BBC Young Musician Contest 2026

This contest is currently on BBC4 and is a much watch for me. It could be called “Britain’s Got Talent”: the contestants certainly have abundant talent plus dedication and the capacity for hard work. The contest began in 1978 and takes place every two years.

This year, of the many applicants, a substantial number were invited for auditions and of these eight went forward to the quarter final. Three will make it to the final, where each will perform a concerto with a symphony orchestra.
The standard this year has been very high. The excellent and well-qualified judges have had a difficult job in deciding which contestants to take forward, as all of them have been brilliant.

To win or the get to the final (or even semi-final) is a huge stepping-stone for a successful career in classical music. One only has to think of past winners: Nicola Benedetti, Sheku Kaneh-Mason, Jennifer Pike, Mark Simpson, Freddie Kempf, Nicholas Daniel, Emma Johnson, and many more.

I am delighted that young people are playing classical music, when there will be many other pressures on their time. I understand that few state schools include music in their curriculum, given the concentration on core subjects plus the awesome challenge of Ofsted etc.

Classical music seems to be confined to families with disposable income. Most contestants appear to be white middle-class. The only non-white winner I can think of is the amazing Sheku Kaneh-Mason.

When I was young, many children had music lessons, and our County Council actually provided orchestral instruments to any pupil who wanted to have one. How different the country is now.

This year I was sorry that a young accordion- player did not make it to the final. He played this difficult instrument very well. It was a traditional accordion (not a piano-accordion). Not only is it heavy to hold and manoeuvre but has dozens of keys on each side. I have no idea how the player finds the right keys. I have recently heard a wonderful accordionist playing live as part of the trio Kosmos Ensemble. It is hard to describe the otherworldly sound of this instrument when it is in your presence.

There was also an excellent harmonica (mouth organ) player, who did not make it to the quarter final. It was a reminder to me of when there were several well-known harmonica players, including Larry Adler who often played Bach pieces.

Whoever wins this year will be worthy of the title. I hope that all the contestants will go on to have great careers in classical music.

PS In my blog about how Kings died, I failed to mention Edward V, who
became king on the death of his father Edward IV, but was put in the Tower with his brother, by Richard III, who is suspected of his murder. I was thinking of him as a “Prince in the Tower”, not as a king, which he rightfully was.

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