Berkshire Young Musician of the Year – Brass, Percussion & Guitar Competition 2025

The Berkshire Young Musician of the Year competition is back for 2025. Berkshire Music Trust, in partnership with Windsor Festival and Bradfield College, is this year running a competition for all BRASS, PERCUSSION and GUITAR players to showcase their talent and win prizes alongside others of a similar age.

This competition is open to young players of:

BRASS:

• Brass – Trumpet
• Brass – Trombone
• Brass – Tuba
• Brass – French Horn
• Brass – Baritone
• Brass – Cornet
• Brass – Flugel Horn
• Brass – Tenor Horn
• Brass – Euphonium

PERCUSSION

• Percussion – Drum Kit
• Percussion – Orchestral Percussion

GUITAR:

• Guitar – Classical/Acoustic Guitar
• Guitar – Electric Guitar
• Guitar – Bass Guitar

Competitors will follow a three stage process of round one, semi-final and final. The live concert final will take place at The Old Court in Windsor.

First round – Video entries submitted by Monday 2 December 2024 – 5pm 

Semi Final – LIVE Sunday 19th January 2025 – Bradfield College

Final – LIVE Sunday 30th March 2025 – The Old Court, Windsor

Entry to the competition is open to any student aged 18 or under on 30th March 2025 who can tick at least one of the following criteria:

– A permanent resident of Berkshire

– Attending a school within Berkshire

– Currently receiving instrumental tuition within the county of Berkshire

AGE CATEGORIES :

Junior – Ages 11 & under – Entry fee for this category is £18.50

Intermediate – Ages 12 to 15 – Entry fee for this category is £21.50

Senior – Ages 16 to 18 –Entry fee for this category is £23.50

Booking fees apply

Prizes and feedback:

– All first round entrants will receive written feedback on their performance from the panel of judges.

– Semi-final participants will receive feedback and a certificate.

– Category winners in brass, percussion and guitar will receive feedback, a certificate and a plaque.

– Judges Highly Commended for Brass, Percussion and Guitar will receive a certificate

– The overall winner will receive the title of Berkshire Young Musician of the Year 2025, the Berkshire Young Musician Trophy, along with feedback, a certificate and a future performance opportunity.

We are grateful for the support from Windsor Festival in running the competition. Windsor Festival invites the world’s finest musicians, writers, artists, and local performers to entertain and delight festival audiences, to celebrate Windsor’s special place as a Royal town, and to inspire the next generation of artistic talent and creativity.

Also we would like to thank Bradfield College for their partnership in this competition and for them providing us with a venue to hold the semi finals.