Gloucestershire Young Musician of the Year 2026
A competition celebrating top level young musicians in Gloucestershire.
About Gloucestershire Young Musician of the Year 2026
Applications are now closed for this years Gloucestershire Young Musician Competition.
This competitions invites musicians that play piano, any string (including harp and guitar), woodwind or brass instrument or orchestral percussion to a Grade 8 standard. Entrants must be under 22 years on 1 March 2026.
First Round
Applicants will be invited to give a 12-minute recital before an adjudicator on Sunday 2nd November 2025 at Gloucestershire Academy of Music, Barbican House, Gloucester GL1 2JF. As a result of this stage a maximum of six finalists (or fewer, at the adjudicator’s discretion) will be selected to proceed to the final.
Competition Final
The selected finalists will each give a 15-minute recital before an audience and a panel of adjudicators, on Sunday January 18th at Cheltenham Town Hall between 2pm - 5pm.
At the Final, the following prizes will be awarded:
1st Prize
The Hewitt Jones Award
A cheque for £500
Two performances:
1) a concerto performance with Gloucestershire Symphony Orchestra at the Iconic Cheltenham Music Festival
2) a concerto performance with Gloucestershire Youth Orchestra
3) A unique musical experience with Longborough Festival Opera
Audience Prize
1) A cheque for £200 awarded by the Carducci Quartet
2) A recital at the Carducci Festival at Highnam in May 2026
The winner of this prize is selected via audience vote on the evening of the final.
All Other Finalists (including the winner of the Audience Prize)
A cheque for £100
*For competition terms and conditions head to our policies page by clicking here.*
