Young Musician of the Year Competition 2026
This year’s Young Musician of the Year final brought together eight exceptional performers representing a wide range of disciplines including piano, cello, clarinet, violin, trombone, voice and flute. With fifty students applying to take part, the highest number in the competition’s history, the standard was exceptionally high from the outset.
We were honoured to welcome Rosie Whitfield (Dip RSM Performers, ARCM Teachers, PGCE) as our adjudicator. As an experienced judge for the British and International Federation of Festivals, former Director of Music at Whitgift School, founder of the Whitgift International Music Competition, and current Head of Junior Guildhall, she brought a wealth of expertise to the evening. Ms Whitfield praised not only the calibre of performance but also the “wonderful performing etiquette” shown by students, remarking how heartening it was to see performers acknowledge their accompanists with such professionalism.
The title of Young Musician of the Year 2026 was awarded to Aaron (Year 10) for his performance of Scherzo in B-flat Minor No. 2 by Chopin on the piano. Mina (Year 9) was named runner-up for her performance of Pietro Morlacchi’s II Pastore Svizzero on the flute.
Director of Music Mr Johns reflected on the exceptional quality of the final, commenting: “That was one of the most enjoyable hours and a half of my life because the standard was absolutely remarkable. And for every single one of them, that was the best they have ever performed.”
The evening concluded with two special guest performances. Last year’s winner, Nirvana (Year 10), returned to perform Nana & Polo from Siete Canciones Populares Españolas by Manuel de Falla on violin, followed by Liam (Upper Sixth), winner of the 2025 Eltham College Concerto Competition, who performed Weber’s Variation on a Favourite Theme (arr. Andrew Watkin) on the trumpet.
A special mention goes to Christian (Upper Sixth), winner of Mr Johns’s impromptu £5 Best Bow Prize.
Congratulations to all the performers; the standard of musicianship on display was outstanding from start to finish.
