BBC Young Musician Competition Options

[nicki_flute]

I still thought it was a bit slow to get going though - they had little introduction to every new section e.g. meeting the judges or meeting the pianists. Hopefully the next episode won't go through the same process, but you never know.

[dolce@piano]

Anyone else watching this? No girls/ women either competing in or judging the piano semi final. I find that a bit odd to be honest. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

Interestingly over the other 4 categories it is split exactly 50:50 between girls and boys.

I, as a woman, was quite glad to see just boys as finalsits - it showed that they had (almost) certainly been picked purely on musical merit and not trying to respect some political correctness thingy.

Statistically, you would expect 3 - 2 in favour of one or the other (difficult to get exactly 50:50!), but 5 - 0 is not that far off, especially just as a one-off year - you'd have to look back over all the years to make any judgement as to whether overall (a) less girls play piano to a high standard or (b) girls play as well but are somehow discriminated against.

No idea about the judges - there too you'd expect 2 - 1 - but if nearly all the principals and directors of the major music colleges etc. are men, then you'll get more men as adjudicators. That, however, obviously begs another question . . . .

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[Robodoc]

Thoroughly deserving winner I thought though.

Absolutely : and second time lucky for him, too. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I don't think it was luck: I first saw and met Yanfuan when he was 11 and in the cabaret at the end of Chethams Piano Summer School (with at least a dozen professional concert pianists in the audience) he played the Chopin Black Note Etude . . . blindfold! Two years ago when he was 13 I thought he was very unlucky not to win the keyboard category (although the girl that did gave a stunning concerto performance in the final and was a clear winner there, where Yanfuan might not have been so successful). In the 2 years since then, as Murray McLachlan said in the program, he has developed enormously: He has also won a lot of competitions and played a lot of concertos with orchestras, which experience should help him in the final (I suspect the result is probably already out there somewhere but I prefer to wait for the recorded highlights, a bit like watching Match Of The Day but taking care not to watch the sports report on the news first).

All the players in the category final had at least one piece that they played brilliantly, but all the others had at least one piece that didn't quite dazzle. Yanfuan had no such weaker pieces, not even the one he wrote himself (although I didn't like it - but that's a matter of my taste, not his skill). He is already, at 15, very nearly the finished article as concert pianist: The others weren't (though my word they were close!).

Roll on the rest!

[BerkshireMum]

Thoroughly deserving winner I thought though.

Absolutely : and second time lucky for him, too. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I don't think it was luck: I first saw and met Yanfuan when he was 11 and in the cabaret at the end of Chethams Piano Summer School (with at least a dozen professional concert pianists in the audience) he played the Chopin Black Note Etude . . . blindfold! Two years ago when he was 13 I thought he was very unlucky not to win the keyboard category (although the girl that did gave a stunning concerto performance in the final and was a clear winner there, where Yanfuan might not have been so successful). In the 2 years since then, as Murray McLachlan said in the program, he has developed enormously: He has also won a lot of competitions and played a lot of concertos with orchestras, which experience should help him in the final (I suspect the result is probably already out there somewhere but I prefer to wait for the recorded highlights, a bit like watching Match Of The Day but taking care not to watch the sports report on the news first).

The final is on 13 May at The Sage Gateshead, and will presumably be transmitted live.

[nicki_flute]

Thoroughly deserving winner I thought though.

Absolutely : and second time lucky for him, too. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I don't think it was luck: I first saw and met Yanfuan when he was 11 and in the cabaret at the end of Chethams Piano Summer School (with at least a dozen professional concert pianists in the audience) he played the Chopin Black Note Etude . . . blindfold! Two years ago when he was 13 I thought he was very unlucky not to win the keyboard category (although the girl that did gave a stunning concerto performance in the final and was a clear winner there, where Yanfuan might not have been so successful). In the 2 years since then, as Murray McLachlan said in the program, he has developed enormously: He has also won a lot of competitions and played a lot of concertos with orchestras, which experience should help him in the final (I suspect the result is probably already out there somewhere but I prefer to wait for the recorded highlights, a bit like watching Match Of The Day but taking care not to watch the sports report on the news first).

The final is on 13 May at The Sage Gateshead, and will presumably be transmitted live.

It's at 3pm on 13 May at The Sage Gateshead (not sure whether this will be reflected on the TV, as it is usually an evening thing, isn't it?)

Also, there is the semi-final to get through first as only three musicians can make the final.

[VH2]

As always, the five piano finalists all played superbly, and Yuanfan exceptionally so ... but some of the repertoire they chose (Beethoven and Haydn sonatas excepted) was just horrible - and probably incomprehensible at a first hearing. It is little wonder that so many young people are not attracted to classical music if they think this is what it is all about.

[Arundodonuts]

As always, the five piano finalists all played superbly, and Yuanfan exceptionally so ... but some of the repertoire they chose (Beethoven and Haydn sonatas excepted) was just horrible - and probably incomprehensible at a first hearing. It is little wonder that so many young people are not attracted to classical music if they think this is what it is all about.

But it's not a "popular music" competition. It's about finding the best musicians - and they will need to demonstrate their competence in a variety of styles and periods.

[Misterioso]

It's at 3pm on 13 May at The Sage Gateshead (not sure whether this will be reflected on the TV, as it is usually an evening thing, isn't it?)

Also, there is the semi-final to get through first as only three musicians can make the final.

Missed it, through being away! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

Are any dates published for the other category finals, or the semi-final?

[flobiano]

As always, the five piano finalists all played superbly, and Yuanfan exceptionally so ... but some of the repertoire they chose (Beethoven and Haydn sonatas excepted) was just horrible - and probably incomprehensible at a first hearing. It is little wonder that so many young people are not attracted to classical music if they think this is what it is all about.

I think it depends on your personal preferences and we don't all like the same things. Interestingly my OH is not a Classical music fan and he particularly dislikes Mozart, Beethoven, Haydn and all other things that we may assume to be more accessible. But he really, really liked the piece that the winner had composed himself. He thought it was really exciting and different and not what he expected from "classical" music.

The Category finals are on every Friday night for the next few weeks.

[Misterioso]

The Category finals are on every Friday night for the next few weeks.

Thank you! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Chris H]

Looking forward to the woodwind! We have tickets for the final in Gateshead, so I am following it all with great interest.

[nicki_flute]

Looking forward to the woodwind! We have tickets for the final in Gateshead, so I am following it all with great interest.

It'll be spot the fellow forumite then (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[Chris H]

Looking forward to the woodwind! We have tickets for the final in Gateshead, so I am following it all with great interest.

It'll be spot the fellow forumite then (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Will you be there too?

[balu114]

Missed it, through being away! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

It's still available on BBC iPlayer!!

[PianoNotes]

I watched it last night on BBC iplayer. Very much looking forward to watching the woodwind round even though I already know the result, and am also looking forward to the final, which I have put that in my diary to make sure I don't miss it. I'll see if I can spot you in the audience Chris H. Some people I know were in the audience for the piano finals but I didn't manage to see them.