Youth Programme
Our Youth Programme is now well established as an integral part of the Festival with initiatives such as the Barnes Young Musician of the Year Award, the Schools’ Concert, our Under 12 free ticket scheme and performance opportunities for first class music groups from local secondary schools. With children and families being a large part of the Barnes population, we aim to engage them in listening to and creating music within the Festival. We continue to devise new opportunities for involvement and to promote the enjoyment of music to young people in our community.
Schools Concert
The Schools Concert is a creative project for local primary schools with the aim of introducing primary aged children to the joy of music making. In 2018, children from Barnes Primary and St Paul’s School took centre stage for an entire event for the first time in the history of the festival where they performed Alexander L’Estrange’s, Zimbe! In 2019, Leonardo Da Vinci inspired the children. Our 2022 concert was based on the theme of bridges with a performance of Let's Build a Bridge by Mark Wilderspin.
Barnes Young Musician 2024
The Barnes Music Festival has an extensive Youth Programme. The Barnes Young Musician, now in its eighth year, is an instrumental competition available to the most advanced players in Barnes. The competition is supported by the Barnes Music Society. Applications are encouraged from players of Grade 6+ standard.
Sectional Masterclasses - applications open soon
Sectional Masterclasses were successfully introduced in 2022 in partnership with local schools. Led by outstanding musicians they offer valuable insight from outstanding leaders.
● Strings - Wednesday 24 January, 5pm at St Paul's Girls School
● Woodwind - Thursday 1 February, 5pm at Ibstock Place
● Keyboard - Wednesday 6 March, 5pm at St Paul's Boys School
● Organ - Thursday 14 March, 1pm Recital and 2.45 pm Masterclass at St Mary's Barnes
● Brass - TBC
Barnes Young Musician Of the Year
First Round (video submissions):
The first round will be judged by a video submission 3-5minuites in length. This video need not be a ‘finished product’, but rather demonstrating potential and suitability for the final. The video can be accompanied or unaccompanied, using a live performer or pre-recorded backing track.
Videos will be judged by a panel, including James Day (Artistic Director) and Christine Thornton (BYM Co-ordinator)
The final adjudication.
The final will take place in a similar format to past years and a professional accompanist will be available. Our 2024 adjudicator will be Nicholas Daniel OBE, world class oboist, conductor, teacher and adjudicator. His Orion Orchestra was founded to provide young musicians the opportunities to bridge the gap between music college and their professional careers.
Timeline for 2024:
January - March - Sectional Masterclasses
Friday 23rd February - Deadline for Young Musician video submissions
Sunday 10th March - Barnes Young Musician of the Year Final
Saturday 27th March - Winners performance at the Festival Celebration Concert
Barnes Young Musician of the Year Competition Application Form 2024
Previous winners
2023 Winner: Michael Tao, piano
Runners up:
Jacqueline Yang, cello
Jane Lee, violin
Adjudicator: Ben Parry
2022 Winner: Grace Wu, piano
Runners up: Sophia Membery, harp
Special Commendations:
Josephine Russell, oboe
Jane Lee, violin
Adjudicator: Toby Purser
2021 Winner: Mila Mitrovic, clarinet
Runners up: Tian Hsu, trumpet
Josephine Russel, oboe
Adjudicator: Jane Gordon
2020 Winner: Xenia Edwards, violin
Runner up: Tian Hsu, trumpet
Adjudicator: Ashley Solomon
2019 Winner: Charlotte Comon, cello
Runner up: Madeleine Jablonowska, clarinet
Adjudicator: Paul McCreesh
2018 Winner: Calvin Leung, piano
Runner up: Andreana Chan, violin
Adjudicator: Hilary Davan Wetton
2017 Winner: Samuel Tannenbaum, piano
Adjudicator: Ralph Allwood
