Rotary Young Musician (Heats) 2026

Rotary Young Musician 2026

For over twenty years the Rotary Clubs of Bristol and the surrounding counties have run a Young Musician competition for students from the area's schools.

Involving pupils from as far afield as Wells, Bath and Cirencester, it has given hundreds of remarkably talented young performers an opportunity - often their first opportunity - to experience the challenge of performing in public, in competition with others.

The competition is open to instrument or voice students aged 13 to 17 who can offer a predominantly classical music programme at ABRSM Grade 7 level or higher. Heats take place in Bristol in November, with a Final in January. The winner of the Final is given the opportunity to progress to the regional and national levels of the competition, run by Rotary in Great Britain and Ireland.

Detailed information about the 2025 competition will be sent out to schools and music teachers across the area in late May. The Heats are planned for November 14th, 21st and 28th. at the Trinity Henleaze United Reform Church, 7 Waterford Rd, Henleaze, Bristol BS9 4BT.

The Final will be held on January 23rd 2026 at the Lantern Room of The Beacon, Bristol.

Lat year’s winners were twor two pupils at Clifton College who won 1st and 2nd place respectively at the prestigious Bristol Rotary Young Musician Competition at the Bristol Beacon in January 2025.

Competing in heats and in finals against over 30 competitors from other Bristol Schools and beyond (including candidates from specialist music schools), both were praised for not only technically polished performances, but their engaging programme choices and powers of communication.

Edmund, music scholar and cellist in Year 13, played Shostakovich, Dvorak’s ‘Slient Woods’, Debussy and solo Bach. Later in the year he looks forward to playing a movement from Dvorak’s Cello Concerto with professional orchestra in the College Chapel.

Overall winner, Antonia, also Yr 13 music scholar and violinist, played Ravel’s Tzigane and the opening movement of Debussy’s violin sonata. She will progress to the regional final in Cheltenham, as well as preparing for her own concerto movement.