheque. 

Rowan Carolan (guitar) won the title of Bath Young Musician 2009 and will be invited to return to this year’s competition, to perform while the adjudicators are making their decision on who should be Bath Young Musician 2010.

This prestigious event is becoming more widely known and is attracting larger than usual audiences who are completely captivated by the remarkable performances of these young contestants.

Admission to the event is free and we welcome anyone who is interested to attend. Tickets may be obtained in mid October from Bath Festivals Box Office, Abbey Green, or the Booking Office at the Stall Street entrance to the Pump Rooms; they may also be available at the door on the evening.

Further details from the Music Co-ordinator - Sue Wheadon

E-mail: music@midsomersetfestival.org.uk

History of the Bath Young Musician of the Year event

In November 2010 it will be twenty three years since the first Bath Young Musician of the Year contest when Liam Gribbin (flute) won the event. Since then it has been held every year, except 1988.

Finalists for this event are selected from those who have done very well in their vocal or instrumental classes in the previous March Mid-Somerset Festival. Competitors must be under 21 and live or study in Bath or within a 15 mile radius of the city.

Liam Gribbin has recently written:

“Winning the Bath Young Musician in 1987 meant a great deal. It galvanized me, a somewhat haphazard 18 year old, as Mary king may recall, and left me with no doubts about following a musical path as a flautist for the foreseeable future. I was extremely lucky that, for its first year, the final was a grand concert in the Guildhall and the prize was a wonderful trip to Australia as part of the bicentenary celebrations with the Mayor of Bath. I performed a number of concerts in Sydney and explained to countless Australians the link between Sydney and Bath. I went on to Music College later that year in London and then remained in the classical profession for a number of years afterwards. While I have not pursued music as my long-term career, winning that prize was a springboard not only into more flute performance, but also into an adulthood filled with classical music.”

Past Winners of Bath Young Musician of the Year