Hello entering the BBC young musician of the year has been one of my crazy ambitions since i was tiny!!And i have eventually come to the stage where i can enter next year with a realistic approach(Not that i stand a chance)! .Has anyone here ever entered before or thought about it?

My friend who had done his DipABRSM sax with distinction at 16/17 entered it this year, but never made it past the first round It's supposed to be a really good experience

Have fun doing that!

Is there any rule about not entering it more than once or is that allowed? Because otherwise some people (eg. Benjamin Grosvenor) could potentially make the final five times.

I think you can enter more than once because one of the string semi finalists had been a semi finalist in a previous year.
I don't know what the position is for finalists though.

Officially (I think) you only need to be Grade 8 (Distinction) but I have often thought in recent times that the entrants are much, much better qualified and this message confirms that.

I would say have a go if you meet the minimum qualifications but go with the aim of learning from the experience and trying to enjoy it at the same time. Dream dreams and work hard but also be realistic. This is increasingly a competition for those who've had specialist music tuition since they primary school age. It's a spendid celebration of gifted musicians but I'm not quite sure what it does for the rest any longer.

Good luck if you do enter - nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Someone in my village entered on the tenor horn and got to the second round I think, but she's in national bands and has come high up in national competitions and things. She has never been to a private school I don't think.

I have a friend who got DipABRSM at 13, entered two years later and didnt get past the second round. I took DipABRSM a few weeks after the first round and didn't get through. Got some very unpleasant comments too, not a very welcoming or positive experience.

What happened to the guy who won last year? Is he still learning or is he now performing?

I've had two pupils enter the YM - one many years ago, the other for the last session. Neither got beyond the first round , but both said that they were glad they had taken part. As an indicator of standard, the first had taken his Advanced certificate at 13 and entered at age 17 (if I remember rightly), and the second had passed her DipABRSM about a year before she entered, also aged 17.

I really thought my most recent entrant had a good chance of getting through at least one more round - she's a stunning player with a fantastic technique, and played very well in her audition (I was accompanying her, so I could hear). Unfortunately she forgot to request her comments sheet before the required date (you have to ask for it by a certain time after the audition - they don't send it automatically), so we don't know what she came down on, but I suspect it might be the actual presentation. She's such a modest girl that she tends to just 'stand there and play' rather than overtly 'perform' - she has had this mentioned at Music Festivals before now. I'm just saying this because it's something to consider for future entrants, as well as the actual quality of the music-making!

A couple of years ago a girl at my school entered and got to the semis for piano. She's now at Cambridge doing music I think....

What a shame they had to be negative. I hate it when this happens. It detracts from the fact you did brilliantly anyway even to be there. It's one thing giving constructive criticism, another to be negative - and to come across as entirely negative the jury have showed a lack of sensitivity that you would expect professional musicians to have in abundance.

Ah, you're not a fan of "The X Factor", I take it?

The problem is the very thin dividing line between "constructive criticism" and "being negative". While it is clearly important not to cause unnecessary distress, the YM competition is there to discover soloists capable of carrying a performance. Such individuals, besides the given of consummate technical prowess and musicianship, must also be able to project the music. People who are capable of this are few and far between. It does no-one any service at all if the judges allow a competitor to think that she has what it takes if the judges can see that she does not. In that regard Simon Cowell (the loathed judge on the aforementioned talent show) is quite right in his brutal assessments of competitors, some of whom must be borderline delusional if they think they have the "X factor". There's no call to be unkind, but a bitter pill must be tasted so that its purpose is clear.

EDIT NOTE: I used the pronoun "she" above because when I was at University in the 1990s it was regarded as the correct gender-neutral pronoun. I did not intend this to refer to anyone particular upthread.

Hmmm, I would consider entering the BBC Old Musician of the Year...

But that's not, to my mind, an excuse. Indeed, anyone given the responsibility of "judging" should be more than aware of this.

As I see it, music is one of the most "human" activities there is. To behave with a complete lack of regard for peoples' feelings takes some of the humanity out of it.

Perhaps I'm just too nice...


Bring it on!

If it's your DREAM, then, why not? What's stopping you? If you don't go for it, you'll always be asking yourself, "What if ..." in the future especially since it was, after all, your childhood DREAM?

I don't think music shd be about competitions at all. It can give kids all the wrong impressions and it can also be very stressful! However, I've now come to accept the reality that it is one sure way of getting spotted if you are truly a great player. If you lose, you have nothing to lose other than your pride. Tasmin Little and Jack Liebeck both lost but so what?! TL got ejected very early on but look at her today.

The standard is very high - that much I've overheard from conservatory teachers. In practice, albeit not on paper, a HIGH distinction in the performance diploma is but the very basic starting point plus experience.

You would do well to play in some music festival concerto competitions first as preliminary trial runs. All good practice / experience as long as you have a good, healthy and positive attitude whether you win or lose. The North London and also the Marlow Music Festivals have very HIGH standards. Try those first. Jeanine Thorpe who was reported to be a stunning wannabe was winner in the latter. A Menuhin kid was the concerto winner in the East London Music Festival. You need to learn to handle your nerves and also pitch your wits/talent against these "regionals" first for good practice.

So start working very hard NOW!

PS - You can't enter next year as it's bi-annual according to the newspapers!

Hmm, I'm afraid only 2 years after a distinction in her performance diploma is not NECESSARILY a lot bearing in mind that Benedetti entered some 5 years AFTER her diploma std plus loads of performing experience. Better later than earlier. It's (also) experience/exposure that counts. That's why Menuhin and Purcell send their kids to all sorts of music festivals everywhere including little local ones like Harlow, one local parent informed with pride, when, her son who takes "normal" private lessons triumphed over these as the local young musician of the year.

By the way, Noodelz, the guy who won this year was interviewed recently at the BBC Proms when he was playing in the National Youth Orchestra at RAH and asked what he has been up to since winning? He said - Nothing much, just the usual...

Actually, I think Tasmin Little was a finalist, whereas Jack Liebeck was a semi-finalist.

Scary. I doubt I ever make it. Wouldn't ou have to pratise like over 5 hours each day ?

I am thinking of entering but I cant find out how for 2007

It is every 2 years.

I think Jack Liebeck was in the strings final the year Guy Johnston won on the cello. As I remember it was strong string year, with Sasha Sitkovetsky not getting past the strings final round either.

*goes to check facts*

Edit: Sometimes I am astounded by my memory

Edit 2: that is an interesting list actually, look at the piano line up in 1978! And Jack was also in the strings final the year Natalie Clein won!! I also see that I have played with at least 3 people on the list when they have been guest soloists with the CSO!

I met Freddie Kempf when I was studying music in Canterbury he was about 13 at the time and came to play at a piano masterclass with Ronald Smith? I remember thinking this child was amazing and why some of us undergraduates where not good enough to take part in the masterclass.

My kids also play in the band where Henry Baldwin tutors, he was a percussion finalist and is amazing too.

Benjamin Grosvenor is playing in our town in November and son who is a few years younger is looking forward to watching someone his age play.

I have had no experience of YM but know only a couple of people at uni who tried it but no one got past the 1st round.

Good Luck to all those who do it this year!! Let us know how you get on.

I am hoping my middle son tries it when he gets his grade 8. He is 9 now and has grade 5 distinctions on both cello (138) and piano (132) so there is hope!!

This year's competition was in May. It is biennual so the next is 2008 but applications have to be in by 1 April 2007.

entry details here

I would hope so. If not, then Benjamin has been robbed of his potential. Judging by the judges' comments, I reckon he would have won the competition outright were it not for his age. The winner of the UK competition is entered into the European version, but they have to be aged at least 14 to enter the European contest. Nichola Bennedetti, who was the outright UK winner, didn't get past the first round in Europe. Let's hope Benji goes again, he's 14 now and the next contest is in 2008. This kid's really moving, he's already done the Albert Hall and Carnegie. I'm looking forward to seeing him do the Grieg at Cadogan in February 2007

Again, I've wanted to do this for years, and I'll consider entering this year - it would be my last chance. I'd probably have a go on both instruments, but I should think I'd have a much better chance on cello. I don't think I'm good enough to get very far - although I have a diploma on both instruments, I know people who are better and haven't got far - but I can hope to get past the first round, perhaps. Besides, I think it's a great all-round experience, and the comments could be helpful. So I'll speak to my teachers about it, and see what we think...

I'd love to enter, but I'm not good enough yet. I think I'll just be in the age limit next time round, so I may enter then!

Unfortunately Benjamin (ooh he was sweet and so good) won't be able to as I've heard that finalists can't enter more than once
Sorry guys!

Are you sure? I was told that Rafael Payne did re-enter and subsequently won the 2nd time round.

As for Tasmin Little she was not a BBC YM finalist. I don't watch it but heard this from VN's teacher. Will go and check if I have the time in the weekend.

I think i have given up on the idea now ,i think i'll just stick to local competitions.

First time Rafal was not in the concerto final.

I stand corrected, Tasmin Little made it to the strings final but not the concerto final. (And, let's face it, she's done pretty well for herself since!)

Edit

I am gonna try to enter on clarinet, just for the expoerience this time - I doubt I'd get past the first round. After this one, I can enter one more time before I;m too old, so then I might enter and do it seriously!!

I entered (a long time ago) when I was 15/16 and got through to the second round of piano. My main concern at the time was that i didn't really have the repertoire prepared for the later stages anyway - When I got through round 1, I hadn't even started learning a concerto. Back in the mid 80's most of the finalist were Chethams/Purcell/Menuhin students who had a vast amount of repertoire/performance experience behind them.

However, if you have a diploma under your belt, and aren't sure what to work for, it's a good opportunity to get your pieces performance-ready (and if you get bad performance nerves, at least in the early stages, if you mess up, no-one knows/cares other than you don't get through).

Agreed. She is a wonderful example of what it means to bounce back! I've been to her class but did not tell her this! Incidentally, both Menuhin and Oistrakh have lost first place to others but no matter...

On another point, I've just read a book where Delay opined that it is not necessarily the most talented who succeeds (as performers) in her experience. Rather she thinks it is often those with the perseverance to keep going in light of failures as in her opinion, everyone fails some of the time. (Don't know abt people like Maxim, though. Can't think when he ever failed?)

So - is anyone entering?

I think I may do - purely for the experience. I even know that I won't neccessarily be able to go to the first round - depends if the dates are nice to me! Now for sorting out that programme....

What about everyone else who was considering it?

I wish!!! It would be a great experience for anyone who does though. Maybe one day...

I bet I'll be the worst player to enter if I did enter on piano after grade8


I know a 13 year old who is DipABRSM standard. I know him because he was in the local music festival.

I've always enojyed watching it but I must admit it's never been a dream to enter it. Probably because I can't imagine myself as a professional performer and also because all the people on there seem to practice for excessive amounts of time. I'll be too old next time round though I think.