Rotary Young Musician 2026

The Rushden Rotary Club, in partnership with The Ferrers School in Higham Ferrers, proudly hosted the annual Young Musician of the Year Competition, bringing together families, friends, and supporters to celebrate the impressive musical achievements of local young performers.

Held at The Ferrers School, the event provided a vibrant platform for students to showcase their musical skills and shine on stage. The competition was expertly organised by Chris Gammon, Head of Music at The Ferrers School, with invaluable support from Lucy Taylor of the Northamptonshire Music and Performing Arts Trust (NMPAT)

The Choirs Section was the initial sortie into the world of youth music with four choirs competing for the Trophy in the Junior Section each singing modern songs. Their performances filled the hall with energy, harmony, and youthful enthusiasm, setting an uplifting tone for the evening. The Adjudicators, Chris Jeffs from NMPAT and Ben Drouet from the School, gave each Choir a feedback, declaring that the overall standard was very high but with great difficulty in deciding declared the Winning Choir as Alfred Lord Tennyson School, singing Refuge, who were then presented with the Choirs Trophy by Anton Rudgalvis, President of the Rotary Club.

The second Section featured the Junior and Senior soloists Competitions where there were six Juniors and nine Seniors taking part. The Juniors performed first featuring three guitar pieces, two clarinets and a flute with all of the performers only having had two year’s experience of their instruments. Again the Adjudicators declared that the standard was high for the ages of the contestants but they adjudged the Winner to be Tom Brown on his Clarinet playing Daisy, Daisy, and was presented with the Juniors Shield. The Runner-up was Georgina Nichols on the flute, playing The Nightingale. Both pupils were from Higham Ferrers Junior School.

The Senior section opened with a stirling performance on the piano by Hayden Cox of a Chopin Waltz, followed by vocal, violin, and drum soloists. Again, the Adjudicators gave a feedback to all contestants and after a taking time in the decision making process declared the Winner of the Pauline Longland Memorial Trophy as Georgia Goodchild for her solo rendition of Once Upon a December, with the Runner-up as Hayden Cox for his piano solo. Both were from The Ferrers School. All contestants received certificates of Merit from President Anton who thanked the audience for their vocal support of each contestant. The Prizes were sponsored by The Elizabeth Groome Music Fund for the advancement of the winner’s future musical education.

Chris Gammon, Head of Music at The Ferrers School, said:

“Our students worked incredibly hard to prepare for tonight, and we are immensely proud of every single performer. Their dedication to music is inspiring and a testament to the strength of arts education in our community.”

Lucy Taylor, representing NMPAT, added:

“It’s wonderful to see so many young people expressing themselves through music. Events like this help build confidence and foster a love for performance that can last a lifetime.”

A spokesperson for Rushden Rotary Club commented:

“Supporting young talent is at the heart of what we do. This year’s performers demonstrated exceptional promise, and we are honoured to celebrate their achievements.”

A Community United Through Music

The competition highlights the ongoing collaboration between Rushden Rotary Club, local schools, and arts organisations. This support network continues to nurture developing musicians and create rich cultural opportunities for young people in the region.

The Rotary Club extends its heartfelt thanks to all participants, families, teachers, volunteers, and supporters who contributed to making the 2026 event a standout success.