Boys' Division's fourth annual Young Musician of the Year competition attracted over 500 entrants and, once again, the quality of the performances was outstanding.  Mr Stephen Martin, Head of Music, opened the evening by saying: "although we produce a plethora of concerts over the year, this night is a really special one for me and always makes me the most proud.  Tonight, in what is the culmination of a month of music making, you will hear some stunning music as well as a great diversity of music - 14 finalists and 17 performances.  Music continues to be very popular in the Boys’ Division with over 400 boys having individual music lessons.  Again, I offer thanks to the 24 music teachers who have helped make this evening happen.”

The evening was as good as Mr Martin had promised.  The finalists were in fact already winners, each one being the individual winner in their category of instrument – brass, guitar, piano, percussion, strings, voice and woodwind - and they all took home a trophy on the night. 

There were two elements to the final: a Young Musician of the Year Award and a Young Composer of the Year Award.  There were senior and junior categories in both sections.  The tough job of judging the competition went to Mr Julian Ross, Director of Music at Arnold School.

There were some excellent entries and it was a tough decision for the adjudicator.  Whilst all the boys were commended, overall winners were as follows:

- the award of Senior Young Musician of the Year went to Jeremy Peel, Year 13, who played a clarinet in the woodwind category;                             

- the Junior Young Musician of the Year was Toby Cowling, Year 8, who played a trumpet in the brass category;     

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- the award of Senior Composer of the Year went to Peter Noall, Year 13 and the award of Junior Composer of the Year went to Thomas Mottershead, Year 8.  Each of them received a trophy and prize money of £50

- this year there was a new prize winner - the most promising musician award - which went to a boy who had been very good but had not quite made it to the final; the recipient was Jack Eckersley.                     .

Both the Junior and Senior Young Musicians of the Year were awarded a trophy and £100 in prize money and will have their names engraved on the Young Musician of the Year plaque which is on permanent display in the Music Department.