SOUVENIR PROGRAMME
SATURDAY 30 TH MAY 2026
Chairman’s Message
Dear Friends
The Bromsgrove Young Musicians’ Platform is now in its eleventh year and it is thriving as a national competition for 9-17 year olds. We are delighted to welcome so many musicians to the Routh Concert Hall stage again this year, especially those who have travelled from afar - the Young Musicians’ Platform really has captured the hearts and minds of young people from all over the United Kingdom.
The winners and runners-up in each category will be awarded bursaries to help them develop their musical skill; whilst all the finalists will receive certificates to demonstrate how much their contribution to our musical culture means to all those watching, whether in person in Routh Concert Hall or from the comfort of your own home via the live stream.
Your presence in reality or virtually will be important to the competitors. Do please let us have any feedback by emailing admin@bromsgrovecompetition.com or via our social media channels @TheBromsgrove.
We are continually grateful to our loyal supporters and audience members who return year on year to support us and those taking part. If you would like to consider making a donation to help us to continue bringing performance opportunities to young musicians throughout the nation, we would be delighted to hear from you.
Yours sincerely
Monica Toso CHAIRMAN OF THE BROMSGROVE YOUNG MUSICIANS’ PLATFORM
Platform Auditionees
JUNIOR SECTION
Aurora Yu Chin Chan
Cello
Noah Chen Piano
Sophia Chen Violin
Helios Cheng Flute
Joshua Cotterill
Piano
Eva Marie Hammond Flute
Ada Wan Yee Lam Flute
Ray-Chinh Le Cello
Aiqi Li Piano
Nathan Zongze Li
Piano
Jessica See Wai Hung Violin
Ted Lunt Recorder
JingYang Peng
Piano
Max Haoan Ran Violin
Summer Sky Sobczak
Double Bass
Anna Sun Pedal Harp
Aaron Tai
Piano
Daniel Tran Violin
James Walter Trumpet
Mya Tin Sip Wong Pedal Harp
Max Tin Wai Wong Pedal Harp
SENIOR SECTION
Isaac Bazlov Saxophone
Ella Finney Piano
Belinda Gifford-Guy Voice
Avram Harris Cello
Tsang Yin Hei Flute
Emmeline Hensel Flute
Isaac Xin Lu Piano
Robin Nishimura Flute
Harriet Perfect Voice
Joseph Sainsbury Recorder
April Olivia Sopczak Saxophone
Haoyang Sun
Piano
Hebe Swift Flute
Gwilym Gareth Henry Thorp Trumpet
Sophia Tong
Max Walsh
Ethan Ziyang Xu
Piano Accompanist Prize:
Piano
Piano
Piano
AFTER THE AUDITIONS, HIGHLY COMMENDED WAS AWARDED TO:
Yidan Wang (Piano)
Tsang Yin Hei (Flute)
Helios Cheng (Flute)
Ray-Chinh Le (Cello)
Platform Adjudicators
ALASTAIR MOSELEY
CHAIRMAN - AUDITIONS
Alastair is Principal Clarinettist with the Birmingham Philharmonic Orchestra as well as Principal Clarinettist of the Orchestra of St John, which he both founded and now manages.
He is Chair of Bromsgrove Concerts and of the Birmingham Philharmonic Concerto Competition Prize Fund. Alastair has played nationally and internationally as a concerto soloist on piano and clarinet with many leading midland amateur orchestras.
PROF. DAVID SAINT
BA BMUS FRCO FRSCM FRBC FRSA
CHAIRMAN - FINALISTS’ CONCERT
David is a former Principal of the Birmingham Conservatoire, as well as Organist & Director of Music at St Chad’s Cathedral.
He studied with Alan Spedding and Dame Gillian Weir and is active as a national and international performer, teacher and Choral Director. David works regularly for the Royal College of Organists, of which he is a trustee.
DR RICHARD JENKINSON
A cellist since the age of five, Richard is currently Musical Director of the British Police Symphony Orchestra and the Orchestra of St John.
He is also Musical Director of the orchestra and choir of GKT Music Society at King’s College, London and, for the last year, has been conductor of the Worcestershire Youth Orchestra. In 2019, he was awarded his PhD from the University of Birmingham. Richard started conducting whilst at Repton School before continuing his career as a cellist and conductor, having won a scholarship to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
SARAH OLIVER
Sarah is sixth form co-ordinator within the academic music department at Chetham’s School of Music.
She began her musical education in Manchester, and read for a degree at Oxford. On graduating, she moved to Dublin to sing with the vocal group Anúna, before embarking on postgraduate study. She combines teaching and being an examiner, with freelance writing for early music journals. She is a Trustee of the musical charity The Commonwealth Resounds!, an organisation which supports the work of musicians across the Commonwealth.
Official Accompanists
KATE THOMPSON
Kate Thompson enjoys a varied musical life as chamber musician and orchestral pianist, taking her on tours throughout Europe, Japan and Hong Kong.
Kate is staff accompanist for Birmingham Junior Conservatoire and official accompanist for National Youth Orchestra auditions.
JONATHAN FRENCH
Jonathan French studied Piano at Chetham’s before gaining First Class Honours and a Diploma of Professional studies with distinction at the Birmingham Conservatoire.
Jonathan currently combines his busy performing career with teaching and coaching at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, where he was awarded Honorary Membership.
JANINE PARSONS
Janine Parsons studied piano at the Birmingham Conservatoire with Frank Wibaut and Professor Malcolm Wilson.
As accompanist, she has worked with numerous singers and instrumentalists in concerts and competitions, including performances broadcast on BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio Shropshire.
CHARLES MATTHEWS
Charles Matthews studied at the Royal College of Music, London, and was an organ scholar at Trinity College, Cambridge.
He works extensively with young people, and as piano accompanist and organ tutor at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.
COMPETITORS’ OWN ACCOMPANISTS
Our thanks also go to the competitors’ own accompanists who work so hard to prepare the pupils for the auditions and finalists’ concert.
Concert Programme
WELCOME
Alastair Moseley
Chairman of Adjudicators (Audition Round) and Vice-Chair of The Bromsgrove Intermational Musicians’ Competition
FINALISTS’ PERFORMANCES
The five finalists from the Junior Section will each perform a 10-minute repertoire INTERVAL
10 minutes
FINALISTS’ PERFORMANCES
The five finalists from the Senior Section will each perform a 10-minute repertoire INTERVAL
10 minutes
AWARDS CEREMONY
Certificates of Commendation presented to all the finalists by Richard Jenkinson (Senior Section) and Sarah Oliver (Junior Section)
Winners announced by Professor David Saint who will present the First and Second Bursary Awards as they are announced
Junior Finalists
ANNA SUN
HARP - JUNIOR SECTION
AIQI LI
PIANO - JUNIOR SECTION
JOSHUA COTTERILL
PIANO - JUNIOR SECTION
SUMMER SOBCZAK
DOUBLE BASS - JUNIOR SECTION
JINGYANG PENG
PIANO - JUNIOR SECTION
Senior Finalists
JOSEPH SAINSBURY
RECORDER - SENIOR SECTION
BELINDA GIFFORD-GUY
VOICE - SENIOR SECTION
MAX WALSH
PIANO - SENIOR SECTION
APRIL SOBCZAK
SAXOPHONE - SENIOR SECTION
AVRAM HARRIS
CELLO - SENIOR SECTION
1st-5th June 2027
Please Note: The International Competition is now biennial
Our Supporters
The following individuals and organisations have supported the Competitions both financially and practically over many years.
Mrs Irene Bartholomew
Mrs Beryl Bellingham
Mr Christopher Bird
Mrs Cindy Black
Mr and Mrs Graham Boyles
Mr Robin Boyt
Mr and Mrs David Condy
Mr and Mrs Michael Cooper
Mr Norman Davies
Mrs Mary Dykes
Mr Andrew Harris
Mr and Mrs David Hawkins
Mr Roger Hill
Mr and Mrs Brian Insch
Mr and Mrs Graham Mackenzie
Mr Richard Orchard
Mr Jeremy Patterson
Sir Michael and Lady Joan Perry
Mrs Elizabeth Price
Mr and Mrs Neill Robb
Mr and Mrs John Rogers
Mr and Mrs Giles Sharp
Mr and Mrs Jeremy Sharp
Mr and Mrs Andrew Sherrey
Dr Sue Skidmore
Dr and Mrs Robert Spires
Mr and Mrs Roger Stickland
Dr Jane Stockley
Mrs Ann Tubby
Mr Anthony Turpin
Mrs Edna Turpin
Mrs Ann Warner
Mr Roger Weaver
Mr and Mrs Peter Weston
Dr and Mrs Richard Wilkinson
Mrs Eva Woolf
Mr R.C. Young
Bromsgrove District Council
Bromsgrove School
Royal Birmingham Conservatoire
Bromsgrove Concerts
Bromsgrove Court Leet
The Elmley Foundation
Bromsgrove Festival
National Trust Hanbury Hall
J.A. Gillett Charitable Trust
The Bromsgrove Society
Helen Rachael Mackaness Trust
Joyce Messenger Trust
LG Harris Trust
mfg solicitors
Nexus Creative
Orchestra of the Swan
St John Ambulance
Three Choirs Festival
