Oldest and youngest win through

An extraordinary performance by this year’s oldest finalist18-year-old violinist Sebastian Taylor won him the coveted title of Gloucestershire Young Musician of the Year but the youngest entry, 10-year-old pianist Ella Backhouse, was not to be outdone and won the Audience Prize!

The talented pair were among five outstanding finalists who competed on instruments ranging from a marimba to a harp and flute at the competition hosted by Cheltenham College on Sunday (March 9).  The record-breaking contest saw 21 young musicians enter from across the county.

Sebastian, from Uley, a former student at Pate’s Grammar School now studying at  Cambridge, received a cash prize of £500 presented by Head of College Nicola Huggett, as well as the prestigious Hewitt-Jones Trophy given to him by composer Thomas Hewitt-Jones.

It was a case of practice makes perfect for Sebastian as he had entered the competition the previous year and not won through.

“It’s remarkable how much you can improve just through practising,” he said as he celebrated his win with parents Judith and Rupert and brother Alexander. He will be performing a recital at Cheltenham Musical Festival on July 7 and joining Gloucestershire Symphony orchestra for his first full concerto concert on November 23, as well as performing with Gloucestershire Youth Orchestra.

Audience prize winner Ella, a student at Cheltenham College Prep School,  is currently taught by pianist Roman Kosyakov at Royal Birmingham Junior Conservatoire. She received a cash prize of £200 from sponsors the Carducci Trust’s director Hollie Smith-Charles and will perform a recital at the Carducci Festival at Highnam in May.

The runners-up each received £50 prizes from Lavinia Sidgwick DL, of the Summerfield Charitable Trust. They were Pate’s Grammar student flautist Lois Rodgers, 17, from Northleach; harpist Janice Law, 17, from Cheltenham Ladies’ College and fellow student percussionist Pearly Chan, 14.

Chair of the judging panel, Professor Derek Aviss OBE, said each finalist had the potential to be a winner and he hoped to see them in future contests. He was joined this year by Sarah Newbold Professor  of Flute at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and well-known tenor James Gilchrist.

Master of ceremonies was Glyn Oxley, musical director of organisers Gloucestershire Symphony Orchestra.

The sponsors who have made this contest possible include Cheltenham College, Vivum Music Ltd, Gloucestershire Academy of Music, Brimpsfield Music Society, The Summerfield Charitable Trust, The Honourable Company of Gloucestershire, Make Music Gloucestershire, Cheltenham Music Festival, the Carducci Trust and Ann Heron, mother of 2016 winner Adam Heron.

Photos: Anna Lythgoe