Barnes Young Musician of the Year Finals

Final Adjudication

Barnes Young Musician of the Year is 7 years old! In the course of those seven years, over 70 aspiring performers have taken partin the final adjudication, presenting their programmes to distinguished adjudicators in front of capacity audiences. Membersof those audiences have commented on the steady increase in the quality of these young peoples’ musicianship. This year promises to be as good as ever.

In the build-up to the Finals, masterclasses for piano, strings, woodwind and brass have been held for pupils of all abilities. These have been led by outstanding professional musicians and generously hosted by St Paul’s School, Harrodian School, St Paul’s Girls’ School and Ibstock Place School. From these masterclasses, the best performers have been chosen to qualify for this Final Adjudication.

This year’s adjudicator is Ben Parry. Ben studied at Cambridge University and sang with King’s College Choir. He joined The Swingle Singers in 1987, toured globally and performed with some of the world’s greatest musicians. He co-founded the Dunedin Consort and has held posts atSt Paul’s School, Junior Royal Academy of Music and as Artistic Director of the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain.

The winner of Barnes Young Musician of the Year is invited to play at the final event of the festival, Choral Evensong on 19 March at St Mary’s.