An extraordinary performance by this year’s oldest finalist, 18-year-old violinist Sebastian Taylor, won him the coveted title of Gloucestershire Young Musician of the Year but the youngest entry, 10-year-old pianist Ella Backhouse, was not to be outdone and won the Audience Prize!

The talented pair were among five outstanding finalists who competed on instruments ranging from a marimba to a harp and flute at the competition hosted by Cheltenham College on Sunday (March 9).  The record-breaking contest saw 21 young musicians enter from across the county.

Sebastian, from Uley, a former student at Pate’s Grammar School now studying at  Cambridge, received a cash prize of £500 presented by Head of College Nicola Huggett, as well as the prestigious Hewitt-Jones Trophy given to him by composer Thomas Hewitt-Jones.

It was a case of practice makes perfect for Sebastian as he had entered the competition the previous year and not won through. 

“It’s remarkable how much you can improve just through practising,” he said as he celebrated his win with parents Judith and Rupert and brother Alexander. He will be performing a recital at Cheltenham Musical Festival on 7 July and joining Gloucestershire Symphony orchestra for his first full concerto concert on 23 November, as well as performing with Gloucestershire Youth Orchestra.

Audience prize winner Ella, a student at Cheltenham College Prep School,  is currently taught by pianist Roman Kosyakov at Royal Birmingham Junior Conservatoire. She received a cash prize of £200 from sponsors the Carducci Trust’s director Hollie Smith-Charles and will perform a recital at the Carducci Festival at Highnam in May.

The runners-up each received £50 prizes from Lavinia Sidgwick DL, of the Summerfield Charitable Trust. They were Pate’s Grammar student flautist Lois Rodgers, 17, from Northleach; harpist Janice Law, 17, from Cheltenham Ladies’ College and fellow student percussionist Pearly Chan, 14.

Chair of the judging panel, Professor Derek Aviss OBE, said each finalist had the potential to be a winner and he hoped to see them in future contests. He was joined this year by Sarah Newbold, Professor  of Flute at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and well-known tenor James Gilchrist.

Master of ceremonies was Glyn Oxley, musical director of organisers Gloucestershire Symphony Orchestra.

The sponsors who have made this contest possible include Cheltenham College, Vivum Music Ltd, Gloucestershire Academy of Music, Brimpsfield Music Society, The Summerfield Charitable Trust, The Honourable Company of Gloucestershire, Make Music Gloucestershire, Cheltenham Music Festival, the Carducci Trust and Ann Heron, mother of 2016 winner Adam Heron.

Five incredible young musicians have made it through to the finals of a record-breaking Gloucestershire Young Musician of the Year 2025 contest.

Not only did the competition see the biggest-ever entry of 21, but it also saw the youngest-ever entry in Cheltenham College pianist Ella Backhouse, aged 10, who made it through the finals.

She will be competing with fellow finalists Dursley violinist Sebastian Taylor, 18, a former student at Pate’s Grammar School now studying at Cambridge; fellow Pate’s Grammar student flautist Lois Rodgers, 16, from Northleach; harpist Janice Law, 17, from Cheltenham Ladies’ College and fellow student percussionist Pearly Chan, 14.

The first-round auditions took place on 12 January at Gloucestershire Academy of Music’s city headquarters Barbican House and the Finals are being staged at The Big Classical, Cheltenham College on Sunday 9 March, 2025 at 3pm.

Adjudicating the first round was Professor Derek Aviss OBE, former Executive Director of Trinity Laban and former principal of Trinity College of Music. Based in the county, he has long been associated with the Gloucestershire Academy of Music as its former President and now a Patron.

He said: “I was highly impressed with the standard of playing of these outstanding young musicians. Any one of those who played in the auditions could be a future finalist and I would encourage them to try again in subsequent years if they don’t make the finals this time.”

The eventual winner will receive the Hewitt-Jones Trophy, a cheque for £500 and the opportunity to play a recital at Cheltenham Music Festival and perform with Gloucestershire Symphony and Gloucestershire Youth Orchestras.

There is also an audience prize of £200 with the opportunity to play at the Carducci Festival, sponsored by the Carducci Trust. Runners-up receive cheques for £50.

The sponsors who have made this contest possible include Cheltenham College, Vivum Music Ltd, Gloucestershire Academy of Music, Brimpsfield Music Society, The Summerfield Charitable Trust, The Honourable Company of Gloucestershire, Make Music Gloucestershire, Cheltenham Music Festival, the Carducci Trust and Ann Heron, mother of 2016 winner Adam Heron.

Tickets, priced £15 for adults and free to under-18s, for the finals on Sunday, 9 March at 3pm in The Big Classical, Cheltenham College, Bath Road, Cheltenham are available from Ticketsource:

https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/gloucestershire-symphony-orchestra

Gloucestershire Young Musician of the Year James Li’s dream came true when he performed Sibelius’s virtuoso violin concerto before a capacity audience in Cheltenham.

Ever since he was a young child, he had always wanted to play the work and on Sunday, he realised his ambition with Gloucestershire Symphony Orchestra giving an outstanding performance at The Big Classical, Cheltenham College.

“It feels as if I made the impossible happen because this was my dream concerto when I was a kid,” said James. “This wouldn’t have happened without GSO and conductor Glyn Oxley who’s helped me so much.”

His proud parents Raymond and Karen, who live in Cheltenham, said they had tears in their eyes when they watched their son give his breathtaking winner’s concert, before civic dignitaries, sponsors, county music chiefs as well as families and young musicians. The concert also featured Sibelius’s Symphony No 5 and Borodin’s evocative In the Steppes of Central Asia.

Officially launching the 2025 county contest, Hong Kong-born James has played at Cheltenham Music Festival as well as with ESO at the Elgar Festival in Worcester this year and is due to perform Vaughan Williams’ The Lark Ascending with Gloucestershire Youth Orchestra. He is currently studying for his master’s programme at the Mozarteum University Salzburg.

Gloucestershire Young Musician of the Year, James Li, is tackling one of the most demanding violin concertos ever written with Gloucestershire Symphony Orchestra, under Glyn Oxley’s baton. 

He is all set to launch the 2025 contest with a performance of Sibelius’ ‘fire and ice’ violin concerto at The Big Classical, Cheltenham College on Sunday, November 17 at 3pm.

For details about how to enter the competition, see our GYM page.

Buy tickets for the concert from Ticket source

Gloucestershire Young Musician of the Year, James Li, is all set to launch the 2025 contest with a performance of Sibelius’ ‘fire and ice’ virtuosic violin concerto at The Big Classical, Cheltenham College on Sunday, November 17 at 3pm.

He’ll be playing with Gloucestershire Symphony Orchestra who have just announced that entries are now open for next year’s competition.

For info on James’ winner’s concert see Upcoming Events.

For details about how to enter the competition, see our GYM page.