An extraordinary performance by this year’s oldest finalist, 18-year-old violinist Sebastian Taylor, won him the coveted title of Gloucestershire Young Musician of the Year but the youngest entry, 10-year-old pianist Ella Backhouse, was not to be outdone and won the Audience Prize!
The talented pair were among five outstanding finalists who competed on instruments ranging from a marimba to a harp and flute at the competition hosted by Cheltenham College on 9 March 2025. The record-breaking contest saw 21 young musicians enter from across the county.
Sebastian, from Uley, a former student at Pate’s Grammar School now studying at Cambridge, received a cash prize of £500 presented by Head of College Nicola Huggett, as well as the prestigious Hewitt-Jones Trophy given to him by composer Thomas Hewitt-Jones.
It was a case of practice makes perfect for Sebastian as he had entered the competition the previous year and not won through.
“It’s remarkable how much you can improve just through practising,” he said as he celebrated his win with parents Judith and Rupert and brother Alexander. He will be performing a recital at Cheltenham Musical Festival on 7 July and joining Gloucestershire Symphony orchestra for his first full concerto concert on 23 November, as well as performing with Gloucestershire Youth Orchestra.
Audience prize winner Ella, a student at Cheltenham College Prep School, is currently taught by pianist Roman Kosyakov at Royal Birmingham Junior Conservatoire. She received a cash prize of £200 from sponsors the Carducci Trust’s director Hollie Smith-Charles and will perform a recital at the Carducci Festival at Highnam in May.
The runners-up each received £50 prizes from Lavinia Sidgwick DL, of the Summerfield Charitable Trust. They were Pate’s Grammar student flautist Lois Rodgers, 17, from Northleach; harpist Janice Law, 17, from Cheltenham Ladies’ College and fellow student percussionist Pearly Chan, 14.
Chair of the judging panel, Professor Derek Aviss OBE, said each finalist had the potential to be a winner and he hoped to see them in future contests. He was joined this year by Sarah Newbold, Professor of Flute at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and well-known tenor James Gilchrist.
Master of ceremonies was Glyn Oxley, musical director of organisers Gloucestershire Symphony Orchestra.
The sponsors who have made this contest possible include Cheltenham College, Vivum Music Ltd, Gloucestershire Academy of Music, Brimpsfield Music Society, The Summerfield Charitable Trust, The Honourable Company of Gloucestershire, Make Music Gloucestershire, Cheltenham Music Festival, the Carducci Trust and Ann Heron, mother of 2016 winner Adam Heron.
Entry Information for 2026
Entries for the 2026 competition will be on-line using a form that will appear here in October 2025.
The 2026 Gloucestershire Young Musician Competition is open to entrants aged under 22 years on 1 March 2026.
Applicants may play piano, any string (including harp and guitar), woodwind or brass instrument or orchestral percussion.
First Round
Applicants will be invited to give a 12-minute recital before an adjudicator on Sunday (date to be finalised) January 2026 at Gloucestershire Academy of Music, Barbican House, Gloucester GL1 2JF. As a result of this stage a maximum of six finalists (or fewer, at the adjudicator’s discretion) will be selected to proceed to the final.
Competition Final
The selected finalists will each give a 15-minute recital before an audience and a panel of adjudicators, on Sunday (date to be finalised) March 2026 3 pm at Cheltenham College’s Big Classical venue, Cheltenham, GL53 7LD.
Finalists will be offered an individual Masterclass in Performance, in January/February, to help them prepare for their performance in the final.
At the Final, the following prizes will be awarded:
1st Prize
- The Hewitt Jones Award
- A cheque for £500
- Three performances:
i) a concerto performance with Gloucestershire Symphony Orchestra
ii) a concerto performance with Gloucestershire Youth Orchestra
iii) a recital at Cheltenham Music Festival in July 2026
Audience Prize
- A cheque for £200 awarded by the Carducci Quartet
- A recital at the Carducci Festival at Highnam in May 2026
The winner of this prize is selected via audience vote on the evening of the final.
All Other Finalists (including the winner of the Audience Prize)
- A cheque for £50
Competition Rules for 2026
Entrance to the competition will form a binding contract between yourself and promoters of the Gloucestershire Young Musician competition. Please read these rules before submitting your entry form.
1. Entrants should be aged under 22 on 1 March 2026.
2. Applicants should have a family home in Gloucestershire (including if away at college/university), or go to school in Gloucestershire, or receive musical tuition at a recognised musical organisation in Gloucestershire.
3. Previous title-holders are not eligible for entry.
4. Candidates should be of at least Grade 8 standard (Associated Board or equivalent) on their chosen instrument.
5. Entry is limited to the following instruments: piano, all brass, all woodwind, all strings (including guitar) and orchestral percussion.
6. Candidates will undertake to provide their own accompanist for all stages of the competition.
7. No expenses can be met by the competition promoters for all stages of the competition. However expenses may be available to the winner for performances associated with the prize.
8. All photographic, recording and broadcast rights shall be assigned to the competition promoters.
9. Entries must be made using the official entry form and be received by midnight on Sunday (date to be finalised) December 2025.
10. The fee to enter the competition is £xx per entry, payable via BACS transfer once the application has been accepted.
11. Musicians are allowed to enter on more than one instrument.
12. The winner’s concerto performance with Gloucestershire Symphony Orchestra will take place on Sunday (date to be finalised) November 2026, and the winning musician will be expected to be available on this date.
Recent History of the GYM competition
Gloucestershire Young Musician of the Year is a well-established competition and since 2014 has featured under the auspicious umbrella of Gloucestershire Symphony Orchestra.
Recent winners include Sebastian Taylor, violin (2025), James Li, violin (2024), Isaac Williams, violin (2023), Kimmy Kwok, violin (2022), Darcy Beck, percussion (2020), Bill Ko Tsz Hin, viola (2019), Lydia Kenny, saxophone (2018), Hannah Brooks-Hughes, violin (2017), Adam Heron, piano (2016), Rebecca McNaught, cello (2015) and Rhiannon Symonds, trombone (2014).