FINAL - Southern Cotswold Rotary Young Musician Competition

There was a record turnout to see ten very talented young musicians, selected from previous heats, compete for the Mervyn Norris Memorial Cup, together with other valuable prizes, which included a cheque for £300 for the winner, as well as £500 to the winner’s school for the purchase of musical instruments.

After the four judges had deliberated, on what was a very difficult decision, Michael Castle, chairman of the judges panel, announced the winner as Daniel Harding, from Dursley, a scholar at the Wells Cathedral School.

Daniel, who was a runner-up in 2015, introduced and performed a selection of three very different styled pieces on violin. They were:-

Bach: Concerto No. 1 in A minor, 3rd movement.

Chopin: Nocturne in C sharp minor

Vivace Capriccioso in A Minor by Daniel Harding. A piece composed by him for the 2015 competition, a task he had undertaken for his GCSE exam; this piece he played again for this year’s Final.

As winner of the competition, Daniel was presented with the Mervyn Norrris Cup, presented by Joan Norris, plus a cheque for £300. In addition, Daniel has been invited to participate in the District Rotary Young Musician Competition, to be held at Dean Close School in Cheltenham on Sunday 6th March. If successful, he will progress to the Regional and hopefully to the National Rotary Finals. In past years our winners have received many invitations to perform at Rotary and other events, helping to further their musical careers.

The runner-up this year was Edwin Ward, from Rendcomb College, playing piano. Aged just 13, Edwin should have a great future ahead of him. His programme comprised:

Mozart: Piano Sonata in D major K311, 1st movement

Bach: Prelude and Fugue in C minor, BWV847

Harry Warren: September in the Rain

Please review the picture carousel, showiing all of the final competitors, and the prize awards.