Rotary Young Musician - Chelmsford heat

The Chelmsford heat of the 2023-24 Rotary Young Musician competition was held at St Cedd’s School on the evening of Friday, 12 January 2024, and attended by the Mayor of Chelmsford, Cllr Linda Mascot. Peter Cross and Philippa Penkett acted as adjudicators. Our Club organised the event, the Rotary Club of Chelmsford Rivermead provided the interval refreshments and members of the Rotary Club of Chelmsford Mildmay were also there in support.

There were eight competitors: four singers and four instrumentalists. As we have come to expect, they were all of a very high standard.

The four singers sang a total of 13 songs in a variety of languages. Three had an accompanist and one used a backing tape, which is actually more difficult.

The four instrumentalists included a harpist, who was only the second harpist to enter the Chelmsford heat in the last twelve years. They played a total of 11 pieces, including classical, ragtime and jazz.

As Peter Cross said during his feedback, they were “all winners”. However, the adjudicators could only choose one winner in each category. The winning singer was Katherine O’Hanlon and the winning instrumentalist was the cellist Osaank Bhatt. The Mayor presented all competitors with their certificates and the winners with their certificates and trophies. The picture shows Osaank Bhatt with the Mayor.

The winners will now go forward to the District Final to be held at Brentwood Cathedral on Saturday, 2 March 2024.