The 2nd New Talent British International Youth Music Competition is organised by Amy Yuan Academy in association with British Music Society. The Competition aims to offer young people the experience of performing on a public stage, an opportunity to showcase their musical talents, a platform to learn and exchange musical ideas with young musicians from other countries and cultures and to receive impartial feedback and assessment of their performances by Internationally renowned music professors and educators.

The Competition 2019 took place in London on 9th and 10th August 2019 at Harrow School Music School and Harrow School Old Speech Room. The Competition welcomed over 100 competitors aged 5-25 from over 15 countries across five disciplines – strings, piano, woodwind and brass, voice, speech. It was a celebration for candidates for their dedication and hard work, for parents for their unconditional support and for teachers for their ongoing guidance.

The Competition was wrapped around music themed lectures, masterclasses and concerts to enrich the learning experience of the competitors.

The Competition Jury Panel was made up of 7 judges, they were:

For the Festival section of this year’s competition, we were honoured to welcome an array of Internationally renowned music performance and music education experts and professionals to come and host lectures and workshops on a range of music-related subjects.

Experts who hosted lectures and workshops include:

Professor Jo Cole (Royal Academy of Music Head of Strings and Professor of Cello)

Professor Nicola Eimer (Royal Academy of Music Professor of Piano)

Professor Michael Foyle (Royal Academy of Music Professor of Violin)

Professor Anna Pope (Royal Academy of Music Junior Department Professor of Flute)

Professor Annabelle Lawson (Royal Academy of Music Junior Department Professor of Piano)

Lesley-Ann Thomson (Royal Academy of Music Head of Junior Department)

David Woodcock (Harrow School Director of Music)

Lady Suzi Digby (Founder of the Voice Foundation)

ABRSM experts such as James Welburn

Lizzie Holmes (Renowned Singer and Major roles in West End Musicals)

Topics covered by lectures and workshops:

Positive Performance Preparation

Leadership and Teamwork in Music

How to Choose Between University and Music College

Music Education in UK

Music Education at Cambridge

How to Use Exams Correctly

ABRSM Multi-Media Resources and How They Could Help With Exam Preparation

Stage Presence and Communication

The Ingredients of Productive Practice

Why We Learn to Play an Instrument

Music Scholarships at British Independent Schools

Experts who gave masterclasses include:

Professor Jo Cole (Royal Academy of Music Head of Strings and Professor of Cello)

Professor Nicola Eimer (Royal Academy of Music Professor of Piano)

Professor Michael Foyle (Royal Academy of Music Professor of Violin)

Professor Joshua Fisher (Royal Academy of Music Professor of Violin)

Professor Anna Pope (Royal Academy of Music Junior Department Professor of Flute)

Professor Annabelle Lawson (Royal Academy of Music Junior Department Professor of Piano)

Lizzie Holmes (Renowned Singer and Major roles in West End Musicals)

Students from New Talent Music Festival and selected competition candidates were invited to perform at the competition Opening Concert which took place at Harrow School Old Speech Room on 9th August 2019.

On 10th August, the Competition Day, over 100 candidates aged 5-24 from nearly 20 countries across five disciplines – strings, piano, voice, woodwind and brass, speech performed to a panel of 7 judges. 

The moment of celebration! Candidates, parents, teachers, jury panels were joined by Chairman and Treasurer of British Music Society – Ms. Wendy Hiscocks and Mr. Stephen Trowell. Virtuoso Prize, British Music Society Prize and Gold, Silver and Bronze prize winners were announced and presented.

Hand-written comments from the Jury Panel were also give to each candidate.

To give the Virtuoso Prize winners a platform to showcase their talents and hard work, we hosted award winners’ concert at Harrow School Old Speech Room for all candidates and families to enjoy.