As BBC Young Musician begins its 40th anniversary series, Josie d'Arby is joined by Alison Balsom, herself a finalist in 1998, to present highlights from the first of this year's category finals.\n\nSince it was first held in 1978, the contest has showcased the UK's brightest and best musical talent. This year five exceptional musicians have been selected for the strings final. They are: 19-year-old violinist Elodie Chousmer-Howelles; 17-year-old double bassist Will Duerden; violinist Stephanie Childress who is 18; 17-year-old guitarist Torrin Williams; and cellist Maxim Calver who is 18 years old. The music they perform includes Bach, Brahms and Stravinsky.\n\nFilmed in the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire's brand new concert hall, the programme introduces us to the five strings finalists, takes us behind the scenes to find out what it takes to compete at this level and features extensive highlights of each of the finalist's performances.\n\nOn hand to decide the category winner is a panel of leading experts. They are: renowned classical double bass virtuoso Leon Bosch; Milos Karadaglic, the award-winning classical guitarist from Montenegro; one of today's most exciting violinists Jennifer Pike who at 12 was the youngest winner of BBC Young Musician when she won in 2002; and the chair of the jury, composer, performer and writer Kerry Andrew.\n\nFollow the competition over the next five weeks on BBC Four as 25 of the UK's most talented young musicians compete in the strings, percussion, woodwind, brass and keyboard finals. The winners will all take their place in the semi-final and compete for a chance to perform in the Grand Final at Birmingham's Symphony Hall with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra conducted by Mark Wigglesworth. One will be named BBC Young Musician 2018.
Source: BBC 4
2024: Grand Final Performances
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2024: Grand Final
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2024: Quarter-final 1
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2024: Auditions 1
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2004: Nicola Benedetti's Prizewinning Performance
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BBC 4
2022: 7. Jazz Final
Five emerging stars of jazz perform in the 2022 Grand Final of BBC Young Jazz Musician.\n\nPresented this year by DJ Jamz Supernova, the contest is once again part of the EFG Lo ...
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BBC 4
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BBC Young Musician 2022 reaches its climax as we bring you full coverage of the competition’s grand final from Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall.\n\nFor over 40 years, B ...
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BBC 4
2022: 5. Keyboard Final Highlights
In the last of the category finals, we find out who will take the last place in this year’s BBC Young Musician grand final. In a hotly contested competition, five talented ...
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BBC 4
2024: Auditions 2
The search for the UK’s next classical superstar continues as more amazing musicians audition for a place in the quarter-finals. With the best players from Wales, Northern ...
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BBC 4
2018: 8. Jazz Final
Josie d'Arby is joined by saxophonist and composer YolanDa Brown to present the final of BBC Young Jazz Musician 2018. \n\nFive of the UK's most promising young performers compe ...
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BBC 4
2024: Quarter-final 2
Six more talented musicians compete in the second quarter-final of this year’s BBC Young Musician, and the pressure is on, with only one of them guaranteed a place in the ...
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BBC 4
2014 - Semi-final
The five winners of the strings, percussion, woodwind, keyboard and brass category finals compete for three places in the grand final at Edinburgh's Usher Hall.
17-05-2014
BBC 4
2018: Semi-final
The search for the next BBC Young Musician reaches its penultimate stage as the category winners from strings, percussion, woodwind, brass and keyboards compete for three places ...
11-05-2018
BBC 4
2024: Auditions 1
The competition that has launched the careers of some of the UK’s biggest names in classical music is back with some amazing young talent to enjoy. \n\nIn this first progr ...
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BBC 4