Forest Classical Musician of the Year Competition 2019
The annual Forest Young Classical Musician of the Year Competition was held on Wednesday 13th February and saw heats running from 9.15am to 4pm with performances by around seventy of our pupils.
Forest was very pleased to host our guest adjudicator Mr David Larkin who gave some wonderfully thoughtful advice to the pupils and the difficult task of choosing the finalists and winners. The evening final consisted of twelve performances across the Ensemble, Grade 3-5, Grade 6-7 and Grade 8+ categories.
The winners were: Alice on the recorder (G3-5), with a poised and measured performance of Handel’s Siciliana and Allegro from his Sonata in F major; Krystian on the piano (G6-7) with the colourful and captivating Chanson Russe by Sydney Smith; Allegra on the violin (G8+) with a truly mesmerising and intensely sustained rendering of the 4thmovement of Lalo’s Symphonie Espagnole; and the overall Young Musician of the Year Award going to Lucas, who performed the final movement of Richard Strauss’ Horn Concerto No. 1 in E-flat major, Op.11.
Mr Larkin said to the finalists, “It will be no surprise to me if many of you end up in the music profession in the future, such is your dedication and talent. It has been a pleasure to be here today, thank you all for your wonderful performances.” And he is certainly correct with regard to the champion Lucas, who has accepted the offer of a scholarship to the Royal College of Music, London, to study the French horn commencing this September.
Well done to every pupil who took part, it really was an excellent day and a very high standard of playing!