Swindon Young Musician of the Year 2025

It was a musical feast with performances from 8 vocalists, 7 pianists, 2 drummers, a bass guitarist, a violinist and a saxophonist.

Entered by their schools, these talented young musicians competed for the Rotary title of the Swindon Young Musician of the Year 2025.

THE RESULTS OF THE COMPETITION

THE SWINDON YOUNG MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR 2025

Lourdes Ma, from the Deanery Academy, Swindon

SENIOR SECTION

1st –  Lourdes Ma, the Deanery Academy, Swindon
Piano, Sonata in E flat Major (third movement) by Haydn

Joint 2nd  – Zara Mcrae, St John’s Excalibur, Marlborough
Piano, No.2 from 6 dances in Bulgarian Rhythm by Bartok

Joint 2nd  – Bhradain Salmon, St Joseph’s College
Drums, Wake Up! By Commerford & De la Rocha

JUNIOR SECTION

1st – Elizabeth Pope, St John’s Excalibur, Marlborough
Piano, Romance if D flat major OP24 No,9 by Sibelius

2nd – Juliana Vitorio, St Joseph’s College
Singer, Vittoria Mio Core by Giacomo Carissimi

The overall winner and the first and second in each section were presented with music vouchers.   Every entrant was presented with certificate of merit.   There were 22 entrants in all, 11 in each section, but 2 in each section failed to attend.

ADJUDICATOR: THOMAS GRAFF

Thomas Graff began playing the piano at the age of 4 and when he reached 9 years of age he was awarded a scholarship to the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.  He went on to study music at the University of Bristol and in 2019 was awarded a Fellowship of the Royal School of Music.  In the same year he was appointed Musical Director of the Wessex Male Voice Choir since when he has taken the choir to competition wins in Poland and Northen Ireland.  As well as an accomplished pianist, Thomas also plays the violin and enjoys running marathons.
 

PRE-EVENT INFORMATION

Swindon Schools have been invited to submit entries.

The Competition is being held in St Michael & All Angels Church in Highworth

Entry is free of charge

The competition will be in two parts –
Part 1 for the Junior Section (aged up to 14 years )
Part 2 for the Senior Section (aged up to 16 years). 

All competitors will receive a certificate of achievement in recognition of having reached the level of accomplishment required to enter the competition.

Audience members are welcome - there is no charge.

St Michael's & All Angel's Church, Highworth, Swindon SN6 7NA is in the centre of Highworth on the main High Street. 

Please note - the Church does not have a car park. Free parking is available in the Market Square and also in the much bigger free car park on Brewery Street, just a 5-10 minute walk from the Church

Swindon Young Musician of the Year 2024