This year’s Final of Bolton School Boys’ Division’s Young Musician competition, in its nineteenth year, provided an evening showcasing outstanding talent. Fourteen gifted solo performers, who were already winners in their individual instrumental categories, shared their passion for music with an appreciate and enthusiastic audience.
Adjudicator, Philip Dewhurst, former Director of Music at Cheadle Hulme School and long-standing examiner for Trinity College London, had the difficult job of choosing the ultimate winners. He was extremely complimentary about every performance and offered detailed feedback to each musician.
Mr Dewhurst went on to announce the Senior Young Musician of the Year as Laurence Britton on drum kit, and the Young Musician as Mathew Yeung on violin. The Junior Young Composer of the Year award was given to Charlie Feng and the Senior Young Composer of the Year to Rishi Narla. The Most Promising Performer Award went to clarinettist Freddie Audley.
The competitions began in January with hundreds of boys performing in the Heats to members of the Music Department staff; 64 musicians were then selected as semi-finalists to perform throughout the whole day to Mr Dewhurst on 15 February. The winners of each instrumental category then proceeded to perform at the Final.
Mr Forgrieve, Foundation Director of Instrumental Music, congratulated the pupils on their wonderful performances and thanked Mr and Mrs Hilton, who were in the audience, for their continuing annual contribution towards the prize money as the ‘Walker-Hilton Music Prizes’.
You can view a gallery of photos from the evening below:
