MUMBAI: BBC Young Musician, the UK's leading contest for young classical musicians, begins on Friday 18 April, presented by two of today's biggest classical music artists – trumpeter Alison Balsom and guitarist Milos Karadagli?.
Since the competition's first outing in 1978, BBC Young Musician has established an enviable reputation for finding outstanding new talent. Two years ago, 15-year-old cellist Laura van der Heijden was awarded the title BBC Young Musician 2012 to take her place alongside a star-studded list of former winners and finalists that includes Thomas Ades, Alison Balsom, Nicola Benedetti, Thomas Carroll, Natalie Clein, Michael Collins, Nicholas Daniel, Benjamin Grosvenor, Stephen Hough, Emma Johnson, Guy Johnston, Freddy Kempf, Leon McCawley, Lucy Parham, Jennifer Pike, Tom Poster, David Pyatt and Paul Watkins.
Alison and Milos will present the five BBC Young Musician category finals (Strings, Keyboard, Woodwind, Brass and Percussion) as well as the semi-final. Each category comprises five finalists, who perform to a live audience and a specialist panel of adjudicators. One musician from each category will go through to the semi-final, with three going through to the final at Usher Hall in Edinburgh on Sunday 18 May, broadcast on BBC Four and BBC Radio 3.
Trumpeter Alison Balsom was a finalist at BBC Young Musician in 1998 and is also a former Radio 3 New Generation Artist. She is one of the foremost artists of her generation.
She says: "I couldn't be more excited about returning to that terrifying yet totally awe-inspiring place that is BBC Young Musician. This competition remains the benchmark for all young classical musicians in the UK. In the whole scheme of talent shows, the dedication, the preparation and the natural ability that abounds each year from BBC Young Musician is unbelievable. Both the audience and the artists are treated with the respect and the professionalism that this high standard of music-making deserves.
"I am so honoured to be a part of it all again. I know exactly how each performer must be feeling right now; it's exactly how I feel before each performance, even to this day. Actually, I really pleased I'm NOT in their shoes right now!"
Miloš Karadagli? first started playing the guitar at the age of eight in his homeland of Montenegro. At 17 he successfully applied for a scholarship at the Royal Academy of Music and moved to London. His recent album, Aranjuez, is currently topping the charts around the world.
He says: "BBC Young Musician is a programme that I have religiously watched for years. I have followed the careers of the talented musicians who have participated in the programme, among them two brilliant young soloists Alison Balsom and Nicky Benedetti, and seen first-hand the gruelling competition process it entails. As an honorary Brit you can imagine what an honour it was for me to be asked to be involved; I feel genuinely proud to associate myself with the wonderful competition and with all the positive energy and opportunity that it stands for. Here's to youth, music and an inspiring BBC Young Musician 2014!"
Jan Younghusband, Head of Commissioning, Music and Events. says: "We are delighted to welcome Alison and Milos in their debut as a presenting duo on BBC Four. BBC Music programming aims to put musicians centre-screen, so it is fantastic for us to be able to offer two musicians and great communicators who are at the top of their game and will share their knowledge and expertise with our BBC Young Musicians and audiences."
The 2014 category finals and semi-final were recorded in the Dora Stoutzker Hall, Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Cardiff. The BBC Young Musician Final will take place on 18 May 2014 at Usher Hall in Edinburgh in front of an audience and a panel of adjudicators. The final will be broadcast on BBC Four and Radio 3.
For the first time this year BBC Young Musician has announced an Ambassadorial role for violinist Nicola Benedetti, one of its most celebrated former winners. 2014 is the 10th anniversary of Nicola's win, and for the 2014 Final, BBC Young Musician will return to the scene of her triumph, Usher Hall in Edinburgh.