About the Young Musicians Platform
The Two Moors Festival Young Musicians Platform is a prestigious competition for young talented instrumentalists and singers. It is open to anyone aged 18 and under who lives, or who attends school in the Southwest of the UK. Four winners each receive £250 prize money plus an opportunity to perform in the main festival. Entries are taken for Brass, Wind, Percussion, Strings and Voice.
The competition is renowned for its unique and relaxed audition process with many previous winners progressing to further study at prestigious music colleges or leading universities. Some have already embarked on their professional careers. The standard of the competition is high; it is also a recognised asset for inclusion in applications to higher education.
So what do these superbly talented young musicians gain from winning the competition? It isn’t the upfront prizes that are important with this event but the recognition gained that is significant. The Festival has status at an increasingly international level; for the Young Musician winners, having their name printed in the programme is valued; there is much to be learnt from the adjudicators’ comments (all four of whom are well-known artists); the standard and expectation of the competition is high and finally – and very importantly – the audition process is unique and relaxed.
The competition attracts entries from the entire Southwest; it encourages young musicians to “have a go” thereby benefiting from the opportunity to play in an informal environment and most importantly the Festival recognises that there is nothing else comparable in the area.
Young Musicians Platform winners 2014
Hannah Brooks-Hughes, aged 10, violin
Willard Carter, aged 13, cello
Rebecca McNaught, aged 18, cello
Andrew Wingham, aged 15, cornet
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Hannah Brooks-Hughes
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Rebecca McNaught |
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Andrew Wingham
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Willard Carter |
Hannah Brooks-Hughes began studying violin when she was 4½. She performed her first concerto at the age of 8 and has given many solo recitals. A scholar at ‘Dean Close Preparatory School’ in Cheltenham, by the age of 9 Hannah had already passed ABRSM Grade 8 with distinction, along with five piano exams. Hannah is currently the Leader of the ‘National Children’s Orchestras Under 13’ orchestra, and for 2014 she has been named their 'Principal Director of Music's Scholar'.
Willard Carter started learning the cello at 5 years old. Having become a chorister at Wells Cathedral School, he found that he had not enough time to practice his beloved cello, so left to attend The Purcell School in London. Willard has played solo Bach in Wells Cathedral, and has performed in central London venues.
Rebecca McNaught started the piano at the age of 4 and at 6 she began cello. A student at Pate’s Grammar School, Cheltenham, she has performed in the Wigmore Hall and in Tewkesbury Abbey. In 2014 she reached the Category Auditions of BBC Young Musician and was the highly commended runner up in the Gloucestershire Young Musician competition. She has received masterclasses from Julian Lloyd Webber, Guy Johnston and Matthew Barleyand now leads the cello section of the Gloucestershire Youth Orchestra.
Andrew Wingham is a student at Helston Community College and began playing the cornet at the age of 6 with Helston Town Band. Having achieved his Grade 8 with Distinction in 2012 he was promoted in 2013 to the Principal Cornet seat. He joined the Cornwall Youth Brass Band in 2011, playing solo cornet, and also plays trumpet in the Helston School Mini Jazz Orchestra. As well as brass Andy is also learns piano, sings in the school choir and plays in the wind band.
For more information please contact The Two Moors Festival (Admin Office), Accott Manor, Brayford, Barnstaple, Devon EX32 7PJ, 01271 830760 or email: [email protected]
Comments from two of the winners in 2013 on their experience of the Young Musicians Platform auditions:
"Participating and winning the competition has been a great pleasure. The adjudicators and audience were always friendly and welcoming which made performing to them highly enjoyable. I am really excited to be taking part in the festival this October which will undoubtedly bring my playing and performance to a whole new level."
Victoria Creighton
"There was a certain magic to the venue which was truly in the middle of nowhere! The wild beauty of the surroundings also added to the experience.
I loved the venue hall... the fact that the adjudicators were seated around a big wooden table on beautiful old mis-matched chairs gave a cosy and comforting homely feel to the auditions which certainly made me feel more confident.
I don’t know if any of the adjudicators were famous, but they definitely put me at ease; it felt as if you were amongst friends - kindly aunts or uncles who had come around for afternoon tea! I felt that they really listened to my playing. I got a little cheer and clap from them at the end of each piece that I played which made me feel wonderful inside. I found the adjudicators' comments so helpful. I actually had to look up some of the musical terms on Google!
Acoustics – they were truly amazing! I had never heard my marimba sound so beautiful. It was wonderful to play somewhere where your instrument sounds better than you imagined possible.
All in all it was a bit of an adventure! On the way home Dad parked us up by a little stream and we had a paddle and picnic. My mum’s bacon, brie and cranberry sandwiches together with ginger beer were amazing!
I feel very privileged to have taken part. I was free to give my absolute best and felt no matter the outcome I had a story to tell!"
Alexandra Smith
News from some previous Young Musicians Platform winners
Katie Roberts - flute. Katie has gained a place at the Guildhall School of Music for September 2013:
" There's no doubt that taking part in the competition was a great boost not only for her own confidence but for her personal statement too."
Molly Lopresti-Richards - marimba. BBC Category finalist 2012:
"Without The Two Moors Young Musicians Platform I would not have had the confidence to put myself forward for other competitions or consider music college".
Jordan Black, clarinet, was a BBC Category finalist 2012
Polly Bartlett, recorder. Polly has a place in the NYO and has won the Talentcall competition
News from some previous Young Musicians Platform winners
Katie Roberts - flute. Katie has gained a place at the Guildhall School of Music for September 2013.
" There's no doubt that taking part in the competition was a great boost not only for her own confidence but for her personal statement too."
Molly Lopresti-Richards - marimba. BBC Category finalist 2012 "Without The Two Moors Young Musicians Platform I would not have had the confidence to put myself forward for other competitions or consider music college".
Jordan Black - clarinet. BBC Category finalist 2012
Polly Bartlett - recorder. Polly has a place in the NYO and has won the Talentcall competition News from some previous Young Musicians Platform winners
Katie Roberts - flute. Katie has gained a place at the Guildhall School of Music for September 2013.
" There's no doubt that taking part in the competition was a great boost not only for her own confidence but for her personal statement too."
Molly Lopresti-Richards - marimba. BBC Category finalist 2012 "Without The Two Moors Young Musicians Platform I would not have had the confidence to put myself forward for other competitions or consider music college".
Jordan Black - clarinet. BBC Category finalist 2012
Polly Bartlett - recorder. Polly has a place in the NYO and has won the Talentcall competition News from some previous Young Musicians Platform winners
Katie Roberts - flute. Katie has gained a place at the Guildhall School of Music for September 2013.
" There's no doubt that taking part in the competition was a great boost not only for her own confidence but for her personal statement too."
Molly Lopresti-Richards - marimba. BBC Category finalist 2012 "Without The Two Moors Young Musicians Platform I would not have had the confidence to put myself forward for other competitions or consider music college".
Jordan Black - clarinet. BBC Category finalist 2012
Polly Bartlett - recorder. Polly has a place in the NYO and has won the Talentcall competition
Young Musicians Platform
Introduction
The Two Moors Festival Young Musicians Platform is a prestigious competition for young talented instrumentalists and singers. It is open to anyone aged 18 and under who lives, or who attends school in the Southwest of the UK. Four winners each receive £250 prize money plus an opportunity to perform in the main festival. Entries are taken for Brass, Wind, Percussion, Strings and Voice.
The competition is renowned for its unique and relaxed audition process with many previous winners progressing to further study at prestigious music colleges or leading universities. Some have already embarked on their professional careers. The standard of the competition is high; it is also a recognised asset for inclusion in applications to higher education.Young Musicians Platform
Introduction
The Two Moors Festival Young Musicians Platform is a prestigious competition for young talented instrumentalists and singers. It is open to anyone aged 18 and under who lives, or who attends school in the Southwest of the UK. Four winners each receive £250 prize money plus an opportunity to perform in the main festival. Entries are taken for Brass, Wind, Percussion, Strings and Voice.
The competition is renowned for its unique and relaxed audition process with many previous winners progressing to further study at prestigious music colleges or leading universities. Some have already embarked on their professional careers. The standard of the competition is high; it is also a recognised asset for inclusion in applications to higher education.