The battle to become Young Musician of the Year

Friday 10 March 2023

Tomorrow night, five of Jersey's brightest young musicians will compete to be crowned Jersey Young Musician of the Year 2023.

This coveted title will be awarded to the finalist who gives the most expressive and technically accomplished performance of their chosen repertoire, with the winner also receiving a £1,000 cheque from PwC to aid their musical career.

Another finalist will also have the chance to receive the Jersey Symphony Orchestra Award if they demonstrate the potential of benefitting from a structured programme of participation with the JSO over 12 months.

Tomorrow night's final promises to showcase the very best of Jersey’s young musicians and illustrate the wealth of musical talent that can be found in our small island community.

This fiercely contested annual competition has proven to represent music masterminds, and previous winners across the past 31 years of this competition have gone on to pursue triumphant careers in a variety of different musical disciplines.

Pictured: Previous winners have had successful careers in various areas of the music industry.

The competition will be judged by Professor Shirley Thompson, Interim Principal of Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, and Professor David Horne, Head of the Graduate School at the Royal Northern College of Music.

There will also be a featured performance from the 2022 pianist winner, Augustine Stayte. 

This year’s five finalists are:

• Edward Clark, Winner of the Island Music String Heat (violin)

• Chloé Connor, Winner of the Island Music Woodwind Heat (flute)

• Sydney Haskins, Winner of the Jersey Vocal Trust Vocal Heat

• Isaac Tarrant, Winner of the Wendy Falla Piano Heat 

• Leo Vernaglione, Winner of the Jersey Premier Brass Brass Heat (trumpet) 

Dr Graham Cox, the Principal of the Jersey Music Service praised the high-standard of all the performers so far and said that he is looking forward to the final.

“I think we can expect some exciting performances and a really varied programme from the finalists," he added.